Updated 1\/7\/2025<\/p>\n\n\n
Mission Statement<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Our Mission at Isle Of Erin is to further appreciation, education and life skill development of all students, with particular emphasis on Irish dancing as a cultural art form.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Class <\/b><\/span><\/span><\/strong>Uniforms <\/b><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Effective January 1, 2023, all students below the age of 18 are required to wear the official IOE blue shirt with the green school crest and black <\/span><\/strong>minimum<\/i><\/span><\/strong> knee length bottoms to dance class. These bottoms must stay a minimum of knee length for the duration of class and NOT ride up or show any posterior end. <\/span><\/strong>Under 18s may also wear 80 denier or heavier black tights to class with black shorts over them.<\/span><\/strong> Bottoms can be shorts or leggings. Over 18 students may wear any unaltered IOE gear. This includes things we have made at camp, past IOE summer shirts. Unaltered is defined as no superfluous holes, no ripped off sleeves ect. Over 18s may also wear black, blue, or green leggings or bottoms following the same rules as the under 18s. For all age groups, black\/ IOE gear shorts may be worn over leggings if preferred. <\/span><\/strong>Failure to wear appropriate class uniform attire will result in being excused from class without reimbursement or a $5.00 rental fee to use loaner gear for the entirety of class. Students may either come dressed for class or come and change in the bathroom.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Classroom Expectations<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong> All students are expected to have good behavior while they are at the dance studio. All parents are equally expected to model appropriate behavior accordingly. The studio IOE realizes that no person is perfect and everyone has a bad day once in a while. This is why the demerit system was implemented. Inversely, there is also a merit system which students can do to reverse their demerits or earn brag tags if no demerits need to be reversed. Students wishing to reverse demerits must discuss it with the teacher before class time starts. No students under 18 may have or use their cell phones or other electronic devices during class. Students having cell phones are expected to keep it IN their cubby during the duration of the class. Parents are free to contact me in an emergency situation. Over 18s are encouraged to leave their cell phones in their cubby during class. Exceptions are at the school\u2019s discretion. Parents and students are expected to leave the studio in a tidy condition and clean up after themselves and their children. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Classroom expectations are as follows:<\/b> The direct consequences of these are as follows:<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n A. Students missing shoes may not dance during dance class, but are expected to pay attention, take notes, and participate. This is a safety issue that will prevent harm to your student. Students missing notebooks and pens or any other supplies <\/span><\/span><\/span>may<\/span><\/span><\/span> be dismissed from class as well. Anyone repeatedly not bringing a notebook and pen to competition lessons and\/or refusing to write down <\/span><\/span><\/span>or record<\/span><\/span><\/span> their steps will be immediately excused from the entirety of class without compensation and not allowed to compete in that dance until the next competition. After 2 weeks of missing proper footwear, dancers will have a note sent home and a demerit. Outgrown shoes do not count.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n B. Food\/drinks not put in proper areas earns one demerit.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n C. Students coming to class consistently late (unexcused) will be taken out of performances at head teacher\u2019s discretion.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n D. Students lacking readiness to learn including but not limited to: a surly demeanor, being distracted etc., will be asked to write the phrase \u201cI am ready to learn\u201d an appropriate amount of times based on their age out in the hallway.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n E. During dance class and performances if students fail to treat their classmates (including siblings!) with respect they will be excused to time out. We hold the parents to the same standard. Any disrespect or harassment by the parents toward any staff or other student is grounds for student expulsion. If there is a physical altercation between two students, teachers will separate the two students and the student originating the altercation will receive two demerits and be excused from the next class period (without financial reimbursement) and dances from the current or next performance.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n F. As a dance teacher, our job is to make sure that you are safe above all. Our next job is to make sure that you learn dancing and our job cannot be carried out correctly if students or parents are being disrespectful to us so, the following disciplinary measures will be applied if students or parents are disrespectful to teachers.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n i. First offense: student will be excused to timeout for five minutes regardless of age. Parent will be excused from viewing or attending the next\/current performance.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n ii. Second offense student will have earned two demerits, picked up from class early, and will not be allowed back into dance class until a letter of apology is written to the disrespected teacher. Parents and students will be excused from dancing at all functions for a year including competitions competition lessons and private lessons.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n 1. A letter includes a salutation, body (needs more than 5 sentences, a closing and a signature.