^{November 14, 2011}

^{Dear Parents:}

^{We are nearing the end of our 10th and final lesson for the Fall Session.  Final lesson date is as follows:}

^{Mondays:  December 5th (no class Nov. 21st)}       

^{Tuesdays:  November 22nd}           

^{Thursdays:  December 1st (no class Thanksgiving Day)}

^{Parents can verify their child's costume size to be ordered during this last lesson.} 

^{Students must re-register with the Dearborn Public Schools for the 2012 winter dance session.  Classes start Tuesday, January 17th.  This session will run until our recital in June (double session) and is only offered for STUDENTS WHO HAVE PURCHASED A COSTUME AND PERFORMING ONSTAGE WITH THAT CLASS.       Re-register for same class day and time, which will correspond to the costumes ordered for the recital.    Prices are $75 for 1st dance subject and $65 for additional class subject for same student.  We realize that families with children in 2-6 classes may be unable to pay up front for all their classes.  Students can attend all their classes and register as your budget permits.  Hopefully this 2-months advance notice will help.  We have had difficulty receiving April payments, and must combine both one.}   

^{Early Online Registration starts December 26th at:  http://www.dearbornceonline.org/}             

^{Phone registration starts January 3rd  at  (313) 827-1959}

^{ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CALL CHRIS AT (313) 278-1035}

Dearborn Community Education Dance Classes

Presented by Sickle's Dance Gallery

NO DANCE CLASSES ON THURS SEPTEMBER 22nd  DUE TO SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE. 

Welcome to Sickle's Dance Gallery's 40^th Year of Dance Education.  We are proud to be continuing our dance program through the Dearborn Public Schools.  Sickle's Dance is committed to instructing dance lessons in a positive environment.  Our program is certified through Dance Masters of Michigan/America and the Cecchetti Council of America (Ballet Certification).  We are confident that we can meet the needs of the pre-school through advanced dancers.  The information listed below will guide you through this dance year.  If you have any questions, please call Sickle's Dance at (313) 278-1035 and we will return your phone call.    You can also visit our website at  www.sicklesdance.net.

Dance classes will be held at 2 different elementary schools:

Long Elementary School                                   Geer Park Elementary                       

3100 Westwood                                                   14767 Prospect                   

Dearborn, MI 48124                                           Dearborn,  MI 48126         

(by Crowley Park - West Dearborn)                (near City Hall - East Dearborn)                     

 It is very important that we respect these public school buildings to be allowed to continue to offer our programs in their facility.   NO FOOD or DRINK is to be brought into these buildings.  Drinking fountains will be available in the building.  The school custodians are responsible for getting their schools ready for classes in the morning, and we cannot create an extra mess for them.  All children who are not participating in dance classes will need to be supervised by their parents, and not allowed to run throughout the building.  Our teachers will be supervising dancers in the classroom, and parents will need to supervise their children as they are waiting for classes.  The waiting area will be the hallway outside of the gym.  DO NOT WANDER THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING.  We recommend parents also bring a camping chair to sit in the School Hallways.

Long Elementary School - Enter the Building through Door #1 in Front of Building by the Long School Sign

Geer Park Elementary School - Enter the Building by the South East Side Door #4 (next to staff parking lot)

Tuition Payments

All tuition payments are due to the Dearborn Public School's Community Education Department (313) 827-1959.  Location is at the Michael Berry Center, 22586 Ann Arbor Trail, Dearborn Hts, MI  48127.   Or go online at http://www.dearbornceonline.org/.  This year tuition will be divided into 3 sessions.  The first session is the Fall installment (Sept to Dec), the second session in winter (Jan to March), and the third session in Spring (April thru June Recital).  All students will be given a registration form when it is time to re-enroll for the next installment. Please note that our Spring session will be devoted to perfecting our recital routines for our June Recitals and only students participating in the recital will be eligible to enroll!

Recital Policy

A recital will be presented on June 6th & 7th at Edsel Ford High School in the evening.  All students will perform in just one recital.  Required dress rehearsals for the recitals will be held on June 4th and 5th in the evening.  Inform your child's teacher of any conflicts ASAP.  THE SCHEDULE FOR WHICH DANCE CLASSES WILL PERFORM IN WHICH RECITAL DATE IS AS FOLLOWS:

MONDAY & TUESDAY CLASSES - June 4^th Dress Rehearsal and June 6^th Recital - Edsel Ford High School

THURSDAY CLASSES -                      June 5^th Dress Rehearsal and June 7^th Recital - Edsel Ford High School

All students wishing to participate in the recitals must meet the following requirements:

1. GOOD ATTENDANCE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. A student with 6 or more absences will not be allowed to participate in the recital. This will be strictly enforced. If a student frequently misses class and does not know their recital routine, they will not be allowed to perform on stage. It is not fair to have a recital dance ruined by a student who does not know their routine.
2. STUDENTS MUST PARTICIPATE IN ALL THREE DANCE SESSIONS - Sept. to June.
3. PERFECT ATTENDANCE DURING THE MONTHS OF APRIL, MAY & JUNE. During these months we are very busy working on our recital dance and every minute counts. Parents need to let your instructor know if your child has a conflict or is sick, or call 313-278-1035 prior to the absence to be excused.
4. PURCHASE OF A RECITAL COSTUME FOR EACH SUBJECT THE STUDENT PLANS TO PARTICIPATE IN. A $50 Payment per costume is due by November 1st. There are no refunds on costume payments.
5. STUDENTS MUST ATTEND DRESS REHEARSAL.
6. ALL TUITION PAYMENTS AND PAST DUE AMOUNTS MUST BE PAID IN FULL TO PARTICIPATE IN THE RECITAL.

