www.knightschoolofdance.co.uk

11, Kingfisher Drive

YATELEY, Hampshire GU46 6NP

Tel: 07802685362 Email: knightschoolofdance@gmail.com

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Principal: Alison Knight

AISTD (Modern Diploma & Tap)

RAD (Registered Teacher)

August 2020

Summer Newsletter

Featured

Class Plans for

September

1

Term Dates 1

Dancing

Memories

2

Prize Giving 2

Summer Holiday

classes

2

Examinations 2

New Classes 2

Fees and New

Timetable

3

Cats Workshop 3

Uniform &

Grooming

3

Dates for you

Diary

3

Dear Parents and Pupils,

We hope that you are well and that you have been able to adjust and cope with the COVID-19 PANDEMIC situation without too much worry or difficulty. It certainly has been and will continue to be for a while yet, a testing time for us all.

For the dancing school it has been a challenging time for us as teachers and you as parents and pupils to adjust to a new routine and way of learning with online Zoom classes. However, as the weeks have gone by we have all adapted extremely well and all-in-all we feel it has been a positive experience. Of course there have been some frustrating times, mainly due to internet connections and lack of space, but we have made progress in so many ways including learning syllabus sequences and theory, technique, learning strategies, perseverance and patience plus for some of us, new technology!

At the time of publishing this newsletter, we are hoping to return in September to face-to-face classes. However, although dance schools with their own premises will be able to open as from 25th July, it is unclear whether or not community halls are allowed to open their doors to those of us how hire such facilities. We have some information of the measures we will most probably have to take in order to accommodate social distancing and cleaning between classes but we need further clarification and guidance for issues such as the wearing of masks, numbers per class or ‘pockets’, etc. So in September, if we are unable to return to face-to-face classes fully, we will continue online or a mixture of face-to-face and online classes but especially for the larger classes there may be a need to implement a ‘Week A/Week B’ rota system to enable some to attend face-to-face and some online.

Thank you for completing our survey; the information you have provided will help us to make decisions of how we may operate in September. From your feed-back we have established that around 80-90% of pupils would be keen to return to normal classes with strict protocols in place, but practical measures cannot be decided and finalised until we have firm government guidelines and consultation with the hall’s management committee and other groups who wish to return to using the hall. So, we will continue to review the development of the situation during the summer holidays and we will of course, let you know as soon as possible how we can return to dance classes.

Autumn Term Dates

Autumn: Monday 7th Sept. – Saturday 5th Dec. 2020 Half Term: 26th Oct.—1st Nov.2020

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Dancing Through the C0VID-19 Pandemic—Your Memories

We are certainly living through a very unusual and challenging time which will be part of our history forever and we’re sure

we will be glad when our lives can return to normal.

We have had the idea of making ‘memory’ feature for the display board at the hall for everyone to see when we return to

classes and in time, for the contributions to be added to a MEMORY BOOK titled ‘Dancing Through The COVID-19 Pandemic’.

We would love for everyone to contribute in some way. You may create something in any size but no larger than A4 and

you can sign your name or leave anonymous.

Here are a few ideas:

A picture of your Zoom class, a photo, drawing, painting, a poem, a story or a few or few words in a think-bubble.

You can tell about the pros and cons of dancing at home – where did you dance, did you have to re-arrange your furniture,

how did you adapt your dancing to fit the space, what was fun and what was frustrating about doing your classes online

through Zoom. You can tell about the happy, funny moments and perhaps the sad moments too. Did you grow out of your

uniform, how long did your hair grow, did you miss seeing your friends etc.

You may send your contactless contributions by: -

Email: send photos , scanned documents and pictures or write your story, poem or quote

- Post to: 11, Kingfisher Drive, Yateley, Hants GU46 6NP -

When we return to the hall for classes

Prize Giving—Saturday 12th September California Ratepayers Hall 3.00 pm (TBC)

Each year trophies and medals are awarded to selected pupils for overall progress, particular improvement in a subject,

commitment, hard work and promising ability. In normal circumstances we hold a Prize Giving event where everyone is wel-

come to attend and enjoy an informal gathering. We anticipate that this year, only prize winners and their close fami-

ly members may be able to attend or perhaps we may hold the event online. Prize winners will be notified by email during

the summer holidays.

