Palos Verdes Intermediate School Cotillion Orientation September 2016

What is Cotillion? • The purpose of Cotillion is to provide your child with instruction in basic dance steps and social graces. • Eight dances are held during the year usually on Friday evenings from September to April • Due to scheduling conflicts – one will be on Thursday

What dances do they learn? The Merengue, various line dances, the Two Step, etc. may also be covered.

What is the schedule? DATE THEME NOTES ATTIRE Friday, September 23 Octoberfest Get acquainted dance Semi-Formal Friday, October 21 Jack O’Lantern Jive Halloween costume contest Theme Friday, November 4 Red, White and Blue Group Photo for Yearbook Semi-Formal Thursday, December 15 Candy Cane Charity Toy Drive Semi-Formal Friday, January 13 Nifty 50’s Costume Contest Theme Friday, February 3 Sweetheart Swing contest & Photo Booth Semi-Formal Friday, March 24 Caribbean Caper Tropical Wear Theme Friday, April 28 Broadway Ball Waltz contest Semi-Formal (Mother/Son & Father/Daughter Dance) Times of Events by Grade Level 6 th Grade 4: 45 -6: 30 p. m. (please check invitation for April dance times) 7 th Grade 6: 45 - 8: 15 p. m. 8 th Grade 8: 30 – 10: 00 p. m. (we appreciate parents help cleaning up after the dance)

Cotillion Policies Cotillion requests parents and children cooperate to make this program successful. Please go over these with your child: 1. Students are expected to be respectful, use good manners, and listen (not talk) during instruction. 2. NO gum allowed. 3. NO cell phone use is permitted and all cell phones are collected during Cotillion. 4. Dances start promptly. Attendance at all dances is expected. If a student is 20 minutes late or leaves more than 20 minutes early, it will count as an absence. 5. Please email Cotillion Co-Chairs, a week in advance, if a student will not attend a dance so we have time to notify Assembly Dance Volunteers to keep numbers balanced. 6. When not attending a dance, THE STUDENT MUST SEND A WRITTEN LETTER OF REGRET TO: PVIS COTILLION, P. O. BOX 981, PVE, CA 90274 before the next dance to remain in good standing. Please indicate grade on the note. 7. Students will not be allowed to leave dances early unless accompanied by a parent. 8. We cannot accommodate guest students.

Behavior Code PARENTS: • Please ensure your student is following the dress code. • Parents will be contacted if a participant is ill, violates the dress code, displays inappropriate behavior. • Students will not be permitted to leave a dance unless accompanied by a chaperone or parent. Students must be picked up on time at the end of each dance in front of the MPR, as chaperones cannot oversee students outside. Students are NOT allowed to walk home from Cotillion. • Children rotate partners often. They dance with all students. They must be polite and gracious to all. • Out of consideration for the students, parents are not allowed to stay and watch unless they are scheduled to chaperone. All parents are invited to attend the April dance. • Please take photos at home before dance, or park in teacher’s lot and walk up to photograph in groups. We must process 200 children arriving in cars in a very short time span in between the dances. Carpool! • Allergies-Refreshments are served at each dance. Please email us if your child has allergies and instruct your child to politely decline refreshments, if needed. • The Cotillion Board reserves the right to dismiss any student who repeatedly disrupts instruction or violates the dress code. Parents will be called if the student’s behavior becomes a problem and the Principal will be notified. • • BEHAVIOR VIOLATION GUIDELINES: First Violation: Student will be verbally warned and noted in our records. Second Violation: Parents/guardians will be called following the dance and made aware of the situation. Third Violation: Student will be removed from the dance immediately, the parent will be called to pick up the child, and the Principal will be notified.

DRESS CODE: Girls Semi-Formal 1. Modest party or dinner dress (or nice skirt and dressy top) – No bra straps showing – No halters, backless, strapless, cut outs, low cut or 1 strap dresses. – Modest dress length (e. g. , 2 inches or less above knee). Maintaining a modest environment is a Cotillion priority and will be enforced. If your daughter raises her arms above her head and twirls, modesty should be maintained. Additionally, she should be able to sit on a bench comfortably without showing undergarments to those sitting across the room. – No leggings or booty shorts – No T-shirts – Motto is: Dress for Success! 2. Short white gloves (you can purchase gloves from us for $5) 3. Appropriate dress shoes – Must be suitable to dance in (please keep heels no higher than 2. 5 inches) – Must have back strap – No mules or flip flops – No tennis shoes 4. Nice sweater or evening wrap (if needed) No sweatshirts or heavy sweaters. Theme dances - Dress appropriately for theme (legs must be covered, no bare backs or midriffs) or wear semi-formal dress. Girls do not need gloves at Theme dances. Mules or flip flops are not permitted at any dance. Denim and athletic shoes OK (at theme dance only).

DRESS CODE: Boys Semi-Formal 1. Suit or Sports Coat with dress slacks and belt – No shorts, khakis or jeans 2. Collared dress shirt and tie – Shirt must be tucked in at all times. – Tie must be worn appropriately. – No T-Shirts 3. Dark hard soled shoes with dark socks – No tennis shoes of any color – No flip flops Theme dances • Dress appropriately to theme or wear sport shirt and long pants, or semi-formal attire. Denim and athletic shoes OK (at theme dance only). – Mules or flip flops are not permitted at any dance. • • NO cutoff shorts, sleeveless or collarless/torn t-shirts The Dress Code is enforced and parents will be contacted if their child is dressed inappropriately. Inappropriate footwear is a safety issue. If a child is not wearing appropriate footwear, a parent will be contacted and asked to bring the correct shoes.

Volunteer and Chaperone Code • Dress code applies to adult volunteers who are at the dances − Men: coat & tie − Women: a dress (modest) • Men or women who chaperone that evening, if there are not enough boy or girl partners, may stand in with the children so they all have a partner. • Important tip: Especially at 6 th grade dance (200 people in room!) − Talking in the back of the room at the refreshment tables carries through the room (please whisper) − Instructors need students full attention (no distractions from chaperones)

Benefits of Dancing is like poetry for the body…

Palos Verdes Assembly • Cotillion prepares students to participate in Assembly at the High School level. Assembly is a program of community service, etiquette instruction, and formal dances culminating in a Senior Presentation Ball. In Assembly, the children may aspire to earn a Presidential Award in service. The Presidential Volunteer Service Award is issued on behalf of the President of the United States to recognize the best in American spirit, and to encourage all Americans to improve their communities through volunteer service and civic participation. Acceptance into Assembly is affected by attendance in Cotillion during all three years of middle school. Service • Etiquette Dance Please visit the Assembly website at pvassembly. com for information and to view the Senior Presentation Ball video. Parents who volunteer on the PVIS Cotillion Board are a positive reflection for the students who apply for the Assembly in the Spring of their 8 th Grade year as it shows commitment to the program.

PVIS Cotillion Master –Bobby Burgess • Bobby Burgess has been the Cotillion Master for RIS, MIS, PVIS, and Assembly at the High School level for over twenty years. He and his staff have a wonderful time instructing middle school youth in ballroom dancing, manners, and etiquette, in addition to having theme parties, mixers, party games, and refreshments. Cotillion is a great place to make and meet new friends. “We want everyone to feel comfortable in a social situation while growing in self-confidence and selfesteem. " • Mr. Burgess' professional career started as an original Mouseketeer on Walt Disney's "Mickey Mouse Club" and then, for twenty-one seasons, as the ballroom dance team on the "Lawrence Welk Show. " Mr. Burgess invites all to “Come and be a part of the fun and excitement!”

Final Quotes-The End Synergy Mastery