The Seaside Charter Rose Ceremony

The "Rose Ceremony" is a tradition held in many public Waldorf schools to mark the transitions of childhood. On September 4, 2015, SCCS held our first Rose Ceremony.  During Morning Circle, our third and fourth grade classes guided each first grader around the circle and gave them a rose to mark their transition from Kindergarten to the grades.  The first graders then placed the rose in a vase that was carried to their classroom after the ceremony.  Traditionally, this event occurs twice a year.  In the Spring, the first grade children give each fifth grader a rose to say "Good-bye" and remind them of their time with us.  When our fourth graders reach fifth grade next year, we'll add that portion of the tradition. 

For the first graders, the rose represents the promise of the beautiful and complex human beings that they are becoming.  For the older children, the rose represents the bold, strong, and lovely young people they have become. 

This week our third and fourth grade teachers discussed the rose ceremony with their classes. They impressed on our students not just the motions of the ceremony but their own responsibility to help and guide their younger schoolmates during their time with us.  Just as the 4th grade safety patrol belts are a symbol of responsibility and maturity, the rose ceremony symbolizes this transition to maturity. 

We hope our first grade families enjoyed our first rose ceremony.

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