Online zoom Summer classes/workshops We have a number of ideas to provide you with some online classes and activities during the summer holidays and we will send out information shortly of what will be on offer with booking and pricing details.

Examinations

It was our intention to hold ballet, tap and modern examinations in the Autumn Term, however we cannot advise on this

until we know how these may practically go ahead. We will be in touch with individual pupils as and when we know more.

New Classes (subject to interest) CREATIVE DANCE ( Reception—Yr2) Tuesdays is a movement class for the youngsters to develop imagination and creativity. TASTER TAP (5yrs plus) Thursdays, a 15 minutes add-on class between Primary and Grade One ballet. PRE-SCHOOL/PRE-PRIMARY BALLET Saturday mornings (3-5yrs). BEGINNERS ADULT BALLET OR TAP Thursdays , for those who have always wished to learn and enjoy the benefits of dance (classes and will either be tap or ballet depending on demand). Please do get in touch if you would be interested in any of these new classes or any of the other classes we offer.

POSTERS IN SUPPORT OF

NHS KEY WORKERS

Thank you for your continued support and especially at this time.

Wishing you all a happy summer break

Best wishes and keep safe

Alison Knight and Miss Amy

Fees & New Timetable

Please see the attached document for revised class prices and for the Autumn Term. We will resume the normal pay-ment procedures of invoices being issued for the complete term and not at half termly intervals with 5% discount offered to those who attend 3 or more classes per week (N.B the special ‘lockdown’ discounts will be discontinued). Please be reminded that payment of fees must be made within two weeks of receiving your invoice. Unpaid fees, past half term, will strictly incur a 10% surcharge unless alternative payment terms have been agreed. As per the agreed and signed terms and conditions, half a term’s notice, in writing or 6 weeks fees in lieu of notice, is required for termination of classes. It is very important we receive fees on time in order to finance running your weekly dance classes. Please also see attached the New Timetable . A few changes have been necessary for a number of reasons including financial viability, some classes have to be moved to later times because pupils are moving up to secondary school, accommodation of new classes and over-all organisation to fit in with hall availability, not to mention the potential procedures we will have to put in place for face-to-face and/or online classes. So, a timetable has been drafted for normal and social distancing/online circumstances and re-adjustments may have to be implemented if operating guide-lines dictate certain rules. Re-organising the timetable is never a task we enjoy as we realise some of you will have to change times and/or days. We have done our best to keep changes to a minimum and sincerely hope you will be able to continue with your dance classes.

Cats Workshop Unfortunately we were unable to hold the workshop on 15th March but we will re-schedule it when it is feasible to hold it face-to-face. We will let you know in due course.

Uniform & Grooming A high standard of grooming is an essential part of dance discipline and as such is part of the proviso for choosing to study dance (please visit our website for uniform requirements). Be it for face-to-face or online classes, please ensure you continue to keep up neat and tidy grooming and wearing correct uniform at all times. Ballet leg-wear must be either ballet socks or regulation ballet tights. From Primary ballet upwards, hair must be secured in a bun for every lesson. For modern and tap, hair must be worn in a neat style e.g. pony tail, plait or bun with fringes sprayed and pinned off the face securely. Please use a specialized dancewear supplier and fitter for all items of uniform and shoes particularly. FAME Dancewear— please contact Eileen to order items and she will make arrangements with you for collection/delivery. Tel: 01344 772130, email: famedancewearuk@gmail.com DANCIA , Crowthorne— the shop is open and operating reduced opening times. Tel 01344 286884

We also hold a number of new items and accessories such as bun nets, hair pins and grips, bun kits, hoodies, etc. Please see attached list of what is available and contact us with your requirements. We have a large stock of seconhand uniform which is sold to as a fund raiser for the school’s ‘costume fund’. Monies collected are used to purchase costumes and subsidise costume hire for shows. Please see the attached list and let us know if you would like to try/buy anything.

Dates for Your Diary

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August TBC Online summer holiday classes

7th September First Day of Autumn Term

12th September 3pm TBC Prize Giving

26th October—1st November Half Term

TBC—Nov/Dec Exams

5th December Last Day of Autumn Term

TBC Cats Workshop