Roses and Reflections: Tarrytown School District Celebrates Annual Rose Ceremony

Sleepy Hollow High School hosted its beloved Annual Rose Ceremony on October 1, a district tradition that symbolizes both beginnings and endings in the journey of education.

During the event, SHHS seniors presented roses to first-graders from Tappan Hill School to form a bridge between the youngest and oldest students in the Public Schools of the Tarrytowns. The exchange celebrates the continuity of education, the growth students experience over time, and the promise of future achievement.

SHHS Principal Dr. Deborah Brand shared welcoming remarks to begin the ceremony.

“Our seniors want you to see that your education is a special adventure,” said Dr. Brand, speaking to the first-graders. “It's as beautiful as the rose that will be in your hand in a little while. Sometimes it will be thorny, and at other times it will fill you with wonder…. whatever your experiences are, they will be beautiful because they'll help you become the person that you're meant to be.

Turning to the seniors, she added, “I hope that today's ceremony reminds you of the journey that you've been on and how far you've come... so hand over your rose with a sense of purpose and with pride. Help the first-graders see your generosity today and what fulfilled potential looks like through every step you take this year.”

Alicia Manguso, Principal of Tappan Hill School, also addressed the students. “Today we gather for a very special moment, a ceremony that is all about beginnings and endings. It's a tradition that reminds us that every new step in life is something to celebrate,” she said.

She noted the special place in the district’s history for the Class of 2037, as Tappan Hill School opened its doors at the beginning of the school year to accommodate TUFSD’s growing enrollment.

“You are the first students to walk through the doors of Tappan Hill school as it reopens to the Tarrytown school district. You are helping us write the story of this school's new chapter and your footsteps mark the beginning of something extraordinary,” Ms. Manguso added.

As roses were exchanged, the joy on the children’s faces lit up the morning. First-graders embraced their senior Horsemen with huge hugs and wide smiles as they proudly held their roses high. Families looked on from the sidelines, capturing photos and sharing in the moment as their children took part in the ceremony. The backdrop of a beautiful, crisp autumn morning made the occasion all the more memorable, highlighting the warmth and tradition that the Rose Ceremony represents.

“It's really great to see these like little kids in a place where I was 11 years ago,” said Senior Lara Hansen after presenting a rose to a first-grader. “It's kind of surreal, because we used to be that little, and for them, it's their first step going in and it's our first step going to a new place in life. I hope that they remember it, I hope they realize that one day they will be standing up there, giving somebody else a rose, and how they're going to grow up like that too.”

The Rose Ceremony remains a cherished annual tradition in Tarrytown, reminding students, families, and staff alike that education is a journey of growth, connection, and shared community, from the first rose received to the last rose given.

In the spring of 2026, the tradition comes full circle when the first-graders present a rose to the seniors, sending them off with best wishes for their next chapter.