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WELCOME to our new
students and welcome back to everyone who is returning. We hope you will all enjoy your experience
with the Cara School and that you will participate in all of the exciting
events that are planned throughout the year!
CALENDAR
We are distributing a calendar of the holidays for the year 2007-8
at the first class. Please check the webpage ROUTINELY for calendar updates.
STUDENTS
Students will be
expected to develop the physical
skills associated with Irish dance: body control, coordination, good posture
etc. In addition, students will be
encouraged to improve their listening skills & attention spans, increase
self-confidence, and perform to the best of their ability. Students should
expect constructive criticism and feedback.
Students will be
expected to respect their teachers
and their classmates at all times. Continuous disruption of class will not be
tolerated, as it is unfair to the other students. Injury to another or
defacement of property will result in immediate and permanent dismissal . We
have had no such incidence since we started teaching in 1998!
Students will be expected to practice (with music) between sessions- so that class time
can be spent mastering what has already been presented and learning new
material. Regular attendance at class
is expected and is critical for those who wish to advance.
Students
wearing a cast of any type will not be permitted to dance but are welcome
to observe their class until the cast is removed.
Students must come
properly outfitted for class.
PARENTS
Parents will not be allowed to remain in the same
room where lessons are being conducted. It is a distraction for the students if
Parents are continuously peering through the windows too. The material is
difficult to learn and breaks in concentration will hinder the progress of the
dancers.
Parents will not be allowed to take photographs during class--
without the expressed permission of the Teachers. We need to respect and protect the privacy of our young
children. On occasion, photos of the
Cara dancers will appear in the local press (a snapshot from a nursing home
show, parade etc.). Your participation in such events will serve as consent for
those photos to appear.
Parents should remind their child to use the bathroom before class
starts. Students will, of course, be permitted to leave class to use the
bathroom but it is helpful if Parents remind children to use the bathroom
before class begins.
Parents should
check that your child’s shoes are tied securely before they enter the
classroom.
Parents should encourage at-home practice.
Younger siblings are welcome to
wait in the waiting rooms and lobby areas but are not permitted to run or
wander through the studio hallways, parking lots , bathrooms etc. We appreciate your efforts in helping us
maintain a quiet and safe learning environment. Please watch your children
closely.
ATTENDANCE
Attendance is taken at every class -- teachers will have a record
of missed classes.
(The teaching staff really appreciates the efforts of Parents who keep track of their own child’s
missed classes and “make-ups”).
When a holiday falls on a scheduled class day no substitution class
is issued. Please note that missed
classes during the traditional school year (Sept.-May) can be made up at any
location in a class of the appropriate level.
Classes do not need to be made up in the month missed but must be
completed by May 31. PLEASE ATTEND ONLY YOUR “HOME” CLASS FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER. The
first month is a transitional period and we need to keep class sizes constant.
TUITION
Tuition is due three
times a year-- at the first class of September, December and March. If you are paying by check please note the
student’s name in the memo portion of your check (no envelope—we’re
lazy!!). If you are paying in cash you
MUST place it in a clearly marked envelope.
Please do not hand cash to a teacher unmarked. Place your tuition in the
mailbox inside of the studio.
EMAIL
Email is the primary medium for correspondence between teachers and
Parents. Please check your email regularly so that your child does not miss any
opportunities or critical deadlines. If
you do not have email, please find (or ask us to find) someone in class who
will be responsible for getting information to you.
We PREFER that you check your email for weather-related
cancellations and important notices but,
Parents may also call the School phone number (484)461-8877. There will be an outgoing recorded message by noon
on questionable weather days.
As a courtesy to the teachers and their families
please refrain from making
calls to home phone numbers. Written notes to teachers can be placed in the tuition mailbox.
Email questions should be directed to info@caraschool.com. Except for urgent matters,
please do not expect to have lengthy discussions with the Teachers during class
time. We will be happy to schedule time
to meet and answer your questions but it is simply an interruption to another
dancer’s class if we have discussions during the change of classes. We appreciate your consideration in this
area. We try to check and reply to
email very quickly.
DRESSING FOR CLASS
Cara School tee shirts and shorts will be available for sale at
the first class. All dancers should
purchase and wear this outfit to class.
We hope to eliminate the occurrence of dancers coming to class in
clothes that are prohibitive to free movement.
