Moments after the new school year began at Housatonic Valley Waldorf School on September 6, students, faculty, and family members gathered to welcome 16 first graders at the school's Rose Ceremony.

The Rose Ceremony is held annually. Eighth grade students are matched with first grade buddies and the older students welcome them by presenting them with a rose. According to the school, the gesture will be repeated in reverse at the end of the school year, when the younger students will present roses to their graduating buddies.

First grade teacher Chandrika Patalia and eighth grade teacher Emily Remensperger also took part in the ceremony. Ms Remensperger presented Ms Patalia with a rose to start the ceremony.

After the roses were presented, Ms Patalia shared a story, a part of the ceremony the first grade teacher shares each year.

According to the school, this is Ms Patalia's first time as serving as a grade level teacher. Ms Patalia taught parent-child classes at Housatonic Valley Waldorf School for two years in addition to running the aftercare program. Prior to that Ms Patalia worked at Tridha, a Rudolph Steiner (Waldorf) School in Mumbai, as the handwork teacher for first to sixth grade.

Near the close of the ceremony, the gathering sang together before students were released to start the school day in their classrooms.