Have you ever wondered how elementary schools in other countries start their new trimesters?? Yea, I never thought about it either. I never realized how ... uhm....interesting and different other cultures' opening ceremonies could be, even for the little ones.
Growing up in Belgium, I honestly never remember any type of ceremony except for when I graduated highschool and received my Highschool diploma...and even that wasn't very organized or strict compared to anything I see here.
Just to give you an idea about what ceremonies here are like, I want to describe step by step the opening ceremony for the 2nd trimester. Please keep in mind that this is one of the least important ceremonies....nothing compared to 1st ceremony of the year where 1st graders are new, or last ceremony of the year where 6th graders graduate.
(Also, bear in mind that other schools in Japan may vary and I am giving an account of what I have seen in the schools where I work)
Everyone meets in the gym, facing the big stage. Students sit down. The vice-vice principal (VVP) stands to the side with a microphone (and one of those pulpit like podiums with their notes). All other teachers are either standing to the side, or behind the students to make sure they behave.
VVP: "Stand up." (everyone stands up) "Bow" (everyone bows to nothing/no one in particular....perhaps to the Japanese flag to show respect, I'm not sure)
"Let's have the starting words for the ceremony" (this is a very loose translation)
Vice Principal: Moves toward the stage. On her(his) way there she stops in front of the principal and bows. She goes up the steps of the stage, stops at the top and bows toward the stage. She moves to the podium with the microphone. She bows to the audience who bow back to her.
"Opening Ceremony will now begin."
She bows to the audience again, who bow back to her again. She moves to the top of the steps, stops, turns and bows toward the stage. She goes down the steps, stops in front of the principal, bows to him and then moves back to the place where she was standing.
VVP: "sit down" (all students sit)
"~~~student from 6th grade and ~~~~ student from 1st grade (says their names) will now read their comments"
One 1stgrade student and One 6th grade student come to the front. They bow to the principal and VP on their way to the stage. They go up the steps and stop and bow toward the stage. They walk to the podium with the mic. The 1st grader steps forward and bows to the audience who bow back. Student reads his/her comments that they had written down....comments about last semester and what they look forward to for coming semester. Student finishes comments, bows (with a return bow) and steps back. 6th grade student steps forward. Reads comments. Finishes and bows. Together the students walk back to the top of the steps, they turn and bow toward the stage. They walk down the steps walk to the principal and VP, stop and bow, and then move back to their spot.
VVP: "stand up" "Now we will sing the school song"
A teacher moves up to the stage, bows at the top of the steps and sits down at the piano. She starts playing and the kids sing the school song. (This is probably my favorite part!)
The song finishes. The teacher leaves the stage, not forgetting to bow at the top of the steps.
VVP: "Let's have the finishing words"
Vice Principal: Moves toward the stage....again. On her(his) way there she stops in front of the principal and bows. She goes up the steps of the stage, stops at the top and bows toward the stage. She moves to the podium with the microphone. She bows to the audience who bow back to her.
"Opening Ceremony is now finished."
She bows to the audience again, who bow back to her again. She moves to the top of the steps, stops, turns and bows toward the stage. She goes down the steps, stops in front of the principal, bows to him and then moves back to the place where she was standing.
(Whats coming next doesnt happen all the time, but it happened to me last week because we had a teacher who was leaving.)
VVP: "It is time to start the goodbye ceremony for ~~~~sensei."
Vice Principal: Moves toward the stage....again. On her/his way there she stops in front of the principal and bows. She goes up the steps of the stage, stops at the top and bows toward the stage. She moves to the podium with the microphone. She bows to the audience who bow back to her.
"The Goodbye ceremony for ~~~~ sensei will now start."
She bows to the audience again, who bow back to her again. She moves to the top of the steps, stops, turns and bows toward the stage. She goes down the steps, stops in front of the principal, bows to him and then moves back to the place where she was standing.
OK, I'm not gonna go through this whole ceremony as well....I just wanted to point out how funny it is to see one ceremony has to be completely finished before a next ceremony can take place, even for something as simple as starting a new trimester and saying goodbye to a teacher in elementary school.
