FALL NEWSLETTER

 

TO:             ALL PARENTS AND STUDENTS

RE:                 SEPTEMBER, 2009

FROM:             PATRICK BURROUGHS

DATE:             SEPTEMBER 12, 2009

 

WELCOME!  Our Saturday Program, begins on September 12 – with greetings and registration at 9:00 a.m. and tune up and Play-Ins at 9:15 a.m., at Mother Teresa Catholic Secondary School, 1065 Sunningdale Road East.  

Directions:  Drive to Sunningdale Road, north of Fanshawe (follow any of Highbury, Adelaide, Richmond, Wonderland or Hyde Park Road to Sunningdale).  The school is midway between Adelaide Street and Highbury Avenue on Sunningdale.  We enter the school using the south entrance, not the front.  You can park along south edge of the bus drop off area (near the football field).  There is usually enough room in that area but there is plenty of parking in the lot at the east side of the school (you still must enter through south entrance).

REGISTRATION FORM: The Registration Form gives us up to date, accurate information.  If you are a new family you must fill out a registration form.  Families with changes in contact information (particularly email) should fill out a form or email us with the changes and your intent to register at infofcte@rogers.com  Otherwise, your form from last year will suffice.  Please return completed forms to Pat Burroughs or to Lorie or John Grandmont on Saturday or email them to the address listed above. Alternatively you could fax it to Lorie at 519-858-9554. There is a downloadable form on the school website at http://www.forestcitytalenteducation.com.  WE CANNOT SEND YOU PROGRAM EMAIL WITHOUT A CURRENT ADDRESS.

FEES: There has been no increase in fees this year as we, like everyone else, considered the difficult economic times.  The basic fee for the first child in the program is always based on the highest level violin or cello student in the program.  Book 2 students who participate in orchestra are required to pay the Book 3 and up fee.  Book 2 students must be recommended for orchestra and approved by Mr. Burroughs and Mr. Chute.    Our schedule of fees is as follows:

Level of Student

Basic Fee

2nd Child

Additional children

Pre-twinkle, twinkle, Bks 1 and 2

$450

$175

$100 each

Book 3 and up

$600

$200

$100 each

Guitar

$400

$175

$100 each

Fees are due by the first session – September 12, 2009.  Families paying in two installments must provide a post-dated cheque dated January 09, 2010 for the balance of the fees.  Cheques should be made payable to “Forest City Talent Education.”

FUNDRAISING:   We expect that tuition fees will cover approximately 85% of the cost of operating the Saturday Program and we will be required to raise the remaining 15% through fundraising efforts, including donations for which tax receipts will be issued.  Our goal for fundraising this year is approximately $100 per family.  You can certainly help by purchasing snacks from Cahill's Confections and donations are always welcome.  We welcome offers from families who would like to volunteer to help Jennepher by either working the snack table or providing snacks.  Nut free products are requested.

Schedule for Registration Saturday

9:00 – registration  in the lobby – All families must register and pay fees.  Those that have no changes in contact information and no new students can pay fees and go directly to the 9:15 location.  You can save time by putting your cheque in an envelope with your name and your children/s names on the outside and on the cheque.  New families can speed up the process by downloading the registration form and bringing it filled out to the desk.  All families should calculate their fees based on information in the fees section (see main page of the website).  It is important to remember that fees are based on the highest level violin or cello student.  There have been no increases in fees this year.   It is preferable to confirm your fee amount at registration before you fill out your cheque.    

9:15 -  Welcome and Play-in   As soon as you have registered, please go to the location listed below.   

-         

All violins on the stage in the cafetorium - Includes everyone from pretwinkle and up.      
All senior cellos in the library
All junior/intermediate cellos in Room 152
Guitars in Room  246 - (second floor)

Basses in Room – 136

 

9:15 – 10:30  As we work through the play-in, students will be instructed to leave with teacher/s assigned to their playing level.  This procedure will be followed this week only.  Classes for next week will be posted.  Students will move as follows (you may want to copy the assigned room for your child and bring it with you in the event that you are delayed at the registration desk and miss play-in).  You can go directly to the room listed at 9:30.

 

-          Twinkles and pre-twinkle violins – with Carleen to Rooms 166 and 167 (same as last year)

-       Senior violin class – Pat's class - this list will be  as posted to the Music Room 137/38 - this group can leave after twinkle

 

-       The rest of the violins will leave as the play-in reaches the listed book as follows:

-          All book 1 students (early and late) – with Tori  – Room 165

-          All book 2 students – with Jordan – Room 149

-          All book 3 students -- with Heather - Room 148

-          All book 4/5 with Kerri  – Room 169

-          Irene’s class will stay on the Stage

 

-         

All sessions should end at about 10:30 – no later than 11:00. You will be finished for the day at that time.  Regular sessions beginning September 19 will end at 12:00. 

PLEASE REMEMBER that it is our responsibility to do everything in our power to leave the school exactly as we find it, to refrain from touching classroom materials, and always to move back any furniture we move.  A member of the Custodial Staff, who will always be on duty when we are in the building, will oversee our presence, help when needed, and ultimately assume responsibility for the care, maintenance and locking up of the building when we leave.  We will value his/her assistance and respect his/her role on Saturday mornings.  The school however, bears no responsibility for our program, so please do not call the Mother Teresa school office for information about our program.  

TIMETABLE for a regular morning of classes, beginning September 19/09:                                           

             8:55 a.m.  Arrival and classes

            10:30 a.m.  Recital

            11:00 a.m.  Orchestra Rehearsals          

            12:00 noon – End

  CALENDAR:  Our program dates for the year are as follows:

2009

 

September 12, 19, 26

 

October 3, 17, 24, 31 (October 10 is Thanksgiving weekend)

 

November 7,14,21,28 (final concert)

2010

 

January 9,16,23,30

 

February 6, 20, 27 (13 falls during the family day weekend)

 

March 6, 27 (13 and 20 are march break Saturdays and we do not meet on those dates)

 

April 10,17,24 (April 3 is Easter break)

 

May 1,8,15,29 (final concert)  (we do not meet on May 22 - long weekend) May 29 is our final date.

 RECITALS occur almost every Saturday.  Student progress depends upon many aspects of musical study, much is gained from the experience of polishing a piece and performing it in recital.  Our recitals provide a warm and supportive audience for your exciting performance.  In addition, the recital is a valuable training ground where our students gain from hearing others and learn how to participate as attentive audience members.  We highly recommend that each student remain for the recital portion of the Saturday Program.  Speak with your teacher and plan to perform as often as possible.  Please supervise your children during this time.

 WEBSITE:  Remember to check our web site regularly for announcements and other information.  Our web site is:  http://www.forestcitytalenteducation.com

CONGRATULATIONS again this year to our many students who attended Suzuki Institutes, summer music camps, lessons and to those who completed conservatory exams this summer.  Summer is a great time for concentrated musical study and experience.                        

Soon we will hear wonderful music filling the rooms and halls of Mother Teresa Catholic Secondary School.  Your teachers look forward to seeing all of you on September 12th.

                                                                                Patrick Burroughs, Director

E-mail:  psfburroughs@rogers.com

                                                                                Telephone: (519) 472-2768

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