Starz Studio of Performing Arts

STARZ STUDIO OF PERFORMING ARTS

SEPTEMBER 2010 NEWSLETTER

Welcome to Starz Studio year 2010!  It’s going to be a great year!  Please faithfully attend watch weeks, and read your newsletters so you receive all the information about our activities and events.  If you have any questions or concerns please inquire at the front desk, call the studio at 690-7771, Starz owner Carissa at 690-4380, or e-mail StarzStudio@aol.com.  My door is always open.  Thank you for your support!

Monthly newsletters will be disbursed to all recreational classes the first lesson of every month & posted on our website www.StarzDanceStudio.com

(Troupe A & B programs hold watch week the 2^nd lesson of each month)

ONLINE access!

-This fall we have integrated online access to Starz accounts and information.  If you have not already set up your online access you may do so now through the customer portal found on our website.  Use your email address to look up your account and reset you password.  Thanks for your patience while we continue to improve the system, but we hope everyone will take advantage of these exciting improvements!

Studio Rules and Reminders:   ENROLL FORMS, FEES, POLICY FORMS & SEPTEMBER TUITION ARE NOW DUE!

-If you have not yet submitted your updated enrollment forms, please remember to do so at the front desk or online immediately.

-Tuition is due the first lesson of each month.  Unpaid fees will be automatically withdrawn from your back-up accounts on the 16^th. 

-Students must wear solid colored leotards.  Please no baggy boxer shorts or t-shirts.  Hair should be worn up.  Please purchase the appropriate shoes for your class within the first two weeks.  Put your name in everything! 

-Our teachers reserve the right to close our viewing windows should they feel it is necessary.  While this is rare, we want to encourage the students to stay focused on their classes and not be distracted by parents standing or knocking at the windows.

-Students are expected to be in attendance to all classes.  Starz will not refund tuition, apply credit, or deduct money for missed classes.  Students may make up absences with any other regular class at Starz.  A full schedule of classes is available at the front desk.

-Starz follows the Oak Grove R-6 school calendar.  We observe most holidays, and will close in conjunction with the O.G. School district during early release or  any snow days.  Our answering machine will announce any cancellations 1 hour prior to class times.

-If you decide to drop a class you must submit a withdrawal form in person at our front desk within the first 7 day’s of the month.  Otherwise your accounts will continue to be charged for the following month.  Thank you for your compliance with our policies.

Parking:

-Our parking lot becomes quite crowded, especially during watch weeks.  You may park in the alley on the North side or in the lot at the elementary school and walk over.  However, do not park on Salem as you will likely be ticketed.  It’s helpful if older children are dropped off at the door rather than parents coming in and/or arriving a few minutes early to your class time.  Please do not take up the handicap parking spaces unless you’re legally registered to do so.  We appreciate your patience with this problem.

Class Adjustments:

We will be evaluating the students’ skill level and abilities during the first few weeks of classes and may be asking some of you to change to different levels.  Notes will be sent home to parents regarding these requests.  We would appreciate your prompt attention.

UPCOMING PARADES! PLEASE REFER TO PARADE HANDOUTS FOR SPECIFIC TIMES AND DETAILS!

-Starz will participate in 2 parades this fall.  Your participation in these events is totally voluntary.  These parades and shows are often a favorite activity for our students, so we encourage all of you to participate if you can.  The dates are as follows:

Grain Valley Fair Day’s - 9/11/10, 8:30am lineup  &  O.G. Homecoming Parade - Fri. 10/1/10 12:30pm lineup, (perm. slips due 9/15/10).

Costume Reserve Fund:

Starz will hold our annual Showcase of the Starz (recital), tentatively June 2-5th, 2011.  We will hold 3 Acts/Performances for this year’s Showcase.  Most families will participate in only one of the three shows.  We will begin discussing routines and costuming in November, and a $35.00 costume deposit will be due in late December.  Customers may choose to include an extra dollar amount ($5-$10 is suggested) to their monthly tuition to hold in their costume reserve fund.  This can be done by credit, debit, auto w/d, or cash.  See the desk for additional details.

Other Notes:

-The Super Starz Troupe will perform at the Concordia Fest on Saturday 9/11/10 at 5:00 pm at the Main stage.  Come watch us shine!

-Locker rental fees are now due.  If you rented a locker last year, please submit your $15 renewal fee now.  We do have a few lockers now available for rental.  See the front desk for details.

