Polite Society School of Étiquette

Welcome

Polite Society School of Étiquette offers a thoughtfully curated collection of courses designed to cultivate grace, confidence, and impeccable poise. The following courses are offered. Beginning Étiquette Course — An introduction to the essential principles of etiquette, gracious manners, and confident social interaction. Afternoon Tea Étiquette Course — An elegant exploration of afternoon tea traditions, tea-table etiquette, and the art of hosting and participating in this cherished ritual. Protocol, Decorum, & Savoir-Faire Course — A study of refined conduct, formal protocol, and the discernment required to navigate social and professional settings with confidence. The Story of Tea Course — A captivating journey through the history, culture, and traditions of tea, celebrating its enduring influence on societies around the world. Étiquette tutelage is also offered through speaking engagements, instructional webinars, school seminars, private dinners, and specialty tea events. The School's mission is to educate both adults and children in the traditional principles of etiquette and the essential social skills needed for everyday life. The curriculum encompasses the history of etiquette, social graces, dining etiquette, proper table settings, appropriate attire, protocol, decorum, and other valuable etiquette practices. Students also learn the art and essentials of preparing and serving a proper Afternoon Tea. Polite Society School of Étiquette provides students with the knowledge and skills to navigate the expectations of society with grace, poise, and confidence, empowering them to feel comfortable and self-assured in any social situation. All courses include foods and beverages as teaching aids. Interactive online training courses are available.

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

New Book Cover

Friday, November 9, 2018

Happy Thanksgiving SCONES!

Don't these look fabulous!

Enjoy

Saturday, October 13, 2018

Northwest Tea Festival in Seattle

I gave a speech at the Northwest Tea Festival in Seattle and a couple of days later I received the nicest letter from Debbie and Tracy. They took my class at the festival and sent me:

How thoughtful!

NEW ONLINE TEA ETIQUETTE TRAINING AVAILABLE!

Ms. Bernadette M. Petrotta

Founder & Director

Polite Society School of Etiquette

Authored Books:

The Art of the Social Graces

The Art and Proper Etiquette of Afternoon Tea

EMMA The Etiquette Cat: Meet Emma

Website: PoliteSocietySchool.com

Email: PoliteSocietySchool@Whidbey.com

Blog: PoliteSocietySchool.blogspot.com

Sunday, April 15, 2018

Polite Society School of Etiquette Tea Course

Friday, April 6, 2018

Polite Society School of Etiquette - "Manners"

"Manners"

Handshaking - The Ultimate Greeting: Shaking hands creates a favorable impression and influences others to do the same. The handshake is important because it is the accepted greeting in almost all countries. Always shake hands when: introduced to a person and when you say goodbye, when someone comes into your office to see you, when you meet someone outside your office or home, when you enter a room, when you leave a gathering, when you congratulate someone who has won an award or given a speech, and when you are consoling someone. Hand shaking is not exclusively for males. Women, too, are encouraged to offer their hand when an introduction is made. A firm but not overpowering handshake is usually a good idea. Be especially careful of how much pressure you exert if you are shaking hands with an elderly person or if you are wearing heavy rings which might bruise, but be sure your handshake is both firm and brief. Count to three and let go.

Say Hello to the hostess before you accept any drink.

Taking Your Seat At The Table: Men and women are expected to enter and sit in a chair from their left sides. This prevents bumping the neighbor when seating. The exception is when the chairs are too close to enter from the side and must be pulled out to sit. Exit the chair the same way you entered. Do not forget to push the chair back in when you leave. A gentleman should seat a lady by standing behind her chair and pulling it back with both hands. When she is half-seated, the chair should gently be pushed forward so that her chair is under her hips. After seating her, the gentleman takes the seat to her left. Good posture is important; do not slouch. Put your back against the back of your chair. Whenever possible, pushsleeves up above the elbows before eating.

NOTE: Men are seated to the left of the woman so as to have their right hand available to assist the woman.

Sit Up Straight. Push your back against the back of the chair.

Push Sweateror sleeves up above elbow before eating.

Rest Your Wrists On The Table. No elbows on the table.

Your Space At The Table: Your spaceshould be confined to the imaginary box around you. If you must move your feet, do so in your own foot space (close to the floor and within the chair legs). If you are not eating, your hands should be on your lap or on the table right in front of you. While you are eating, try to put your non-eating hand on your lap. If you must rest your hands on the table, do so with your wrists only. Place your wrists in front of you on the edge of the table. Do not put your elbows on the table.

Purses, Briefcases, Eyeglasses, And Eyeglass Cases: Do not place any item on the table. A small purse should go on your lap, under the napkin. A large purse, briefcase, and other personal items should go under your chair, out of the way. Never block the path of other guests or the serving staff. An eyeglass case belongs in your purse or pocket. Never put your eyeglasses on the table. Your cell phone should be set to vibrate or switched off and put away. It is extremely rude to make or accept a phone call (or text) during a meal.

