December Updates

Thanks to everyone who came to the Brunch with Santa. We all had a great time! There are photos available for viewing online - just email Deb (deb at debmoranstudios.com) for the link and the code. If your child had their photo taken with Santa and you ordered prints, they will be mailed out in the next day or two.

January Dates:
5th, 12th, 19th, 26th

~~RECITAL NEWS~~
The recital is just around the corner. Please make every effort to attend all dance classes. Starting in January, you can make your recital payment(s). Costs are $100 for the first dancer, $25 for the second and $10 for each additional dancer. Those payments will be collected by a parent in each class. Please see Mary Pat Burke (9:30 class) for details. You may pay all at once or make payments. The total fee must be paid by January 19.

As requested by parents, there will be posed photos available this year. Details will follow after the holidays.

~~~

From Maureen:
Just a note to thank everyone for the lovely gifts you gave to our new addition, Quinn. We are truly blessed by her arrival and your kindness.

Have a wonderful Holiday Season and a Blessed New Year.

December News

December Dance Dates:
December 1 and 8
We will be on winter break until January, then the pace will pick up in preparation for the show in February.

Children's Christmas Brunch with Santa
will be at the ICS on Sunday, December 9 from Noon to 3pm. Cost is $10/family. There will be crafts and a continental style brunch.

Photos with Santa will be available. $12 (One 5x7 and two 4x6 prints included. Extra prints will be available to purchase separately.) Cash and checks... sorry no credit cards.

Any questions, email Deb at deb(at)debmoranstudios.com
Maureen's computer is temporarily down.

Dance Reminder

Please come in when you drop your kids off for dance this week... we're having a Jewelry Party to benefit the dancers. Come in and do some shopping! It's great stuff! The jewelry will be on display during the class hours.

See you there!

The New Baby - Quinn

It's a GIRL!

Our dear Maureen has had her baby! It's a girl. She's beautiful!! 6lb 6oz. Mom and baby are doing very well and are expected to go home very soon. No... still no name at this time, but we'll update as soon as they choose.

Update to the Update!

The recital will be on Saturday, Feb 2 so as not to interfere with the Superbowl!

News Update

There were several issues discussed at today's parents meeting.

The recital is scheduled for February 3, 2008 at 3pm, with the cast party to follow. Suggestions for cast party location/food options are welcome.

A Jewelry Party fund-raiser to benefit the ICS Stepdancers will be held at the ICS building on Sat., November 10 during dance class hours. Orders will be in in time for the holidays. Feel free to bring a friend to check out the jewelry!

Several fund raising ideas to benefit the Irish Cultural Society were proposed.

Any ideas, suggestions, or questions should be posed either on the blog or to Maureen via email: topyorkies(at)yahoo.com

There will be a need for parents to chair committees for the recital and the ICS fund raiser. More updates to follow!

October/November Update

October Classes:
6, 13, 20
November Classes:
3, 10, 17

There will be a brief parents meeting on October 13 at 9:30 and at 11:45. Please plan on attending one of these meetings. Upcoming events and the recital will be discussed.

September News

Welcome Back Everyone!
Hope you all had a great Summer.


September dates: 8th, 15th, and 22nd
October dates: 6th, 13th and 20th

Please remember all payments are due on the FIRST class of every month, unless your child cannot attend class due to illness. Payments received after the first class will be assessed a $5.00 late fee for each week it is late.

Notices:
• We will be having our annual recital in February.
• There will be a Parents Meeting in late September. (Date to follow)
• No Jeans at dance class please!!
• Info on a clothing sale will be coming in September.
• Please check the Blog weekly for all information; Deb Moran will have the blog address printed on cards for all of you that do not have it. It is a good idea to check it every Friday just to be sure there is no change in dance class.
• If you have any questions for me you may leave a message on the Blog or email me @ topyorkies@yahoo.com
• Finally, please print your email address on the paper in the bar so I can add you to my computer.

Fall Classes Starting Soon!

Fall Class times:
The first class is scheduled for September 8th

Please bring your child to the class that is the closest time to last year. Some of the classes are changed by 5 or 10 minutes. After evaluating your child he/she will be placed in a class for the year.

9:00-9:30
9:30-10:15
10:30-11:15
11:30-12:30 (hard shoe)
12:45-2:00

Extra Practices

Just a reminder to all dancers that wish to dance at St Joe's on Sunday the 29th at 3:30:

We will have a practice on Wednesday from 6:30-7:30. It is important that you attend this practice. We will also go over the dances for the baseball game on Friday.

Maureen

August News

August Dates:

• 2^nd (this is a Thursday)
• 7^th

Upcoming Performances:

• July 27^th older girls only…Irish night at the Stadium…Arrival at 6:00 p.m.
