We’ve reached the end of Week 2 in 2026. Whew! It’s already been a whirlwind of activity and for those who did enjoy a holiday over Christmas, it must seem like a lifetime ago.
We’ve already held one of our biggest events of the year which was our College Dedication on Tuesday. School photos are now mostly done and dusted and by the time you read this, the towels will be still damp from the annual swimming carnivals. We have our Leadership inductions on Monday and Tuesday and it won’t be long before we have moved onto the next milestones in the College calendar.
NB: More photos of the Dedication Service can be seen here: 2026 College Dedication Service
Week 3 is the time to come up for air and take a deep breath. It’s time to find your pace; establish your routines, clarify expectations and ensure good habits are being formed. Never underestimate the power of Week 3. This will set you up for the rest of 2026. What you put in place now will determine how your children enjoy school, how you manage your stress levels and even how the year ends. Will it be on a high note of new accomplishments and friendships or will it be an exhausted sigh after a year of stress?
At school, this point in the term is important. It is when classroom habits are formed, relationships between students and staff deepen and learning routines begin to feel normal rather than new. As educators, we believe that this shapes how the rest of the year unfolds.
For students, this looks less like big moments and more like consistent ones. Arriving ready to learn, persisting when learning feels challenging, navigating friendships, and taking responsibility for their choices all quietly build confidence, resilience and character over time.
None of this happens in isolation. The partnership between parents, caregivers and GCC is one of the most significant influences on a child’s experience of school and their educational outcomes. When expectations are clear and consistent between home and school, students feel secure, supported and better equipped to navigate both learning and relationships.
This partnership is not about perfection. It is about shared responsibility. At GCC, we commit to providing structure, care, high expectations and support. At home, your role in setting routines, reinforcing expectations, encouraging effort and having honest conversations with your children matters deeply. When students see the adults in their lives working together, they are far more likely to engage positively and take responsibility for their choices.
As we launch into Week 3 and the year gathers momentum, I encourage us all to keep communication open, assume good intent and work together with the same goal in mind: helping our students and your children grow, learn and flourish throughout 2026.
Mike Curtis, Principal