NEWSLETTER  SEPTEMBER 2008

Welcome back to all our returning students and a big welcome to our new students. We hope that this year will be a great as last year. The recital received more compliments than EVER! Well done all of the students and teachers.

The notice board always has the latest newsletter posted as well as any other relevant info or studio news, please do come in and check it once a month and check the website regularly too. There are some new pages being added in the next few weeks plus the gallery will have all new photos.

The office will be open for photo and DVD pick up on Mon the 8th and 15th, and Wed,  10th and 17th,from 4 to 7 pm, and on Sat 13th from 11 am to 2 pm. Please pick up  all photo’s and DVDs during this time (in studio A change room or studio B) and also drop off post dated cheques for those who still need to do this.

Please could everyone be aware that all news will be posted on the website the first week of each month and it is up to you to read it there or on the studio bulletin boards.  Please could everyone familiarize themselves with the Policies page on the website. If you do not have access to the web, please ask me (Julie) for a copy and I will get that to you.

Please note that all accounts queries or schedule changes need to be emailed to our accounts department: address is accounts@freeflightdance.com. All other queries to our regular address info@freeflightdance.com, or go to the website and hit the Contact Us button. IT IS MUCH QUICKER TO GET A RESPONSE VIA EMAIL THAN PHONE AS WE ALL TEACH UNTIL 10 PM AND OFTEN IN THE MORNINGS TOO . Emails to a specific teacher marked “Att to:”

SHOE SWAP: is on  Sunday 14th from 1 to 3 pm.  Please check all your dance shoes, especially Character shoes (and Character skirts) to see if they still fit. If they do not and you would like to sell them please mark them with masking tape with your name, telephone number and a price (ask if you are not sure) and place them in a Ziploc bag along with an envelope with your name and telephone number (for the money to be put into) and bring them to the studio by 3pm on Sat the 13th.  No Late goods will be accepted.  Please pin shoes that are a pair together with a safety pin. Please put prices on Character skirts with a safety pin along with the envelope. PLEASE NOTE that we DO NOT sell used body suites or any used clothing other than Character skirts. All unsold goods MUST be picked up by October 11th. We will not be responsible for your shoes or skirts thereafter.

Closures

The studio will be closed for Thanksgiving Monday (due to lack of participation in previous years).                               Closed Dec for our 2 week Christmas Break., exact dates TBA.  Closed March for 2 weeks Spring Break.

Recital Dates - please pencil these into your calendar.

The recital is June 13th and 14th 2009, with all performing classes performing in BOTH shows (3 pm start). If you cannot be in both shows (parents do not need to WATCH both days) you need to let the teacher/s concerned know BEFORE they start choreography (usually around Jan). There is nothing worse than being on stage and your dance team mate has not shown up for the show and you have to either improvise or just stand still not knowing what to do. Please put yourself in a child’s position and imagine how you would feel if it happened to you or to your child. We try to accommodate everyone wherever possible on this issue. THE SHOW IS A CELEBRATION OF THE YEAR’S WORK and is very important to the children.

Recycling -We are recycling bottles in both studio change rooms. 

TAP - Please note that tap shoes may not be worn in the change room areas AT ALL!! You must put them on only once you are in the actual studio where your class will be held. We are also offering Tap Exams again this year, taught by Carol Humphries.

HIP-HOP - Shoes can be regular runners but must be CLEAN, so please have a special pair of shoes which you use ONLY for hip-hop, and YES, that includes the Boy’s Hip-Hop!!

Regulation and other dance clothing will be available at the Shoe Swap from Smarty’s. Smarty's in Tsawwassen and Limber's in Surrey keep all ballet regulation uniforms, but only Limber's keeps the character shoes and skirts. All grades 1 to 8 need character skirts and shoes.

 Please always treat the teachers, fellow students and studio property with respect. Free Flight reserves the right to ask any person/s to leave the school if either someone’s self esteem OR studio property is being damaged.

 Studio Rules, Goals and Expectations

 I would like to take this opportunity to remind students and parents of a few of the studio rules and expectations. I apologize if it seems overwhelming, but here goes!

1 )  Please DO NOT at ANY TIME park at Speeds Pub as he has caused a lot of trouble in the past over this issue, and yes, I know HIS clients park in OUR parking, but we seem unable to control that in any way. There is a lot of public parking in the lot right beside our building

2)   Please be respectful of the staff and other students at all times.

3)   Please respect the studio space and DO NOT litter (we have garbage cans and recycling bins). Do not put feet up on the walls or furniture, or stand on the benches in the dressing rooms. Ask if there is no paper in the washrooms, we always have it! Remember that hundreds of students pass through the studio every week and if everyone respects the studios we will all have a great time.

4)   Please do NOT use the washroom as a dressing room. There are 2 change rooms in studio C if you need to change at the studio.

5)   Please wear the regulation uniforms at all times. The attire requirements are listed on the website under “Programs and Attire”, and wear your hair in a bun for Ballet, or tied back for all other dance classes.

6)   Anyone who has a returned cheque will be charged a $20 NSF fee. Please note that while we break down the fees into 10 portions, with 2 non refundable portions due upon registration (plus an admin registration fee) each portion does not directly pertain to 1 month! Some months have more classes in them and some have less, we base our price on an overall number of weeks and divide it into 10 equal potions for the sake of keeping things simple.

7)   We load newsletters on the website and post them on the bulletin board at the beginning of each month! The web address is www.freeflightdance.com

8)   For the sake of the students, both participating and absent, regular attendance is the most rewarding! Every time students miss class, we all have to take 2 steps forward and one step back. Apart from the effect on the class as a whole, a student who misses a lot of classes never has the confidence of those who attend regularly. We are not suggesting that you cannot be ill!! We would just like to reiterate the importance for all to be committed for the year, as well as BOTH performances in the recital!

9)   PLEASE DO NOT call the teachers at home except in an emergency. We all have very little time with our families as we work until 10 pm at night.

10)  If you would like a tax receipt for your under 16 year child, please note that they will be available between Dec to April, NO LATER. You need to bring in a STAMPED, SELF ADDRESSES ENVELOPE to the studio with the student's name, your name and address and we will then mail the receipt to you. ONLY for students 16 and under. Please email all account enquiries to  accounts@freeflightdance.com   Any changes in classes, dropping, picking up extra classes etc MUST be made in writing mailed to the studio. You can also email this to the accounts department but also please ask for receipt of your email. Please see "POLICIES" page on the website for all terms and conditions. 

Every year I like to remind the students of our goals. They are:

1)   To maintain a positive atmosphere at all times.

2)   To impart to the students a love of dance and improve technique.

3)   To encourage EVERY student to reach their potential.

4)   To encourage each student to work for themselves (work ethic/ownership!)

5)   To maintain a neat and tidy studio.

6)   To treat each other, students and teachers alike, with respect and grace. 

All the teachers at Free Flight are committed to their ongoing learning to become more informed, have more tools and remain inspired, to impart the love of dance to ALL their students. We are constantly questioning how we can reach more students, in more ways, and with more passion and enthusiasm. We hope our commitment to the students and Free Flight is an inspiration to you all to make learning exciting, fun and as rewarding to you as it is to us.

 Remember our motto – YOU CAN FLY !