I am very excited to announce our Summer School 2008 & can now confirm details.

I have lots of ideas for a fun week. There will be lots of great classes, all different, for 4 age groups. I really enjoyed seeing and working with all the children last year – it was a great success and I am hoping to see you all again this year. Yes, we will be running a SENIORS SUMMER SCHOOL!! I hope there are lots of takers from the ‘top of the school’

The Summer School will be held at:

Hobbs Hill Wood Primary School,

Peascroft Road, Bennetts End, Hemel Hempstead.

Monday 4^th August - Friday 8^th August

Activities will include:

Body Conditioning, Funky Street Jazz, Quiz, Modern & Ballet, Musical Theatre &

Singing, & end of week showtime

And not just dancing. There will be craft work & face painting for youngsters & on Thursday 7th there will be a theatre trip to London.

And a tuck shop for all. Drinks, sweets, fruit & snacks- please bring pocket money.

The emphasis will be on fun and teachers & students being all together for the week.

Age groups:

Mini Performer - ages 5 and 6, years old

Junior Performers – ages 7 & 8 years old

Intermediate Performer - 9 to 11 years

Senior Performer -12 and over

Students are asked to wear appropriate dancewear. They will take part in various classes, some of which they may not have done before. This is a good chance for them to try something new and have fun.

The school has 2 halls and a dining area. There is a car park at the front of the school.

The list of teachers is below & I can assure you that the children will enjoy themselves and be able to build up a good rapport with their summer school teacher.

Sarah trained with JMDS for 13 years, becoming a Head Girl in 2004 when she supported the school by teaching ballet, with a special interest in teaching the younger age groups.

Throughout her time with JMDS she competed in the British Arts Awards, being placed in London finals for 10 successive years. She achieved her Musical Theatre Diploma with Thames University when she was only 16 and has continued to actively develop her interest in this area. Since leaving JMDS, Sarah has auditioned successfully for the University Dance Squad and since going to Lancaster, where she is studying English language, she has learnt more new disciplines such as hip hop!

Sarah is really looking forward to sharing her love of performing with the summer school minis this year!

Francesca is a well-liked and popular teacher at JMDS – she says she had lots of fun with the Intermediates at last year’s summer school and would like to teach them again this year. Francesca will also take on the Juniors this year.

Francesca has her ISTD Associate qualifications in ballet, tap and modern and she is now working for further teaching qualifications. She was trained for her tap and modern Associates by Miss Sarah Wilkins AND has been teaching for four years and teaches at 2 other dancing schools in London. Francesca continues to work towards her FDI & CDE qualifications with the ISTD. Francesca has also choreographed some imaginative show work for JMDS students.

Katie started dancing at the age of 3 at the North London Dance studio where she studied RAD Ballet, Tap, modern and jazz. At the age of 16 she gained a BTEC National diploma in dance & drama and also took part in both amateur and professional productions. Katie discovered her love of teaching and went on to gain teaching qualifications in ballet, tap, modern & national dance at the Penny Meekings teacher training college. Katie gained qualifications in both Foundation in Dance Instruction & also Certificate in Dance Education, gaining knowledge in health & safety in dance and lifespan and development. Katie also achieved her Advanced 1 & 2 vocational exams in all genres and became Head Girl at college. She attends many workshops with the ISTD & keeps her knowledge up to date. Katie teaches all disciplines of dance at Elston’s School of Dancing, getting children through examinations up to and including Advanced 2 Level (the highest). She has also taught at Boden’s performing arts studio & has choreographed dances for shows & summer holiday courses. Katie also teaches for Splitz School of Dance & Drama, which is run by Miss Styles, an examiner for the ISTD. She has experience of teaching very young pupils right up to students who wish to dance as a career & also children with learning and physical disabilities.

Miss Jayne will, of course, be around all week. Organizing craft activities, running a quiz, running around, & generally having a good time!!

The climax to the week, on the Friday, will be a showcase of all our week's work. A short

presentation of work will be given on Friday8^th August at 3.30pm for parents & friends to

watch. All pupils should attend for the whole day from 10am on this day, as there will be

2 rehearsals. Lunch can be purchased or brought along with students on this day. Don’t forget that all pupils attending the summer school will be presented with a special medal on the last day after our show.

A special feature for the week will be a trip to London, stopping at lunchtime for a picnic in Hyde Park followed by the matinee performance of HAIRSPRAY AT The Shaftsbury Theatre.

booked to take us to Hyde Park where we will stop for a hour of fun and packed lunches.

This trip is optional. Some seats will be available to younger children & parents who might want to go but it will depend on numbers. All children will be supervised and looked after.

On Thursday 7th August the students are required to be at the school by 11am and the coach will leave at 11.15. We will arrive at Hyde Park at approximately 12.15 and have our packed lunches until 1.15pm. We will then proceed by coach to the theatre and be picked up at 5.15pm, arriving back at the school at approximately 6.15pm. Last year we had an absolutely lovely sunny lunch in the park and the children enjoyed running around and playing together. Please bring picnic rugs or chairs if you wish. Fingers crossed for another sunny day!

Cash or cheques (made payable to J Wilson No 3) please. You may post payment or hand it into class. Postal address is: 49 Tassell Hall, Redbourn AL3 7JD. Please assume your child has a place unless you are contacted.

Or you may return the form & reserve a place and payment may be made by 18^th July