Lavatory: Women go to the “powder room” and men go to “freshen up.”

Proper Way To Leave A Dinner Party: The general rule for leaving a dinner party is approximately forty-five minutes after dinner is over.

NEW ONLINE TEA ETIQUETTE TRAINING AVAILABLE!

Ms. Bernadette M. Petrotta

Founder & Director

Polite Society School of Etiquette

Authored Books:

The Art of the Social Graces

The Art and Proper Etiquette of Afternoon Tea

EMMA The Etiquette Cat: Meet Emma

Website: PoliteSocietySchool.com

Email: PoliteSocietySchool@Whidbey.com

Blog: PoliteSocietySchool.blogspot.com

Sunday, March 18, 2018

Polite Society School - "Manners"

Manners

"You have been invited to someone's home for dinner"

What to do??

Be Fashionably On Time: Arrive at a formal dinner party thirty minutes before dinner. At a less formal event, the general rule today is to arrive no earlier than twenty minutes before dinner. Gifts are not expected unless it is a birthday or a celebration of some sort. You may bring a special bottle of vintage port, champagne, or sparkling cider. Never suggest or mention that your wine be served. The host or hostess has decided which wines should accompany his or her menu.

Flowers should not be given to the hostess because she or the staff will be too preoccupied to arrange them. The flowers, like the wine, have already been chosen. Instead, it is thoughtful to call the hostess several days before the dinner to say you would like to send her flowers in advance and ask what are a few of her favorites as well as her preference in color.

Make An Entrance: Almost everyone watches the entrance of a room. Enter the room with good posture. Do not rush into the room, even if you are late. Do not slouch. Do not speak loudly or expect everyone to stop what they are doing and greet you. Rather, look for the honoree, the host, or the hostess and greet them politely while complimenting the hostess on some item of décor, her costume, etc. It is true you only get one chance to make a first impression; be careful that your impression is a good one. Always be sure to greet the host or hostess before you accept a drink.

NOTE: Shoes off at the front door can be done very comfortably by providing slip-ons for indoor use or shoe covers. You can put a basket by the door filled with surgical booties. Also have a bench or chair nearby so guests can sit down and either take their shoes off, put slip-ons on, or put booties over their shoes.

Remove Gloves: Remove your gloves before you shake a person’s hand. Unless there is a reason not to, it is best to remove your gloves as soon as you arrive at an event.

NOTE: Gloves are often thought of as something born of the Napoleonic era. In fact, they’ve been worn for over 10,000 years. Of course, the earliest uses were not for fashion but more utilitarian in purpose. Gloves protected one’s hands from harsh weather or hard labor. Even thousands of years ago, they were not worn during dinner service. This is understandable when you consider that until the 1600s, food was traditionally eaten with fingers.

More coming soon...

NEW ONLINE TEA ETIQUETTE TRAINING AVAILABLE!

Ms. Bernadette M. Petrotta

Founder & Director

Polite Society School of Etiquette

Authored Books:

The Art of the Social Graces

The Art and Proper Etiquette of Afternoon Tea

EMMA The Etiquette Cat: Meet Emma

Website: PoliteSocietySchool.com

Email: PoliteSocietySchool@Whidbey.com

Blog: PoliteSocietySchool.blogspot.com

Thursday, March 8, 2018

Thank-You Notes...

THANK-YOU NOTES

The ultimate purpose of Writing Thank-you Notes is to offer a great deal of insight into when you should send a thank-you note.

A thank-you note is a written message to show appreciation for something someone has given you or done for you. There are an endless number of daily situations in which a thank-you note would be unexpected, but deeply appreciated. Let your conscience be your guide.

Someone has done something nice for you, whether it was giving a thoughtful gift, preparing a nice dinner, or lending a hand when you moved, and you would like to say "Thank You." Thank you for thinking of me, thank you for your help, thank you for being my friend, thank you for your extravagance, thank you for making my favorite dish, thank you for entertaining me - well, you get the idea!

Writing a thank-you note makes a connection and brings a relationship full circle. It may seem like a simple thing, and it is, but it is often the simple things that make life worthwhile.

NEW ONLINE TEA ETIQUETTE TRAINING AVAILABLE!