-Showcase 10 videos should now have been received.  Call 350-8870 or log on to cinematicvisions.com if you would like to place a late order. 

-SELL YOUR USED SHOES NOW!!  Starz has used shoes available upon request in our office.  Those of you interested in selling such items should bring them tied together and placed in a ziplock bag with the size of the item, your name, and the asking price clearly marked on the outside.  Money from items sold will be accepted at the front desk, and held in your name.  These sales are “at your own risk”.

-We will place a new shoe/bag order on September 14^th.  Items are usually ready for pickup the week after our order date.

-Starz windsuits make great Christmas gifts.  We only place orders for these once per year.  ORDER BY 9/23/10 for Christmas delivery date.

Thought for the month: The most important measure of how good a game I play is how much better I make my teammates play.

 STARZ STUDIO - FALL 2010 PARADE SCHEDULE & DETAILS:

Please keep the top portion of this sheet to refer to for all parade details.

-Starz will participate in 2 parades this fall.  Your participation in these events is totally voluntary.  These events are often a favorite activity for our students, so we encourage all of you to participate if you can.  Dates and info are below. 

-ALL students will wear our royal blue shorts with stars on the rear and white Starz t-shirts.  These are available for purchase at the front desk for $45 per set.  DO NOT WEAR YOUR DANCE SHOES!  Please wear white “keds” type tennis shoes.

-WE NEED VOLUNTEERS!  Parents interested in walking with our entry should stop by the front desk.  Parent volunteers must wear a WHITE Starz t-shirt, (not showcase t’s).

-Starz has three “units” in our parade entries: A float for dance students to ride on, a walking/dancing group for troupe students and veteran dancers age 6+, and a tumbling unit for tumbling students (must be able to execute a least a cartwheel on the asphalt). 

SATURDAY, SEPT. 11^TH - GRAIN VALLEY FAIR DAY’S PARADE

You do not need to sign up to participate just show up!

Lineup:                        Drop off by 8:30a.m. (8:30am judging, 10am start) at Grain Valley High School 551 AA Hwy. 

Pickup:            IMMEDIATELY following the parade, please pick up your children back at Grain Valley High School. 

PLEASE DO NOT DELAY IN COMING TO PICK THEM UP RIGHT AWAY!

Other:              Grain Valley parade does not allow candy throwing at their parade.  Be sure your child uses the restroom prior to attending the parade.  We will leave a message on the studio phone at 690-7771 in case of rain cancellation.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1^ST  - OAK GROVE HOMECOMING PARADE: 

*This event is primarily for students who currently attend OG schools. 

If you are NOT an OG schools family but would still like to participate a parent or guardian MUST attend with your child.

Lineup:            Students from Oak Grove schools district will be dismissed for the parade after lunchtime; the parade will begin around 1pm.

Details:            YOU MUST SUBMIT A PERMISSION SLIP BY 9/15/10 TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PARADE.  If we do not receive it, the schools will not dismiss them into our care for the parade. 

REVISED:

FOLLOWING THE PARADE, PARENTS NEED TO COLLECT KIDS IN THE H.S. PARKING LOT!

School is in early dismissal this year, your child will need to have a way to get home following the parade.

Other:              *If your child would like to throw candy, it IS allowed at this parade, please SEND it with your child so they can bring it to the parade.

                        *ALL parent volunteers must wear a white Starz logo T-shirt to participate with your children.

PARENTS MUST SUBMIT PERMISSION SLIPS TO STARZ BY 9/15/10 SO THAT STUDENTS MAY BE DISMISSED FROM CLASS AND ALLOWED TO LINEUP FOR THE PARADE. 

DON’T FORGET TO SEND STUDENTS TO SCHOOL IN THEIR PARADE CLOTHES! 

(Jeans & Jackets are okay in the event of cool or rainy weather)

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Oak Grove Homecoming Permission Slip: RETURN TO STARZ BY 9/15/10

I grant permission for my child to participate in the Oak Grove Homecoming Parade on Friday, Oct. 1^st with the group from Starz Studio of Performing Arts.  He/she may be excused from class and allowed to go with a Starz representative for the parade.  Thank you.

Childs Name: ____________________________________  Grade & Teacher: _____________________________

(Oak Grove schools ONLY!  Students who are not school age, or are outside the OG district MUST have a parent attend with them.)

Parent Signature:__________________________________ Date: _________________________________________ 

In case of emergency, how may we reach you on the day of the parade____________________________________________