SEPTEMBER 2009

Welcome back, hope you have all enjoyed a good summer break and are looking forward to the term ahead.

Firstly a huge thank you and well done to everyone who was involved in The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. It was a huge success and a lot of fun so congratulations! It is of course the turn of the junior school to perform in their Christmas Show in December. Unfortunately dates have not been confirmed yet but we will let you know the details as soon as they are available.

We also have a few other shows we have been asked to participate in again this year including Children's Classic Concerts, the Telephone choir and a local pantomime so look out for some of our Scholars who will be involved in these throughout the year.

Sadly we said goodbye to Miss Sharon Scott at the end of last term, who is moving to Norway in December to take up a new teaching post. We would like to wish her all the best for the future. We look forward to welcoming a new member of staff to our team this year Miss Jemma Crawford. Mrs Smith will also be returning from her maternity leave.

Many of the Junior School took ballet exams in June and medals and certificates are ready to be distributed in class. More exams are due in the coming terms for ballet, jazz and tap and pupils who are ready will be issued with letters in class.

Please adhere to the closing dates as late entries will not be accepted.

There will be re-auditions for all existing Scholars this year before we commence with open auditions and if involved you will be notified directly of audition times. We plan to hold open auditions for pupils aged 10 years and above and of Grade 4 level ballet in early September. Entry forms will be available from class teachers once the dates have been confirmed.

These classes are designed for pupils who have an interest in dance as a career, show promise in their class, of good attendance in normal classes and well turned out. Successful candidates will be invited to join the Friday classes at Belgrave where they will have the opportunity to study ballet more formally and enjoy working with guest teachers and learn new dance techniques.

Due to the recent outbreak of swine flu we will be taking extra time to make sure premises are clean and disinfected and we would ask that if your child is unwell, do not bring them to class. If they do indeed have the cold please ensure they come to class prepared with their own tissues. We are asking everyone to make a point of washing their hands before they enter dance class.

For the Junior school the RAD has changed the uniform and we will be introducing the new uniform straight away and gradually phasing out the existing uniform. Old stock is still available and will be sold at a reduced rate. Both uniforms will be acceptable in class and exams for this current year.

We introduced some new classes to the timetable last year and there are still spaces in the following classes for anyone who is interested -

Highland beginners on Tuesdays (7 years upwards)
Singing class on Tuesdays (10 years upwards)
Adult Ballet beginners on Wednesdays (16 years upwards)

BRANCH NEWS

For the first 2 weeks of term most of our branches will be staffed in order for fees to be paid and uniform ordered. After these initial weeks many of the branches will only be staffed on the first week of each month to allow orders for uniform to be taken. Please forward any other payments i.e. Exams direct to the office.

At our Inverleith and Marchmont branches parking can be difficult but we must remind you that there is NO PARKING IN THE GROUNDS OR ON THE FORECOURT. Spaces for teaching staff who need to unload their cars have been granted and in most situations these cars remain stationary for the duration of classes.

We have had so many near accidents with cars moving when classes are dismissed in the past that we ask you to be considerate and park in the surrounding streets instead. At the Inverleith branch permission has been given for us to use a car park opposite the church, behind the garage, which should help to alleviate any problems.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Term 1: Monday 24th August - Saturday 12th December 2009
October Holiday week: Monday 19th October - Saturday 24th October 2009

Term 2: Monday 4th January - Saturday 27th March 2010
February Holiday Week: Monday 15th February - Saturday 20th February 2010

Term 3: Monday 19th April - Saturday 26th June 2010

BLOCK FEES

Block 1: Monday 24th August 2009

Block 2: Monday 23rd November 2009

Block 3: Monday 15th March 2010

Please remember fees are due in advance of classes and failure to pay on time may result in suspension of classes until fees are up to date.

EXAM AND SHOW ENTRIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED IF FEES ARE IN ARREARS.