More than 57,000 children around the country walked out the school gate and will not return until Tuesday, February 5.

The final day also marked the end of Tasmania's three-term model, with all schools set to move to four terms in 2013.

Mowbray Heights principal Marie Gavlik said it was a happy and sad time of the year as the school was also farewelling grade 6 pupils and their families.

``We build a real family relationship with the children and their families while they're here, then they go on to the next step in their lives,'' Ms Gavlik said.

``You get to be involved in their lives and it's lovely to see them grow and mature.''

Ms Gavlik said the last day saw pupils from grades 3 to 6 take part in a fun swimming carnival before the older students had a picnic at Heritage Forest and others attended classroom parties.

Younger grades took part in a variety of end of year activities.

Ms Gavlik said because the school had a multicultural community, it took part in a wide range of end of year activities to involve all children.

Yesterday also marked the final day for a number of schools in the state as they have opted to take advantage of the state government's $3.5 million School Transition Fund.