Happy Friday, PSD Families!

This Friday FYI email is our primary method of communication to studio families - please save it for a time when you can read through it thoroughly and bookmark it for reference!

New & Urgent this week:

• The studio, front desk, and boutique will be closed next week, November 25-December 1st for Thanksgiving Break.

• This Holiday season - give the Gift of Dance! See details and options below.

• The Nutcracker Performance is quickly approaching! Please see below for new and important updates as we prepare to hit the stage!

• We have made some changes to our original Holiday Showcase plans. Check below for updates.

• We have new studio gear available online at theturningpointeboutique.com

• We are bringing Wiggle Wednesdays back to The Pointe! Learn more about this monthly Story time and Dance Demo for littles below!

• Stay tuned to these regular email updates - this is your primary source for all studio news!

Find all of the important dates for the year here: www.thepointeschool.com/policies - we list upcoming dates within the next few weeks in the Friday FYI as well for your convenience!

• November 25 - December Tuition and Costume Payment Processed

• November 25-December 1st - Thanksgiving Break; CLOSED

• December 8 - The Nutcracker Dress Rehearsal (@ Linn-Mar High School Auditorium)

• December 15 - The Nutcracker Performances (1:00 & 3:00 @ Linn-Mar High School Auditorium)

• December 16-January 4 - Winter Break; CLOSED

• December 25 - January Tuition and Costume Payment Processed

• January 19 - Company Preview Show @ Linn-Mar High School

• January 25 - February Tuition and Costume Payment Processed

• January 31 - Last day to register for the 2024-2025 School Year

The studio and boutique will be CLOSED for Thanksgiving Break from November 25th -December 1st.

Our staff works primarily nights and weekend, so we want to take this time to really allow them to spend time with their friends and family during the Holiday Season. If you need to get in contact with us during this time, please do so via email at [email protected]. We may not respond back at our normal speed, but we will be checking for messages infrequently throughout break.

This holiday season, surprise a special child in your life with one of our exclusive "Gift of Dance" packages, designed for ages 1-18. Choose from exciting options like a one-day dance camp for ages 3-7, or two-month and five-month class packages tailored for new students eager to explore the joy of movement.

For our current students, we also offer private lesson packages and the always-popular one-day dance camp experience. Whether your child dreams of twirling in ballet slippers or grooving to upbeat tunes, our gift packages provide the perfect opportunity to nurture their passion and creativity!

Registration is open, quick, and easy online! Visit thepointeschool.com/gift-of-dance and scroll through the options to find the best gift package for your dancer, and just click "Register" next to the class! The One-Day Dance Camp package is listed first, then Two-Month Class Packages, then Complete (5-Month) Class Packages, and then details for our Private Lesson Package.

It's time to start preparing for our second production of The Nutcracker! Our Nutcracker webpage is now LIVE! You will find everything you need to prepare you and your dancer for a successful performance. Check out thepointeschool.com/nutcracker regularly for updates.

Here are new updates to the website this week:

• Nutcracker T-Shirts & Leotards Available for Pickup: All t-shirts for dancers (that were included in the Class Performance Package) are at the front desk, and ready for pickup! If you also purchased a skin tone leotard with your Nutcracker registration, those are available for pick up at the front desk as well.

• Dress Rehearsal Schedule: The Nutcracker Dress Rehearsal is on Sunday, December 8th at the Linn-Mar High School Auditorium. We have the full schedule for that date listed in the handbook now. Please visit the Nutcracker webpage and place those times in your calendar! thepointeschool.com/nutcracker

• Performance Ticket Sales: Ticket sales are ongoing! Use your ticketing code sent to your email to redeem your 4 tickets included with your Class Performance Package. If you are looking to purchase additional tickets or need a general link to send to extended friends and families to purchase tickets, you can find that here.

• Nutcracker Merchandise, Flowers & Recordings: Nutcracker T-Shirts, Sweatshirts, Drawstring bags, DVDs and Digital recording downloads are all available to purchase on our boutique website now! (theturningpointeboutique.com) The order deadline for everything listed is TODAY Friday, November 22nd. Reminder that all dancers received a Nutcracker Cast T-Shirt with their class performance package. These orders are for additional orders.

  All apparel and bags will be available at the studio for pickup starting December 4th, flowers will be available for pickup at the high school on performance day, and DVD and Digital downloads will be available sometime after show day - to be determined based on order demand.

