First Middle School Dance/Party!

As you have probably already heard from your Middle Schooler, or seen on the blog, the first Middle School dance of the year is coming up on Thursday, November 29, from 7:00 - 9:30 pm.  Tanya and Jeff's advisory groups are hosting this dance, and all 6th, 7th, and 8th graders are invited to attend.  In addition, every student is allowed to bring one guest. Here is the link to the guest permission slip.  This slip must be signed by YOU (essentially stating you know the guest and can vouch for their behavior) and returned by Thursday, Nov. 29, during the school day.  We will also give out hard copies of permission slips to students on Monday.  Guests will not be allowed in if they show up at the door on Thursday evening.  Admission is $10 per person and will be collected at the door.  All proceeds go to the travel fund, which subsidizes spring travel for the MS students.   This is a long blog post that contains a lengthy FAQ about dances at TBS.  Please read at least up to the FAQ for crucial information for this dance.  Read the FAQ if you have more questions!

Dances take place in the Depot (and the labyrinth area, where students can go to get fresh air.)  Students will also be able to use the bathrooms next to the administration offices.  No other areas of the campus will be accessible to students or their guests.  Once students are on campus, the usual TBS rules apply -- no cell phone use, dress code, etc. -- and the only time students will be able to leave campus is when the dance is over and they head home.  Carpool arrangements should be made ahead of time.  If transportation is a barrier to attendance, please talk with your advisor who can help you make arrangements.

Guests

TBS middle-school students can bring ONE friend to the dance, as long as the following criteria have been met:

• The friend has to be a middle-school student -- only sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade students, please.
• The TBS student has returned a "guest slip," signed by parents or guardians and the TBS student, that acknowledges responsibility for the friend's behavior and actions at the dance, and for his or her willingness to follow school rules.

If these criteria are not met, then the friend will not be allowed to attend the dance -- even if he or she shows up at the door.

Drop-Off and Pick-Up Guidelines
1)  Please drop students off any time from 7:00 on -- no earlier, please!  We will be setting up from 6:00 - 7:00, so we're not equipped to handle earlier drop-offs (some dance committee members have been given permission to arrive earlier and set up).  A teacher will be out front to welcome arrivals.  
2)  The dance will end right at 9:30.  At that point, we'll do a sweep for belongings and escort the children out front, where they'll walk to cars and be dismissed.

Please resist the temptation to peer in the Depot windows.  If you arrive before 9:30, wait for your student in your car, or, if you're talking with other parents, do so well away from the windows!

If you have questions not addressed by the "frequently asked questions" below, please feel free to email MaryBeth at mventura@theberkeleyschool.org.  We look forward to a great evening with your children!

FAQ

Q:  Why Thursday night?  

A:  In our experience, when dances are on Friday nights, some students are unable to attend for a variety of reasons:  religious services, performances, sports tournaments, and family trips are only some of the schedule conflicts that arise.  In contrast, Thursday nights are often "clear," as students typically would be preparing for Friday's school day.  We are a school that prizes inclusivity, and a small middle school -- therefore, we want as many students as possible to be able to come to the dance -- thus, Thursday night.

We guarantee that there will be no homework assigned for Friday, and teachers will certainly make allowances for more subdued energy levels on Friday morning -- but we are confident that the upcoming weekend will be more than enough time to recharge any run-down batteries.

Q:  Is attendance at the dance required?

A:  Definitely not.  We hope that all middle-school students will attend, because we think they will enjoy themselves and enjoy being with each other; however, if attendance isn't possible or if your child doesn't feel ready to attend, it's perfectly fine.  There will be two more dances this year, so other opportunities will occur.  If the only barrier to your child's attendance is logistical -- can't coordinate a ride with your work schedule, etc. -- and you can't think of a solution, please feel free to contact us; we may be able to connect you with a carpool or some other solution.

Q:  Who is chaperoning the dance?  Can I volunteer?

A:  In our experience, most middle-school students are far more comfortable attending dances and socializing if they are not being watched by family members:  we also believe that dances (and similar activities) are good opportunities for students to practice the interpersonal skills that go hand-in-hand with their desire for independence in a safe, structured setting.  To that end, we will not be using parent chaperones:  instead, members of our tireless middle-school staff will be chaperoning and keeping a close eye on things.

Q:  What about the music?

A:  We generally DJ these dances internally, interspersing music that the students request with other tried-and-true middle-school-dance songs.  We do not play music that makes explicit reference to drugs, criminal activity, or sexual activity -- no matter how mind-blowingly popular a particular song might be -- and frequently extend this to "radio edits" that bleep out explicit language but leave overall content and message unscathed.  Our goal, again, is to help students understand the role of social codes, and the importance of code-switching:  we also want them to be conscious of lyrics when they listen to music.

Q:  Can students bring a friend?

A:  TBS middle-school students can bring ONE friend to the dance, as long as the following criteria have been met:

1)  The friend has to be a middle-school student -- only sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade students, please.
2)  The TBS student has returned a "guest slip," signed by parents or guardians and the TBS student, that acknowledges responsibility for the friend's behavior and actions at the dance, and for his or her willingness to follow school rules.

Guest slips will be attached to this email and going home via hard copy on Monday.

If these criteria are not met, then the friend will not be allowed to attend the dance -- even if he or she shows up at the door.  Please make sure that everything is in order before you drop your child and his or her guest off!

Q:  Where will the dance take place?

A:  The dance will take place in the Depot (which will have been transformed into a club like no other) and the labyrinth area, where students can go to get fresh air.  Students will also be able to use the bathrooms next to the administration offices.  No other areas of the campus will be accessible to students or their guests.  Once students are on campus, the usual TBS rules apply -- no cell phone use, etc. -- and the only time students will be able to leave campus is when the dance is over and they head home.  Please make pickup and carpool arrangements for your child ahead of time.

Q:  What if my child is not sure about attending?  What if my child doesn't want to dance?

A:  The dance committee and supervising faculty has done a great deal to make sure that everyone has fun and feels comfortable.  Middle-school dances are a great way for students to get to know their classmates and other middle-school students, and we are committed to providing structure and support that allow students to enjoy each others' company without needing to feel pressured to act a certain way.  To that end, there will be activities and games throughout the evening that will NOT involve dancing, but WILL involve having fun.  Many students come to the first dance and don't really ever dance -- they "hang out," play Wii, do art projects, eat and drink, and just generally take everything in.  By the second dance, they edge around the dance floor; by the third dance, they are dancing with friends.  In addition, there will be delicious food, drinks, and good music.  So, even if your child is resolutely not a dancer, he or she should still come:  there will be plenty to do.