Monday was the goodbye ceremony for the teachers who are leaving, then a welcome ceremony for the new teachers at the same time as the opening ceremony for the returning students.

Today was the opening ceremony for the new students. The third year students came to the ceremony, too. However, there wasn't enough room for the second year students because all the parents of the first year students come (or at least, the mothers do).

I think it is nice to have an opening ceremony for the new students, as well as a graduation ceremony for the students who are leaving. However, I feel there are too many ceremonies. There is a ceremony every time a semester starts or ends. In the last three weeks, there have been five ceremonies, including three this week. It seems a bit excessive to me. Also, it seems silly to have a ceremony before the vacations, because most of the students keep coming to school every day for club activities. If the students don't leave and the teachers don't leave, is it really necessary to have a ceremony?

One thing that is surprising to me in the ceremonies, is that the PTA plays a very important role. The head of the PTA always makes a speech after the principal. Also, whenever a teacher or student comes to the podium, they always turn to the head of the PTA and bow to him. I don't think the head of the PTA was as important in my schools.