• July 29^th Any dancer that performed at Jack Frost may participate…St. Joe’s Festival…Arrival at 3:00
• August 5^th Jack Frost Dancers…Bishop Timlin’s Birthday at Holy Family… Arrival at 2:30. Dancers must be at the August 2^nd Practice

If your dancer wishes to participate in any of the above dates, please email Maureen so that she can inform you of any extra practices.

September Schedule:

We will start back on Saturdays on September 8^th. New students are welcome to join. There is a $25 registration fee for new dancers and monthly classes are $32.00. Hardshoe class is an additional $20 per month. We will keep the same time schedule as last year. Classes will also be held on the 15^th and 22^nd.

Recital:

The recital was scheduled for October 7^th. However, due to a large number of dancers taking the summer off, I have postponed it. As in the past, we were going to apply a $100 participation fee to each dancer (with reductions for families). Having the recital in October would not give families enough time for the 3 month payment plan we implemented for other recitals.

We will be having a Parents Meeting in early September to discuss this and other fund raising activities.

Please keep checking the Blog and your Email for other summer performances.

Camp Dost

On Tuesday, July 10th...Some of our dancers and I traveled to Millville, Pa to Camp Victory. We were asked to perform for Children with cancer through a program called Camp Dost. There were approx 65 campers there. We danced a few numbers and then taught the campers the Haymakers Jig. Almost30 campers were able to get up and dance with us.

It was a night we will never forget. I have never been so proud of our dancers. They were outgoing and helpful and understanding. The parents of the dancers were also moved by this experience. We should all be very proud of these young dancers.

We were asked to come back again next year; but before I could answer, the dancers all said YES! We took some great photos and I hope to have them up on the blog soon!!

A special thanks to all the parents that took time out of their busy schedules to drive to Millville.

The dancers that participated were: Molly K., Maeve K., Caitlin C., Colleen C., Kayle G., Shannon, Katie and Patrick J., Mia O., Bridget F., Erin K., and Sarah B.

Maureen

ICS Dancers at Christ the King Picnic

July Performances

We are dancing at Christ the King picnic in Dunmore on Saturday July 7th at 7:00. All dancers that attended Jack Frost may dance. Please let me know if you can attend. We will practice on Tuesday July 3rd during class time.

The older dancers (1:30 class) will perform at the Scranton/WB Yankees game on Friday, July 27th. As of now, we will only be dancing 2 dances prior to the game. Please let me know if you can attend that as well. Mrs Carr has tickets to the game and we will be tailgating. If anyone would like to join in please see Mrs Carr for details.

Maureen

Date Change!

**The July 10th class is switched to July 3rd.**

Beginners camp starts Monday 6/18. There is still room for dancers. The cost is $65. It goes from 9:30-11:00, Monday through Thursday.

ICS Summer Schedule and Irish Night

The Irish Cultural Society will be on summer schedule and meet on Monday, July 16 and Monday, August 20 both meetings will start at 7:00

The Irish Cultural Society is also taking part in Irish Night on Friday July 27, at Scranton Wilkes Barre Yankees. Our dancers will be preforming (we think pre-game) and we will have a tailgate bbq, family friendly priced. Sign up at dancing to reserve your tickets........more details will follow..........

Patty Carr longislandcarr@yahoo.com

Summer Times

Dates:
Tuesdays:
June 12 & 19
July 3 & 17

9:00 class....6:00-6:30
9:30 class....6:45-7:15
10:30 class...7:30-8:15
1:00 class....8:15-9:00

Hardshoe will be taught in the regular class. Please be on time!!! classes are shorter in the summer but we have a lot to accomplish.

Directions to Jack Frost

We'll be at Jack Frost in 24 hours! Yippee!! The kids have been working very hard and look great.

Don't forget - be there by noon on Saturday and talk to Maureen if you're going to participate in the Mass on Sunday. (Otherwise, noon on Sunday, too.)

The easiest way to get to Jack Frost from the Scranton area is to take the turnpike to:
Pocono Exit 95 of I-476 (N.E. Extension of PA Turnpike):
Take Route 940 East and follow signs 4 miles to ski area entrance on left.

1 Jack Frost Mountain Road
Blakeslee, PA 18610
in case you want to Google Map them.

It's VERY easy to find. Look forward to seeing you there! It's going to be wonderful.

June and July

Jack Frost Update:
There will be an extra practice for the 9:30 and 10:30 classes on Wednesday, May 23 from 6:15 to 7:30. The dancers from the 1:00 class will have their extra practice Thursday, May 24 from 6:15 to 7:45.

Please review the post below for all the Jack Frost details. We still need baskets and workers for our stand. If anyone can help, please contact Patty Carr. (See post below.)

June and July
Starting in June we switch to our summer schedule. We will dance two Tuesdays per month, unless preparing for a performance.

