School Rituals,

Traditions, and
Ceremonies
LEYLANI HERICO-SAMSON
 Peterson and Deal (2009)
 school rituals as procedures or routines
that are infused with deeper
significance.
1. greeting the teacher as students
encounter them along the corridor SCHOOL RITUALS
2. conducting flag ceremonies every
morning,
3. observing the honoring gesture or
“pagmamano” gesture. ETC.

Indeed, rituals help to transform

common experience into uncommon
events
 are significant events that have a
special history and meaning and
occur year in and year out. Unlike
school traditions ceremonies, they need not be large
communal events (Peterson & Deal,
2009). Some example of school
traditions are conducting freshman
orientation, holding recollection
activities to the graduating batch, and
arranging school camping
 school ceremonies

• are elaborated as culturally sanctioned events that provide welcome

spirit boost.
• Most schools have formal ceremonies that mark transitions in the school
year.
• These periodic communal events bind people to each other and shape
unwritten cultural values (Peterson and Deal, 2009).
• some examples of school ceremonies are holding the annual graduation
rites, joining some local cultural activities and celebrating Christmas
through Christmas Parties.
A school’s mission, vision, values,
rituals, traditions, and ceremonies are all
elements of the culture that are current
and happening in the past.

When discussing the history and stories

of an organization, the past is being
represented
(Confeld, 2016).

SCHOOL HISTORY AND

STORIES
Peterson and Deal (2009) SCHOOL HISTORY AND
STORIES
shared that learning from past mistakes and
successes is vital to creating and maintaining a
positive school culture.

The retelling of the past can bring some

necessary initiatives into action, revive traditions
and rituals that have shrivelled away, and assist
staff in surrendering previous obsolete memories.

But let us always remember that the culture of a

school is build up over time as people work
together, play together, fight together, and laugh
together
 SCHOOL ARTIFACTS,
school artifacts, architecture, and symbols are the key to ARCHITECTURE, AND SYMBOLS
create and sustain a positive school culture

The artifacts and symbols are the tangible object that

represents the intangible values and beliefs of the
school (Peterson and Deal, 2009).

Moreover, these have variety of possibilities such logos,

mascots, banners, awards, flags, trophies, and the like

In addition, even school administrators may serve as

walking symbols as he or she send through words,
actions, and body language.

Confeld (2016) claimed that physical environment of the

school building and the surrounding area are essential in
influencing how individuals think and feel about what is
valued.
)
 )
Toxic

Fragmented

Balkanized 6 TYPES OF SCHOOL

CULTURES:
Contrived-Collegial

Comfortable-Collaborative

Collaborative
According to Peterson (2002), schools with negative or toxic culture:

Lack a clear sense of purpose

Have norms that reinforce inertia

Blame students for lack of progress

Discourage collaboration

Often have actively hostile relations among staff

TOXIC SCHOOL CULTURE

IN TOXIC CULTURE , THE STAFF

View students as the problem rather than as their valued clients

Are sometimes parts of negative subcultures that are hostile and critical of change

Believe they are doing the best they can do and do not search out new ideas

Frequently share stories and historical perspective on the school that are often negative, discouraging, and demoralizing.

Complain, criticize, and distrust any new ideas, approaches, or suggestions for improvement raised by planning committees

Rarely share ideas, materials, or solutions to classroom problems

Have few ceremonies or school traditions that celebrate what is good and hopeful about their place of work

TOXIC SCHOOL CULTURE

 Complete the table by determining school rituals, traditions, and ceremonies and explain their
purposes

SCHOOL RITUALS PURPOSE

1.

2.

3.

SCHOOL TRADITIONS PURPOSE

1.

2.

3.

SCHOOL CEREMONIES PURPOSE

1.

2.

3.

4.