Time for Tea
On April 3, 2013, Mrs. Worland-sensei's 1st grade JIP class observed a traditional Japanese tea ceremony in the Urasenke style by the mother and grandmother of GFES student Fiona Lin.
The children filed quietly into the room and sat before a two tatami or straw mat "tea room" where they were welcomed as guests of the tea gathering. Then the teishu or host began the ryakubon ceremony by cleansing the utensils in a certain order and preparing a bowl of tea by use of a tea container, scoop, bamboo whisk and hot water, among others.
All utensils are chosen for the celebration of the season or occasion. For example, the tea bowl depicted an image of a crane flying above cherry blossom trees.The hanto or assistant, Mary Ann Goodman, who has practiced and taught the Urasenke Tradition of Tea for many decades, explained the first half of the proceedings to the children solely in Japanese, who watched with hushed awe. "Before we drink," she explained, "we bow to the bowl to be thankful for this wonderful moment to share tea together." She went on to say that all utensils have a front and backside, and what direction that they face when used explains the respect given to both the implement and the guest. Then the children were given small sweets, which are consumed before drinking to "sweeten" the tea's taste by comparison. Samples of the frothy green tea called matcha with its profound verdant color were then distributed. "May I please have another?" asked [a student], who went on to consume three "bowls" of tea.
Green tea came to Japan by way of China and southern Asia. It is said that Japanese monks traveling to China to study Buddhism were introduced to matcha in the 8th century. Today the Urasenke School of Tea with its headquarters in Kyoto, Japan is dedicated to furthering the Way of Tea to an international audience like the wonderful and attentive students of GFES, simply one bowl at a time. ~Amy E. Goodman
Announcements
GFES Golf Tournament-June 3, 2013
The 2013 Great Falls ES Golf Tournament will help raise funds to purchase iPads for the classrooms at GFES. We need your help to make this event a success! You can play in the tournament, volunteer or sponsor a teacher to play. To register to play, please visit www.GreatFallsGolf.org . To volunteer, click www.SignUpGenius.com/go/10C0B44AFAA2DA75-celebrate2/3718422 . If you are interested in sponsoring a teacher to play, contact Lysa Van Beuren at thevanbeurens@aol.com . Thank you for your support!
2013-2014 Supply Lists Now Available
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The Current
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Bring Your Own Device
Information on the Great Falls ES BYOD Initiative can be found HERE.
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