A Housatonic Valley Waldorf School tradition marked the start of the 2016-17 school year for eighth graders and first graders on Wednesday, September 7, when the school's traditional rose ceremony took place.

Faculty, students, parents, and invited family members gathered at the school for the morning event. Eighth grade teacher Marlene DeGrande and first grade teacher Allison Washington led their respective students into the event.

During the ceremony, eighth grade students act as mentors for first grade students and present the first graders with a rose for the first day of school. Ms DeGrande introduced each eighth grader and Ms Washington introduced each first grade student that met them to receive a rose.

This year marks the school's 27th rose Ceremony.

Ms Washington then shared a story - another rose ceremony tradition. She stopped before the end and told the gathered group that if they wished to know the ending, they should ask a first grader to share it with them.