Students must wear comfortable exercise/gym clothes (no pants).
Hair should be in a ponytail if it is long. Ballet slippers or Irish Dancing
shoes are required--absolutely no bare feet. No one will be permitted to
dance in socks. Dancers who show up at
class without their shoes, or who are not properly outfitted, will be asked to
sit and observe the class. It is not
possible to participate without the proper attire (much like a child who goes
to basketball practice without sneakers or wearing jeans….). Dancers will be exercising and will need to
move about freely.
SHOES,
SOCKS AND MUSIC FOR SALE
An Irish dancing shoe salesperson (a.k.a. the shoe guy) will
make periodic visits to each of our locations. Visits will be announced as
scheduled.
Information regarding shoes, costumes,
competitions, shows and much more can be found on our website. Please take the time to review all
that is posted at www.caraschool.com .
PARADE AND SHOW PARTICIPATION
All students are eligible
to participate in the St.Patrick’s Day parades. The Cara School has
historically participated in the Springfield parade and the Philadelphia parade
and expects to continue in that tradition. Students will be participating in
various capacities, with the more advanced dancers performing at the judging/
reviewing stand. Everyone will
be dancing along the parade routes.
In the past the Cara School has been very fortunate --having Parent
volunteers who coordinated buses for the Philadelphia parade.
Beginner level dancers who elect to participate in the parades will
need to wear a navy blue skirt/skort, the school sweatshirt (order forms will
be available in time for Xmas), navy tights and white sneakers—boys wear navy
pants with sweatshirt. SOME of the more advanced students may be
required to wear the school costume. We have learned from past experience that
the navy skirts/skorts are easily found at several “back-to school” sales
during the fall season. It would be
wise to buy a skirt now if you plan to participate—they become more difficult
to find in February.
Shows……...
Dancers who are capable of performing basic steps will be eligible
to volunteer for shows throughout the year.--concentration of show
performances occur in February and March. Sign-up sheets are circulated at
class (subsequent to an email stating that the sheets are going to be
circulated). We try to include as many
dancers as possible in our efforts to participate in a mix of community service
events, paid performances, festivals and so forth. The beginner who
participates in shows will need to wear the navy skirt/skort (pants for the
young gentlemen) and a white long-sleeved blouse/shirt (sweatshirt is for
outdoor performances only), socks and dancing shoes.
COMPETITIONS
We think you will find the
webpage information about Irish dancing competition very useful. Please take time to review the sections
related to the feis (pronounced fesh) experience. Eligibility/minimum requirements for entering a feis are also
explained on the webpage. A complete listing of upcoming feiseanna (dates and
locations) can be found at the North American Feis Commission (NAFC)
website—see link from Cara webpage.
CEILI
The Cara School has an annual
Ceili. A live band will provide the
music for the afternoon and every dancer in attendance will have the
opportunity to show off for friends and relatives. The Sunday-afternoon Ceili is a festive way to see your child
perform--while you eat, drink and be merry! Proceeds from this event, and from
paid performances, are used to offset the traveling and costume expenses of the
Cara dancers. The Cara School is proud to have dancers who have qualified to
represent the school in competitions at the National and International level
and we look forward to the support of the entire school as we continue to reach
new (expensive) heights!!.
FAQs ( & the answers actually)
Q.
When can
my dancer participate in community service shows?
A. All Cara dancers are eligible to participate
in St. Patrick’s Day parades. A limited
number of beginners enhance every community service show.
Q. Is my
dancer required to participate in shows and/or competitions?
A. No dancer is required to participate in parades, shows or
competitions---it’s all voluntary.
Q.
When can
missed classes be made up?
A. Make-up classes must be
completed by the end of May but do not have to be “made up” in the month when
the class was missed. Please check the
grid on our website for appropriate make up options.
Q.
Where can
I find a blue skort/skirt ?
A.
September is a great time to look for navy blue skorts at stores that
sell public school uniforms. Dancers
who volunteer to dance in parades and shows throughout the St. Patrick’s Day
season will need a navy skirt (see webpage for other outfitting info.). They are much more difficult to find in the
winter. JCPennys,
Sears, KMart, Walmart, Kohls, Target and www.Frenchtoast.com are places this
uniform skort can be purchased.