Costumes for the recital will be selected by our staff.  The cost of these costumes will be the responsibility of each student.  A $50 costume payment is due by November 1^st.  For most students this $50 should cover your total costume fee.  For some older students, or pant type costumes, there may be a slight $5-10 balance due to more material, sequins or rhinestones.    Costume payment forms will be distributed to all students, to be returned with your payment to your child's teacher.  Payments for costumes are payable to Sickle's Dance Gallery.   The fit for costumes are to fit tight like a bathing suit.  Teachers will measure all students for costumes.  Parents will have an opportunity to double check their child's measurement against the costume size chart and make any changes that you may desire (especially if your child is going through a growth spurt).  Costumes usually come in 3 child sizes and 3 adult sizes, and you may have to alter them slightly when they arrive.  We order costumes to fit for our recital date, and not next Halloween. 

DANCE SHOES & ATTIRE:

If you are in need  of new dance shoes, the following list will be used for the recital, with occasional exceptions.

                Ballet, Gymnastics - Pink Leather Ballet Shoes for Girls, any color leotard & tights

                                                   Light Tennis Shoes for Boys & stretchy top & pants

                Tap - Black Tap Shoes - any color leotard & tights or aerobic outfit

                Hip Hop - 5-8 Year Olds - Pink Leather Ballet Shoes

                             9 Years Olds & up - White aerobic tennis shoes (worn for class only -  to NOT carry dirt onto the dance floor)

                                Any color leotard & tights or aerobic outfit for all Hip Hop Dancers

Students must wear proper dance clothing and shoes and have their hair tied back while taking dance lessons.  Students not dressed properly will not be allowed to participate.  NO Jeans or Street Clothes.  Students are not allowed to bring food, candy, drink or gum into the dance room (to prevent slipping conditions on the floor).  Water fountains are located in the dance area.

WEATHER CONDITIONS:

We will put a recorded message on the phone machine by the early afternoon if classes are cancelled due to weather conditions.  A phone call to the dance line (313) 278-1035 should be able to answer your questions.   If the Dearborn Public Schools cancel evening activities due to weather, the building will probably be closed to community education classes. 

VACATION & EVENT SCHEDULES:

If the Dearborn Public Schools are closed for vacations, there will be no evening community education classes in sessions.  The schools will also be closed for elementary school Open House & Parent Teacher Conferences.  Community Education classes will also be bumped by a school activity.  We are NOT closed for District In-Service Days.  It is very important that you pay closed attention to the dance schedule below to not come to a class that is not in sessions.   WE WILL PLACE SIGNS ON THE ENTRANCE DOORS & HALLWAY AREAS AS REMINDERS TO PARENTS!  Please check the schedule below closely for our fall dance semester & mark the dates on your calendar NOW.  As you can see by the below Public School Calendar, our classes are greatly affected by their events!!!  We do not want anyone to come to classes with them not in session. 

Monday, September 12th                                Lessons Begin

Thurs, Sept. 22nd                                               NO CLASSES - Due to School Open House

Oct 24, 25, 27                                                      CLASS VIEWING AT ALL LOCATIONS

Mon, October 31^st                                              NO CLASSES - Halloween

Mon, Nov 7^th                                                        NO CLASSES - School Vacation

Tues, Nov. 8^th                                                       NO CLASSES - Election Day

Mon, Nov 21st                                                     NO CLASSES - Due to School Parent Teacher Conferences

Thurs, Nov. 24^th                                                  NO CLASSES - Thanksgiving Vacation

Tues, Nov 29^th                                                     NO CLASSES - Due to School Parent Teacher Conferences. 

Mon & Tues Classes                                          June 4^th Dress Rehearsal, June 6^th Recital - Edsel Ford High School

Thurs Classes                                                      June 5^th Dress Rehearsal, June 7^th Recital -  Edsel Ford High School

MEDICAL INFORMATION:

If your child has a medical condition or develops an illness or physical problem, please put the condition in writing and deliver it to your child's teacher.  Certain exercises should be avoided for some illnesses or muscle sprains to prevent further aggravation to the injury.   Please return the attached Emergency Information Sheet (which includes student medical conditions) to your child's teacher.

CLASS VIEWING:

Viewing will be tentatively scheduled for  Oct 24, 25, and 27^th  in all locations.  Parents and guests are invited to view their child's entire dance class.   During the rest of the dance sessions, only the teacher, assistant teacher and dancers will be allowed in the dance room. 

 Thank you for your cooperation in advance.  We look forward to an enjoyable dance year and know your child's dance development will greatly expand throughout this year.   Any questions, please leave a message at (313) 278-1035 and we will return your call.                           

Chris Sickle, Director of Sickle's Dance Gallery