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 Spring Ball We live in a world where the majority of parents work full or part time. When parents are not at work, they seem to be driving their children to one activity after another. Then there is supper to fix or pick up, meetings to attend and homework to monitor. Multiply these activities times two or even three children and it is no wonder social skills training does not hit the radar. At some point, you are jolted into reality when you notice your child’s friend, never your child, is not acting in the expected behavior of our society. And yes, like it or not, we have all landed on a level of society that has rules. Some areas of the country may have more or maybe less rules than other places, but rules none the less. Here on the West Coast we are “Thank you so much for inviting me to the Spring Ball. I enjoyed every minute of it! The dancing, contest and the awards were all extremely exciting. I really learned a lot in your classes and will always remember how much fun I had. I look forward to next year.”
Katrina C -6th Grade
All, or at least most, parents teach their children to get their elbows off the table and to say the basic please and thank you; but if our children are to be successful and achieve a level of confidence that will allow them to fit into any social, collegiate, or business setting, the basics are not enough. Studies by Harvard University, Stanford Research Lab and Carnegie Foundation revealed that 85% of a person’s success is attributed to good social skills. Acquiring good social skills is a life long journey and certain ages are landmarks for new and advanced learning. The sixth grade is one of those landmarks. These students have left the elementary level of their lives and are moving into young adulthood. Certain behavior is now expected. What outcomes do you want for your child? Well, you say, “The best.” We spend money on education, clothes and vacations. We hire coaches to make our child the best in a certain sport, send them off to great summer camps and pay for piano lessons. And yet, how many parents stop to think of investing in their child’s social skill education? Yes, this is an investment. Your window of opportunity here is short. Not just because our programs are designed for certain age groups, but because in two blinks your child will be in high school and then off to higher education or out into the work force. At each level your child is expected to have more and more social savvy. Will his/her social skills meet the expectation of others when you are not there to guide and direct? Now is the time for their training, now, when they are young and can learn with their friends in a fun and interactive way.  Refreshment etiquette When a child learns good table manners, social skills, the ability to put others at ease and reduce awkwardness, he/she walks with self-confidence and self-respect. Polite kids set themselves apart and fit into any level of society. They develop a level of class that no one can take away from them. It is training they will use for a lifetime. Self-confidence is an unspoken language of courtesy, responsibility and respect. It will open many doors that even a good education cannot. It gives your children the security of knowing their actions are correct. Whether on the campus or in business, others want to be around them. This is the success you want for your children and it is the payoff on your cotillion investment. Classes are once a month for an hour and a half. This timetable seems to fit into the busiest of schedules. Classes are taught using skits, discussion and student interaction. Basic ballroom dance is included in each class. This promotes a lot of self confidence. Each student gets a workbook and is expected to do the social skills homework each month. These lessons are very short and can be interactive with the family. Total time: 10 minutes a month. (Example: Practice your good handshake with at least 10 adults over the next 30 days. On-line registration opens in March and classes begin in September. This program ends with the Spring Ball. Certificates are awarded upon the competition of the program.
Locations: Atherton, Burlingame, Los Altos, San Mateo, Dublin (directions) 6th Grade Program Dress Code:
Part of the Cotillion experience is learning how to dress properly. What to wear, when. In many cases, people will judge us based upon how we are dressed. Once that impression is made, it is very hard to reverse it. Therefore, how we dress is important. Many of our young students do not yet realize the importance of dressing correctly and our required dress code may be a new experience. We discuss the difference between fad and fashionable and give your child the two secret words that will help him/her to choose the correct clothes for every occasion. Parents receive a dress code notice if a student is dressed inappropriately. Ladies wear Sunday dresses or blouses and skirts that have hemlines at or below the knees. Sixth graders wear gloves to class. No pants or spandex showing from under the skirts. No spaghetti straps or halters. No bra straps or stomachs showing. Skirts need to have a waist band. Pumps or flats are preferred. No athletic shoes or flip-flops of any kind. Sandals with a strap on the heel are o.k. until November. The Spring Ball requires a tea length or floor length gown with gloves. Gentlemen wear a suit or sport coat with slacks or Dockers, shirt, tie and dress shoes with dark colored socks. No white socks, no athletic shoes. The Ball is a semi-formal affair.
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