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n iii. Any offense after 2 will be considered for expulsion from the Irish Dance School without exception. *Please note, if head teacher deems offense\/harassment severe, IOE has the right to enact item iii without having previously proceeded with i or ii.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n G. If the student is not dancing to the best of their ability, teacher intervention is necessary. The first question every teacher should ask is if student is injured or tired in any way. If lack of enthusiasm is due to ignorance of the task or unclear directions, teacher will explain. This rule is for students who are not trying their best\/ giving attitude about a particular step or dance, NOT students who can\u2019t make their body perform the task or don\u2019t understand. Students containing the ability to perform better but refusing to do so out of defiance (not common error) will be given one demerit and will perform the task correctly three times while the rest of the class waits.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n H. Furthermore, IOE School has an exemplary character standard for all students and parents. This should be a safe place for dancers to come and learn the art of dance. With that in mind, any student or parent caught lying to\/about or bullying another student, parent or teacher will be immediately dismissed from dance lessons without compensation. Families dismissed on these grounds are disallowed to take lessons ever again for any reason.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The Merit system goes as follows: Brag Tags<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Earning your first 10 merits will get you a Brag Tag. A Brag Tag is something that stays on your dance bag and lets the other people know of your accomplishments. Office Hours<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong> These are the hours the head instructor is available for phone calls and emails to be answered promptly. Anyone emailing or calling outside of those hours will be answered the next office hour session. Anyone calling, texting, or emailing after 9:00 pm or before 10:00 am will not be answered. Any contact made in March or September will not be responded to until April or October. Very few exceptions apply. Class Enrollment<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Cancellations<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Isle of Erin reserves the right to reschedule or cancel any class due to increment weather, natural disaster or other emergencies. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>If class is canceled due to emergency or weather, parents will notified by our Band App. Note: <\/span>Creating an account in Band is required with enrollment to Isle Of Erin, <\/span>however it is free, digitally secure, and goes on any device. All official IOE communications go through here including class updates, the official calendar, and performance\/ social gathering information <\/span>as well as informing the teacher of students missing class<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Payments<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n There is a one-time per year registration fee for each student, expected to be paid upon registering. Tuition for the month is due on the first day of classes for each session. Tuition that is not paid by the second week of the month will be accrued a ten dollar late fee for each week tuition is late. Students having tuition three weeks late may be dismissed from enrollment at Isle of Erin.<\/span><\/p>\n Refunds<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n No refunds will be given for missed classes. Students are encouraged to make up missed classes. <\/span><\/p>\n Make Up Lessons<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Make up lessons are to be discussed with instructor. Students must be paying tuition currently in order to be eligible for make-up lessons. <\/span><\/p>\n Costume Rental Contracts<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Costume rental is a separate fee and contract.<\/span><\/p>\n Attendance<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Students are expected to attend classes regular and on time. Absences should be <\/span>texted directly to Head of School or on the Band app. Failure to phone in an absence incurs a fine of 5 minutes deducted from the student\u2019s next class<\/span>. <\/span>After 8 consecutive missed classes, students will be asked to return their IOE gear including their rented costume and will forfeit their costume fee for the year. When a student re-enrolls, they may be eligible to re rent\/ purchase their costume and gear. Two weeks out of the year in December, every student does two double lessons. This is to foster relationships and inspire the students as well as giving them a way to have a Christmas break.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Tardiness<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Any student more than 10 minutes late will be rewarded a demerit. (Please see demerit system.)<\/span><\/p>\n Lost and Found and Shoes<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n Any lost and found items left unclaimed after two weeks will be either donated or disposed of.<\/span><\/p>\n No street shoes on dance floor unless you have permission<\/span><\/p>\n Do not wear dance shoes outside the building unless you have permission (Ie on cement\/ sidewalk, on grass, in the mud ECT)<\/span><\/p>\n Exit Contracts\/Gear<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>
Starting October 1, 2017 there will be a demerit system in order. After a student gets five demerits, there will be disciplinary measures taken including but not limited to:
\u25cf Writing a sentence an indeterminate amount of times that fits the offense. Such legible sentences will be due before the student will be able to participate in class again.
