CREDIT: JENNIFER DOEDE
From left to right: Jahmoyia Smith (Advocacy and Communications Co-ordinator), Morganna Sampson (FSU President), Kate Morris (Student Life Co-ordinator) and Lisa Elliott (Finance Co-ordinator) are all geared up for orientation day on Sept. 5.

Before hitting the books, incoming Fanshawe students will have the opportunity to participate in the newly developed orientation day on Sept. 5.

This day is jam-packed full of activities, games, information sessions and free food.

In addition to the traditional frosh events happening around campus throughout the first week of classes, the Fanshawe Student Union (FSU) has also dedicated Sept. 5 to welcoming first-year students and helping them adjust to a new campus environment with some fun events.

“This is the first time in about 20 years that we are having a dedicated orientation day,” FSU president, Morganna Sampson, said. “Orientation day will give incoming students a good head start to learn more about their program and campus before attending classes.”

One of the main activities happening on campus during orientation day will be a carnival. The carnival will have multiple buskers performing around campus along with a slip 'n slide and inflatables. The buskers will also perform a finale in the Student Union Building (SUB courtyard) at 4:00 p.m.

Incoming students will also attend a program orientation session on orientation day. Sampson explained that in past years, first-year students would not have their program orientation until a few days after classes had started. With the implementation of orientation day, incoming students will have the opportunity to learn more about their program and faculty before attending their first class.

“I'm excited to see how the whole day comes together,” Kate Morris, FSU Student Life Co-ordinator said. “It will be a great opportunity for students to explore the college and learn about all the services the college and the FSU has to offer. [It will also give students] the chance to have some fun at the carnival and other events.”

Another one of the main events happening on orientation day will be the Falcon Welcome, which will take place in gyms one and two at 10 a.m., 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. Fanshawe president, Peter Devlin, and Sampson will be there to speak to incoming students and give them a big welcome to the school. In between welcome sessions, the gyms will be filled with games, refreshments and a social media area for students to take pictures with props and a backdrop. The executives will be greeting incoming students at the FSU booth.

FSU plans to give away five dollar food vouchers at the Falcon Welcome sessions, which can be used at food trucks and several other venues that are expected to be part of the day.

Sampson explained that all information services, such as the bus pass station and financial aid station, will be located in gym three. Incoming students will also be able to pick up their frosh kits in gym three. Some of the items in this year's frosh kit include: a water bottle, a bottle koozie with the orientation's theme ‘Frosh Me Outside, How Bow Dat?' written on it, a fidget spinner, a frosh T-shirt, tickets to the Fanshawe Live concert celebrating the school's 50th anniversary on Sept. 9 and much more.

“I'm super excited for the Fanshawe Live concert. Approximately 10,000 people are going to be there,” Sampson said. “We are going to have Brave Shores, Barenaked Ladies and Hedley on the stage.”

Morris said that upper-year students are encouraged to come out and volunteer during the week to help give a warm welcome to incoming students. Current students interested in volunteering for orientation day can sign-up at fsu.ca/volunteer.

“I hope the incoming students get a good sense of the spirit of Fanshawe from orientation day,” Morris said. “We've got a lot of fun events planned throughout the year to help take the pressure off of studying.”

Sampson said that she recommends for incoming students to download the free orientation app on Guidebook. The app provides incoming students with a detailed schedule of events happening throughout orientation day to help them find the information or activity that they are looking for.

Some other events happening throughout the week include a pancake breakfast with the presidents (Devlin and Sampson) on Wednesday Sept. 6 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the T building. In addition, a performance from The Monsters of Schlock, a two man circus sideshow, will be held on Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. in Forwell Hall. A campfire will also take place in the SUB courtyard on the Thursday at 8:00 p.m. where students will have the opportunity to roast some smores, listen to music and play some lawn games.

“Orientation day is going to be a blast!” Sampson said. “It's the perfect way to start off your school year and begin to make those memorable moments that will last a lifetime.”