June Classes:
Tuesday, June 12
Tuesday, June 19

July Classes:
Tuesday, July 10
Tuesday, July 17

Summer Camp for Beginners
Summer camp will be held on June 18 - 21. It will be at the ICS from 9:30 to 11:00 and is open to all beginner dancers. This includes all the 9:00 class children as well as any new student that would like to try Irish Step. The cost is $65/student and can be paid on the first day of camp. Please email me if you were interested and I will enroll your child.

Jack Frost Information

The Jack Frost Celtic Festival is almost here! Following are the highlights from Saturday's meeting:

• Dancers will take the stage promptly at 1:15 both days*. Dancers must arrive by noon.
• Dancers meet in the ski rental/kiddie area toward the back of the main building.
• Once a dancer is in the room, they may not leave.
• Parents - drop your child off then wait in the hall if you need to help your child change. Dancers will be going over their dances before changing. You will be called when it's time to dress. Once your child is dressed, go find a seat so you can enjoy the show!
• Do NOT come in costume! Part of the drama of the performance is entering in costume.
• Bring costumes in a labeled bag.
• NO FOOD in the back room!
• NO eating in costume!
• Girls' hair - pull back top and sides only. Wear the purple ribbon.
• Ghillies, bubble socks, hard shoes. No tights.
• Costume for girls: Purple dress if you have it. Otherwise, "ballet pink" leotard, purple skirt, purple cape.
• * Sunday Mass. If your child is going to participate in the 11 o'clock Mass, see Maureen.
• Advance tickets are available at the ICS during dance practice this weekend. $14 advance, $17 at the door. Dancers do NOT need a ticket.
• For security reasons, once children are in the back room, they stay with the dance group until they have danced and returned to the back room. DO NOT take your child from the dance floor.
• If someone other than the "regular" dance parent is going to be picking a child up, make sure that person is introduced to Maureen or Erin Joyce. Your child will not be released to someone who is a stranger to Maureen.
• If your child has a purple dance shirt, have them wear it after the show. Everyone will be dressed in green - the purple will make them easier to identify.
• Note - the Ski Lift ride takes an hour. No dancer is to ride the ski lift before the performance.
  

Have FUN!

Please contact Maureen through the blog with questions. Post a comment - your question/answer may be someone else's as well!

Baskets Needed for Jack Frost

NOTE FROM PATTY CARR:
The Irish Cultural Society will once again move to Jack Frost Mountain for the Celtic Festival which will be held Memorial Day Weekend (May 26 & 27.) While we are at Jack Frost, we will be concentrating on fund raising for the society. This is truely our time to raise the money we need to pay the utility bills that allow our society to have a building. Without the ICS building, our dancers would not have a home. As a dancing parent and treasurer of the ICS, I am thankful to the society and Maureen for allowing the dancers to fill the building each weekend.

Currently, I am asking for basket donations from everyone so we may fill our stand at Jack Frost. Some people have told me that they already have their baskets. Thank you so much. Other parents have asked if they can just make a cash donation. That is fine. I don't mind shopping to fill baskets. In years past, some people have asked me to decorate their basket. Not a problem. Lately, people have asked me specifically what kind of baskets we want. We usually have a large variety of baskets, some for children, adults, food themes, game themes, water themes, picnic themes, sports themes, summer holiday themes, Christmas themes, and more. Honestly, what ever you want to try, go for it! I would appreciate receiving all baskets by Saturday, May 11. If you need to contact me, email me LONGISLANDCARR@YAHOO.COM OR 342-2862 AT HOME.

THANKS SO MUCH, PATTY CARR

Mid-April Update

April Dance Dates
4/14, 4/21, 4/28

May Dance Dates
5/5, 5/12, 5/19

Cape Reminder
All capes must be returned next week. Please be sure to have your dancer's name on the cape so we can check your name off the list.

Jack Frost
This year I will only be taking about 50 dancers to Jack Frost. In years past we had an hour to preform. This year we have only 45 minutes. Next week I will post a list of dancers. If you know you are unable to attend this performance, please let me know this week. Those dancers going to Jack Frost must commit to attend ALL practices. Any dancer missing 2 practices will be replaced. We will be having additional practices on Sundays as well as during the week. Also, any dancer that has not mastered his/her steps as of this week will not be considered for Jack Frost. We are starting the choreographing stage of the dances and do not have time to re-teach steps. An informational meeting will be held in early May to explain arrival times, costumes, etc.


A note from the President:
Sean May has asked me to announce that the ICS building may be rented for Communions, birthdays or any special occasions. Please call Sean at 586-3315 for more information.

April News

Dance Dates:

April 14
April 21
April 28

Parade News:

We won the Irish Dancing Award in this year's parade!! Congratulations!

Capes:

All capes will be returned April 21. Please pin your child's name on the cape and hand it to one of our volunteers. Do NOT just place it in a box. We have to check each name. Anyone that does not return their cape will be charged a $25 fee. All capes must be returned no later than April 28.

Have a Happy Easter!