わかくさ学園 Ceremony

This morning was the opening ceremony for the Wakakusa Kindergarden. We had to go to the school all dressed up in our black/grey suits. Brandon, our last teacher got in last night. It's nice to be all together. We lined up outside of the gym, walked in and onto the stage. Enchou-sensei called our name, we stepped forward, bowed, stepped back. Then we all stepped forward and bowed at the same time, then left the stage. We had to do this twice. First for the 5 year olds, then the 3 and 4 years olds.  The kids sat in front and the parents in back. With the 5 year olds, the kids were placed in columns, boys and girls, a column of girls, then boys, then girls, then boys. No one applauded. But with the 3 and 4 year olds, they just sat down in a mass, and after the kindergarden teachers bowed, they sat down in front of the kids on the floor to keep order, because the parents were sitting in a group behind the kids. When we came up the second time, after we bowed individually, Enchou-sensei started saying something. I'm not sure what, but it took longer than the first time, and, when we bowed as a group, the audience applauded. I wonder what role clapping occupies in Japanese culture.
During the time between the two ceremonies we had a time of team worship. Later, we had an Easter brunch.