The weather was beautiful, the setup meticulously completed, and the crowds were gathered at the gates. This was a perfect setting for an amazing day, and amazing it turned out to be.
Thank you, Auckland, for coming along to the Cornwall Park District School Fair. We had thousands of people through the gates, the field events were a constant buzz, and all stalls reported a brisk trade. In fact, we completely ran out in some of the stalls. Beaming faces with arms and car boots full of purchases bore testament to the great number of bargains that were snapped up, and the dancing and cacophonous laughter echoing around the school were a sure sign that everyone had a great time.
Thank you to all our parents, students and CPDS community for your staunch commitment to our school. Thank you for your contibution to making the Fair such a success. There is no doubting the many hours and hard work spent on planning and preparation, but to see all the smiling (albeit tired) faces behind the stalls were clear indicators that all the helpers felt like they were contributing to a great cause.
At the end of the day, it is our students - our future leaders - that benefit the most from our Fair. It has been said many times before, and is worth saying once more: proceeds from the Fair are directed at providing additional learning opportunities - over and above what our official funding provides - for our children. One just needs to look around the school to see what some of these are (for example, specialist teachers, data projectors in classrooms, weather shades, innovative activity centre, and so on).
In the final analysis, however, there is one very important but invisible benefit of our Fair. This is the coming together of the CPDS community (parents, teachers, students, friends, sponsors, and our neighbours) to work together to stage a Fair that is not only of epic proportions, but also results in such a successful outcome. To this community, we are truly, truly grateful.
And for those that may have missed out on the opportunity to help and be part of the fun: don't worry, there's always next year. And planning for that starts now.
Thank You!
FAIR DATE:
Sunday, 14 April 2013
10.00am - 2.00pm
NEW: Check out our fantastic Auction items here.
After weeks of preparation and hard work, Fair Day has arrived. The gates will be opened at 10.00am. You have had this date pencilled into your diary for weeks and finally, the waiting is over. Come to the Fair and see how many bargains you can pick up. Anything from books, linen, tools, clothing, toys - there'll be something for everyone. And while you're here, don't forget to attend the live and silent auctions down on the playing field. You won't miss it!
Swap the Sunday morning cafe breakfast and come down and sample our many varieties of food from the International food court. Enjoy the aroma and taste of so many different cuisines. Your waistline may not thank us, but our school children will certainly thank you for your support.
See you at our Fair.
Setting up the day before Fair Day:
The Thorogood family taking a break from setting up duties and enjoying a quiet family lunch together.
Anyone walking up the school driveway from Wheturangi Rd will have noticed the new and colourful playground at the top of the driveway (on the corner of the playing field). This new and innovative playground was built from funds raised at the 2012 School Fair.
To date, the annual School Fair has contributed to many value-added facilities and personnel at the school such as: the new Parkour playground, specialist teachers in ICT, Music and PE, classroom projectors, and weather shades. All in the name of providing a better and more challenging learning environment for all our students.
The School Fair is based entirely on the goodwill and hardwork of parents, teachers, students, and our wider community. And each year, we strive to exceed the achievements of the previous years because, just as we teach our children to strive for higher and bigger goals, so it is with our Fair.
As you read this, treat this as your invitation to step forward and help with this year's Fair. Everyone has something to offer, whether as a helper on the days leading up to and including the day of the Fair, or as someone that can donate new and used items to the Fair. Nothing is too big or too small. The ultimate beneficiaries of the Fair are our students - your children. Please contact the Fair Committee by email (fair@cornwallpark.school.nz) or by leaving your contact details at the school office.
For new parents to the school, this is a great opportunity to meet other parents and get to network with an entirely new group of like minded people - and, in the process, be part of a fun filled and exciting event that will unite our school and community, and improve the facilities in which our children - your children - will learn.
Keep an eye our for our weekly Fair Newsletter, which your child should be bringing home every Friday.
Remember: if it is to be, it's up to me.
Please let us know how you can help HERE.
Background
At Cornwall Park District School, we strive to provide the best learning opportunities and environment for our children. This means that we have to top-up the official funding that we receive in order to achieve this. The Fair is our major source of supplementary funding. It helps to pay for the extra resources that enable our children to achieve the best that they can in an environment that is challenging, welcoming, up to date and comfortable.
Through the support of our local and wider community, our Fairs have always been well attended and enjoyed by young and old alike. Through sheer hard work and perspiration, our parents and students have toiled long and hard to present the best bargains, food, art and craft and bric-a-brac for you to enjoy, either on the school grounds or to take home with you. There is something for everyone and you may be surprised by the bargains to be had or the prizes to be won.
Our Auction is also a huge attraction with many great items to be auctioned off.
But while we think you will get a lot of enjoyment from your purchases, the best thing about your contribution is that it will benefit our children. All nett funds raised go directly towards enhancing our children’s learning opportunities. If nothing else, you can take pride in contributing to the success of our younger generation.
Some of the benefits of past Fairs include: a huge sun shade over the courts and junior courtyard, ICT equipment, specialist teachers for Music and PE, wet areas, and data projectors in classrooms, and soon, a new, innovative activities area for our older children.
You may be a regular at our Fairs, or you might be thinking about coming for the first time: remember, the early bird gets the worm. The gates open at 10.00am. We invite you to come early and get the good bargains before someone else snaps them up.