\u25cf Calling of the parents to collect child from class early.
\u25cf Sending child out into the <\/span><\/span><\/span>couch room <\/span><\/span><\/span>for the remainder of class.
\u25cf Sending child to timeout until they are ready to apologize for the offensive actions.
\u25cf Removing child from class for two weeks without financial reimbursement.
\u25cf Removing child from classes completely.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
A. Students will have notebook pen or pencil and shoes for every class.
B. Water bottles and snacks may be kept in appropriate kitchen areas or designated water areas.
C. Students will come to class on time and ready to learn.
D. Students will follow directions to the best of their ability. If directions are unclear students are responsible for asking questions politely to clarify directions for themselves\/others.
E. Students will conduct themselves in a respectful manner towards their dance peers and students younger and older.
F. Students will be respectful of the dance teacher for class.
G. Students will dance to the best of their ability keeping in mind that every student is their own person and not everything will come easily to everyone.
H. Bullying by anyone will NOT be tolerated in any form and is grounds for immediate dismissal.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
\u25cf 10 merits equal 1 brag tag
\u25cf Things that earn merits include:
o Picking up \/ tidying the Dance Floor area without being asked.
o Helping other students during class without being asked.
o Changing your behavior in the moment when you realize it is incorrect.
o Doing something kind without being asked such as picking up someone else\u2019s garbage, putting away someone\u2019s shoes, etc.
o Encouraging someone when they are frustrated or upset.
o Being determined and having perseverance.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
\u25cf There will be special brag tags associated with good sportsmanship, good leadership, good communication skills, determination fortitude and kindness.
\u25cf There will also possibly be special brag tags handed out for performances and dance competitions.
Once you have achieved 5 brag tags you will be eligible for a drawing to go to lunch with the head teacher and another student of your choosing. Please note, there must be more than 3 students that have earned 5 brag tags in order to be a fair drawing.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Office hours**:
Monday 1:00p-<\/span><\/span><\/span>3<\/span><\/span><\/span>:00p
Tuesday 1:00p-<\/span><\/span><\/span>3<\/span><\/span><\/span>:00p
Friday 2:00p-4:00p
These office hours do NOT apply during the months of March and September.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
**If we are on location for a performance or competition, or at some other dance outing these hours are suspended for everyone except the Feis participants. Calls after 9 pm or before 10 am while directly on location for such events are at a discretional exception. IOE will help you if you need it, but the instructors have a right to a personal life and deserve to have home time respected. Proper down time is essential for any instructor to be at their best.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n
Any dancers leaving (either of their own volition or due to expulsion) the dance school must sign an exit contract and sell at a discount or give back all IOE material with the official copyrighted IOE logos due to safety issues for the students involved. <\/span><\/span><\/span>Students leaving the dance school must give back all rented costume items. Afterwards, their contract is forfeit. Anyone refusing to turn over IOE property upon school exit in a timely manner will be prosecuted and responsible for all fees associated with returning said items.<\/span><\/span><\/span>.Students wishing to leave the dance school must not in any way instruct or give items containing videos or written material to other dance schools or people about anything they have learned at IOE. <\/span><\/span><\/span> This is intellectual property and copyrighted property of IOE. Current <\/span><\/span><\/span>and former <\/span><\/span><\/span>students also may not teach copyrighted material to others outside of IOE without permission. Any student caught violating this will be treated accordingly.
Anyone wishing to leave the dance school may not do so less than one month before a major
Performance (unless they are expelled). This is so the teachers do not have to scramble to readjust choreography. If leaving is medically necessary a signed note from the doctor is required.
<\/span><\/span><\/span>Level Advancement<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>
The head instructor makes all final decisions about level placement. There are strict criteria to be met for advancement.
While this is just recreational for some, we strive for excellence. All level placements by the instructor are final. Practice makes perfect. There are materials and resources always available to make sure your dancer is dancing his or her best.
Anyone wishing to contest level advancement will arrange a meeting at head instructor\u2019s convenience and fees for the meeting will be paid directly to the head IOE instructor one week before the meeting or meeting will be cancelled.
Fees for meetings to contest level advancement are $60\/per person per hour minimum one hour paid.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n