Ms. Bernadette M. Petrotta

Founder & Director

Polite Society School of Etiquette

Authored Books:

The Art of the Social Graces

The Art and Proper Etiquette of Afternoon Tea

EMMA The Etiquette Cat: Meet Emma

Website: PoliteSocietySchool.com

Email: PoliteSocietySchool@Whidbey.com

Blog: PoliteSocietySchool.blogspot.com

NEW REVISED EDITION - The Art of Timeless Étiquette, Graceful Dining Manners, & Afternoon Tea

The Polite School of Étiquette presents Volume V, The Art of Timeless Étiquette, Graceful Dining Manners, & Afternoon Tea Revised Edition, featuring Social Graces, Étiquette History, Introduction Methods, Entertaining Guidelines, Correspondence Protocol, History of Tableware, Dining out Manners, American and Continental Style Dining, Appropriate Dress Attire, Personal Care and Home Management, History of Tea, Types of Tea, Tea Pairings and Tastings, Afternoon Tea in England, Tea Food Dining Instructions, and Formalities for Preparing a “Proper” Afternoon Tea. This revised edition is an updated compilation of Volume I, Volume II, and Volume IV with additional étiquette information and home management guidelines. The Art of Timeless Étiquette, Graceful Dining Manners, & Afternoon Tea Revised Edition offers practical knowledge in basic social skills for all occasions and settings and includes useful information and advice to enhance one’s lifestyle in the social and business world. It takes the reader through a brief history of étiquette, offers introduction methods and conversation techniques, provides guidelines for entertaining, presents illustrations for formal, informal, and family style table settings, and explains the difference between Continental and American Style dining. It also provides instructions on the proper way to consume soups, beverages, tea, coffee, and various difficult foods. With beautiful photographs, exquisite china, gleaming silver, and stunning floral bouquets, The Art of Timeless Étiquette, Graceful Dining Manners, & Afternoon Tea Revised Edition delights the senses with elegant and picturesque table settings, antique teacups, and beautiful linens. Together these elements form the foundation for an elegant table setting. In the chapters dedicated to Afternoon Tea, detailed information is provided on the history of tea, styles of tea, types of tea, tea pairings with fruits and savouries, and tea tasting characteristics. Instructions are provided on making the perfect pot of tea for this charming custom that was once the hallmark of high society. Detailed guidelines are presented on how to set a proper tea table and how to set up a tea style buffet along with instructions on dining with savouries, scones, and petits fours. This newest volume illustrates various methods for conducting oneself gracefully in his or her professional life keeping in mind the importance of first impressions. The chapter on virtues contains important information on self-discipline, friendship, courage, and other aspects for living a good life. As a bonus, The Art of Timeless Étiquette, Graceful Dining Manners, & Afternoon Tea Revised Edition journeys through chapters on the history, usage, and care of all tableware which includes flatware, dinnerware, stemware, and crystal. Credit is given to Richard Osterberg’s book, Sterling Silver Flatware (Published in 1994 by Schiffer Publishing Ltd.) for much of this information. Mr. Osterberg’s passionate interest in antiques and silver began during his Vermont childhood. He was introduced to a goldsmith and silversmith from Scotland and over time developed an interest in English, Scottish, and American silver that resulted in several publications. Credit is also given to William Hanson, executive director and owner of The English Manner based in London. Mr. Hanson is widely regarded as the most trusted authority on étiquette and civility. His life’s work continues to be the training of royalty, government officials, diplomats, and VIPs who wish to integrate good manners into the global forum. Mr. Hanson’s expert advice is priceless. Whether one is a homemaker, business professional, or student, The Art of Timeless Étiquette, Graceful Dining Manners, & Afternoon Tea Revised Edition will empower every reader with confidence as he or she learns life-changing essential manners and practical skills while exploring the world of étiquette. It will serve as one’s treasury of gracious living and offer inspiration for curating welcoming interiors and entertaining for every occasion.

EMMA The Étiquette Cat: Meet Emma Book

Volume III, EMMA The Étiquette Cat: Meet Emma, is beautifully written and illustrated. This children’s book is about Emma Elizabeth, an adorable Ragdoll feline. She is about two years old and is the sweetest kitty cat. Mischievous and loving with an abundance of curiosity, Emma fancies herself as a well-behaved kitty and her daily quest is to please her mum. She loves to play and sometimes gets into a bit of trouble, but her mum is very forgiving and gently corrects her. Children will instantly fall in love with Emma as they try to emulate her good manners. They will also enjoy her appetite for treats and her delightful personality. Gaylen Whiteman, an extremely talented artist who lives on picturesque Whidbey Island, beautifully illustrates Emma’s bright blue eyes and her gorgeous furry coat. Gaylen, who signs by her first name, captures Emma’s curious personality as she is featured near mum’s tea table, antique tub, and other interesting areas of her home. The book also includes a fabulous healthy English Scone Recipe, a Mock Devonshire Cream Recipe, and a Blackberry Fruit Spread Recipe for parents to make with their children along with a short explanation of the word “etiquette,” a child’s place setting illustration, and a family-style place setting illustration.