Flag Day /Prize Giving Ceremony
 Tuesday 4th December 2:15pm – 4:00pm
Flag Day/Prize Giving Ceremony is a big event on the School’s calendar and for those families new to the school you may be wondering what it’s all about. The School has a very large collection of National Flagsfrom around the world. This collection has accumulated over many years and Flag Day is an important tradition at Cornwall Park.
Cornwall Park School first opened its doors on 9 February 1921. The initial roll was 198 pupils and the Headmaster was Mr Birss. The school grew very rapidly and by 1924 the roll had reached 437 and plans were made to add more classrooms and a staff room to the school. It was, Mr Birss, the founding headmaster, who in the early 1930’s, established the collection of world flags, which formed the foundation for the Cornwall Park School tradition of Flag Day.
Mr Birss, who was also Consul for Ecuador, felt that it was important for the children to know more about other countries and approached the representatives of those countries to ask them to donate a flag of their country to the school. This was a time in history, just after World War One, when people around the world worked very hard to bring about peace between countries. Each week children from the school would hoist a new flag and sing that country’s national anthem.
All the children participate in Flag Day afternoon and practice their marching in the weeks leading up to the big day. At the finish of the School day the PTA will give the children afternoon tea in their classrooms. Please note that all the children need to be in School uniform and must have a blue school hat and the correct footwear.
At 2.30 pm the children begin the march in class groups onto the field. The Year 6 children have the honour of each carrying a flag from various countries around the world.
The Annual Prize Giving Ceremony will begin once the ‘march on’ is completed. If your child is unable to attend the full ceremony, they must be collected from their classroom at 12.30pm. After the ceremony is finished all children will return to their class and need to be collected from their rooms. All families are invited to stay on for a picnic tea on the field. Please ensure arrangements are in place with your child/ren’s after school care if necessary.
Please note that for security and safety reasons, bicycles or scooters are not allowed on the school grounds at any time on this afternoon. The School Pool will be closed on this day.
Other Important Dates
Last Day of Term 2018 – Friday 14 December 3.00 pm
Getting to Know your Child Meetings (10 min sessions) – Thursday 24 January 8.30 – 4 pm
First Day of School 2019 – Tuesday 29 January 8.55 am
In case of bad weather we will communicate to the community as early as possible our decision regarding postponement. We will send an alert on the school app and a message on the school answerphone by 11 am.
We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday 4 December at Flag Day.
Janine Irvine
Principal |
