HIS Tea Ceremony: Let's Give a Warm Welcome!

By Ellie McGuire and Ji You Kim, Photos by Ji You Kim

Introduction

The HIS Tea Ceremony is an event held in order to welcome any new Huskies (students) to our school. It is held at the MPR on Tuesdays a week or so after a new student attends their first day at school. A cup of tea will be handed to the student, and a small introduction will be made to the school while everyone gives a round of applause as a "Welcome to HIS!" 

Who is the Tea Ceremony For?

The Tea Ceremony is for any new students who join the HIS community! The tea ceremony is held for all grades and ages. However, usually, the middle and high school students will be able to introduce themselves at the assemblies held on Tuesdays, while the elementary students would be able to introduce themselves at the assemblies held on Mondays. In the future, we hope to see even more ceremonies held as our school expands and more students join our community!

Why Do We Hold the Ceremony?

As mentioned above, the main purpose of the tea ceremony is to welcome and introduce our new students to HIS! As tea is seen as a traditional "welcoming item" to give to guests in Japan, HIS has also picked up this tradition as they embrace their Japanese side. At the ceremony, the new students are handed a can of green tea alongside a ceramic cup which the tea can be poured into. This correlates with the same tradition in Japan as it is seen as not only seen as just a beverage but also a gesture of hospitality, respect, and politeness. The tea also serves as a way to make the guests feel welcome and comfortable inside a new environment. HIS is a school where everyone can be accepted, no matter their ethnicity or race. We want everyone to feel welcomed and at home and celebrating this tea ceremony is one of the many things we do to fulfill that goal!

Interviews

Geroge Wang (10th Grader)

How did you feel:

It was somewhat nerve-wracking, but I was happy that I got some tea. It was also cool to see everyone in the school there.

Did you experience similar things at your previous school:

My past school didn't really do these types of things. We mostly introduced new people only to their homeroom class.

What would you tell new students:

You might feel embarrassed at first, but it's actually a pretty nice experience. You'll be happy to get tea.

 

Dani Htut (11th Grader)

How did you feel:

I felt nervous because I was going up in front of the whole school, but it was over pretty quickly. I think that knowing some people (dorm students) beforehand helped ease my nerves.

Did you experience similar things at your previous school:

Not really because most of us stayed at the school since a young age (kindergarten). We didn't really get any new students and most of us already knew each other.

What would you tell new students:

Enjoy your time at HIS. Even if you're staying for a short amount of time, it's a good school to be at and I'm pretty sure you'll have fun here.