• Performance Day Details: Please read the handbook thoroughly to ensure you and your dancer are prepared for a successful performance! Some of you may know the Linn-Mar High School Auditorium is going through a major addition and is currently under construction. To accommodate this, there are major changes to parking, auditorium access, and dancer check-in and check-out in comparison to similar events we have hosted at this venue. You can find the handbook with all the new protocols here: thepointeschool.com/nutcracker

• Costume Rental Protocols: Nutcracker Costumes are making their way home to you! Please read the rental protocols in the handbook thoroughly so you are prepared to care for the costumes up until Performance day. thepointeschool.com/nutcracker

We have made some changes to our original Holiday Showcase plans. Check out thepointeschool.com/holiday-2024 regularly for updates.

Our Holiday Showcase Week is a special in-studio performance for parents during classes for our Dance & Discover, Beginning, and Chance to Dance dancers!

Parents are invited to join us for the last 10 minutes of class from December 9-14 to watch a special holiday routine, take photos, and enjoy some festive fun with their dancers. We’re encouraging dancers to come in fun, holiday-themed attire (as long as they can dance comfortably!), and our teachers will record each performance to share with families on the BAND app. To make this week even more magical, we’ll decorate the studio and offer treats in the lobby.

New Studio Gear Alert! Visit theturningpointeboutique.com to check out our new specialty logo pieces. All Holiday orders with a guaranteed delivery before winter break are due by Sunday, November 24th.

Join us for Wiggle Wednesdays at The Pointe School of Dance on the third Wednesday of every month! Little ones ages 1-5 are welcome to come into the studio for a short story, dance activities, and movement games. Wiggle Wednesdays are active, creative FUN for your little one! Parents are invited to come into the studio room to participate with their child, or wait in our comfortable lobby.

Spaces are limited and registration is required - sign up today at thepointeschool.com/wiggle

Please use this Facebook event to share with your friends!

Did you know that we offer free trial classes for new-to-The-Pointe families - and we have a sweet deal for you if you refer a friend to our program? Families can schedule a trial class easily - just have them send us an email and we'll take care of it!

When a family you've referred signs up, please have them list your name in the "Where did you hear about us?" form in online registration. We will send them a $20 gift card to our boutique to help them get the gear their dancer needs for class - and as a thank you, we'll send one to you, too! Trial classes are easy to schedule online, and are FREE for a limited time!

• Click the links on your phone to download the BAND app and join these groups :) 

• Please join the Studio-wide BAND here: https://band.us/n/a7aa9b43OcwbP

• If your dancer is in COMPANY, please join the Company BAND here: https://band.us/n/a1ae9741O1XbO (dancers can and should join, too!)

• If your dancer is in COMMUNITY TEAM, please join the CT BAND here: https://band.us/n/a7ab9544OeY4B (dancers can and should join, too!) 

• Families have received an email with a unique link to join the BAND group for each class - if you've joined us after that message went out, please find your dancer's instructor after class to get access or shoot us an email ([email protected]) and we'll get you added!

We've added another easy method of communication to get relevant information directly to families - right on your phone!

Studio Lobby & Lounge
We ask that families limit lobby visitors to one parent per child if you'll be waiting in the lobby during class.  We also ask that families ONLY have food in the lounge, and to pick up after eating. We have wipes, paper towels, and a small broom/dustpan in the lounge so the space can stay nice and neat for the next group to use the space.

How to get connected at The Pointe!
We love our studio community and truly work with the best families in Cedar Rapids.  We know that it takes a village to raise up awesome kids, and our studio community can be a part of your village.  We have a private Facebook group just for studio families - click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1921735994748769 Please also join our studio-wide BAND app: https://band.us/n/a7aa9b43OcwbP (dancers, too!) 

Absences
Attendance in class is crucial for dancers to learn and grow.  We can only teach students who are in class :)  However, we know that things happen and kids may need to miss occasionally.  To report an absence so your instructor knows what's going on with your dancer, follow the steps in this 40-second video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nstwEOf7e58&list=PLZkeFgMt7mR63GMRqwjdoIM8-U1mxAx-3&index=2 

Boutique & Front Desk Hours
We're happy to help ! We catch up on studio voicemails, emails, and are available at the front desk from 4:30-7:00 Monday through Thursday during the summer. In the school year, we are also open 9:00 AM - Noon on Saturday mornings.

Dress Code
Students who are dressed for dance perform and progress better in class!  Find out what your dancer needs for their classes and easily order online here: www.theturningpointeboutique.com 

Studio Policies & Full Calendar
Our Policies & Studio Calendar is online! Here you will find all the dates needed to plan a successful season, as well as all policies that help keep our studio running smoothly. You can find the Policies and Calendar on our website here: www.thepointeschool.com/policies

Have a wonderful weekend!
- Miss Vanessa & your PSD Staff