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Brief History

In the 1800's and early 1900's, one room school houses were abundant throughout the United States. Cincinnatus and the townships surrounding it were no different. Each township had at least one, though many had more than one, one room school house. In 1857, the Cincinnatus Union School and Academy were incorporated. This school, unlike the one room school houses of the area, required that tuition be paid to attend. In 1933, it became crowded, as well as many other one room school houses around the area. It was at this time that the members of the community began talking about building a Central School. Between 1934 and 1935, many plans were developed to present to the voting members of the community. The price that was presented to the voters was $275,000, which was quite a substantial figure for the time. This price was defeated, and several other recommendations were made with lower prices. The final price that was agreed upon was $214,500 for a school with a combination gym and auditorium (now the Old Gym). The building was finished in 1936, and the first graduating class from Cincinnatus Central School was the class of 1936. The first addition to Cincinnatus Central School came in 1950. It added a portion of the cafeteria that is present today, the technology shop room, and the library wing. In 1964, the present cafeteria, the music room, and part of the elementary wing were built. Renovations and repairs to the roof, bus garage, heating system, and other problems were made in 1972. In 1983, the New Gym was added onto the school. Six years after that, in 1989, the primary wing, the f wing, and the auditorium were built.

Brief Overview of Traditions

There are several traditions that have been a part of the Cincinnatus Central School district since the first years of its development; the Moving Up Day Ceremony, the Key Presentation and the Key Acceptance, and the Passing of the Flags. These traditions were begun in 1922, at the Cincinnatus Union School and Academy, and made their way over to the Central School when it was built in 1936. Ever since 1922, the senior class has tied their class color ribbons onto the Key of Knowledge and then passed it on to the next year's senior class. The Passing of the Flags is similar in nature. Each grade level has a flag that represents the grade level in which they are in. Each Moving Up Day, the flags are passed on to the next class and accepted by the grade level above. This moving up in grade level is symbolized by the flags and holds special significance to the students. This year marks the 81st year that these important ceremonies have taken place at Cincinnatus Central School.

Moving Up Day Ceremony

The Moving Up Day Ceremony has evolved into a very intricate and important tradition in Cincinnatus Central School. To begin the ceremony, the Mistress and Master of Ceremonies welcome the students to the Moving Up Day Ceremony. Next in the ceremony comes the procession of the Seniors. After the Seniors, the Pledge of Allegiance and the Alma Mater are recited. The Principal then says his/her remarks to the students, directing most of the speech at the Seniors. The Farewell Speech is then read by the Student Senate President. The Principal then conducts the induction of the new Student Senators and Officers. The new Student Senate President makes his/her acceptance speech following this. Select Student Senate members receive Student Senate Certificates after the new President's speech. The National Honor Society President's speech is presented to the students to continue this ceremony. The Senior Class President then makes his/her Farewell Speech. This speech is directly followed by the Key Presentation and the Key Acceptance, which is traditionally followed by the Flag Ceremony. To end this ceremony, the Senior Class prepares a slideshow to show to the entire student body in which they showcase all the fun times that they had at Cincinnatus Central School.

Key Presentation

"Members of the class of 1939: All of us live a life of symbols in which a thing or an ideal stands for all that is pure and noble and courageous. Such a symbol is this key which classes have handed down to succeeding classes, year after year, from class to class, until finally it has come to signify more than symbolic knowledge. It has come to mean truth and honesty, faith in God and man; it symbolizes good sportsmanship and good scholarship - all the frontier virtues of mankind. And so, class of 1939, in behalf of us of 1938, I present you with this key, and charge you to guard it jealously, so that it may pass stainless from your hands to those of the succeeding class and thence to classes far, far in the future, until our sons and daughters, standing on tomorrow's horizon, may accept it with pride and happiness, knowing that it was kept clean by us - and by you."
-Harvey Osborne

Key Acceptance

"We the class of 1939, accept this Key of Knowledge with sincere appreciation of the fact that you have attained that goal toward which we strive. We feel that we are unworthy of this honor. We hope that in the year to come we may use this key as successfully in unlocking the Door of Knowledge as you have done. Seniors, we sincerely trust that in the future you will hold before the world the high standards and precepts you have placed before us this past year. May happiness and success be with you always in whatever you undertake."
-Fredrick Randall

Passing of the Flags

The Passing of the Flags is a ceremony that takes place every year on Moving Up Day. This is an important tradition at Cincinnatus Central School and signifies the moving up, from one grade to another, throughout high school. The ceremony consists of each class president carrying their class's flag, with their year of graduation sewed on it and another flag, with their class order (Senior, Junior, Sophomore, Freshman, Eighth Grade, or Seventh Grade). The president of each class passes and accepts their new class order flags on behalf of their class.