KIDZ KREATIVE ZONE EMAILS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

We are going to be using our email list a whole lot more to sending out the latest meeting notices and announcements. If you do not get our emails or you keep missing them or do not have emails or perhaps deleted your emails, you can now read all emails sent right here on our site. We only list the last four emails sent. See the emails and announcements below.

DATE EMAIL SENT - 2009-08-01 10:31:37

Hello everyone I have some very exciting news for all of you. We are currently training and prepping to attend the Montana Fair May 9th Sunday 2:30-4:00. If you can be at this performance we would love to have you!

NITE OWLS/ADULT EDUCATION COMMUNITY
This has been a rough and wild summer! But I have good news for all of you that have not gotten the news yet. Janae has been working like crazy to help me with getting our Preschool and Lil Kidz Classes running for both this summer and fall. We been working closely with Brian at the club, we had some issues with insurance coverage as I am not really any single business or organization, we did this resolved! Ya!

All of my dances and classes are now going to be held at the Boys and Girls Club ages 3-17. Preschool ages 3-4 will be held on Monday, Lil Kidz (Introduction Dance) held also on Monday starting this fall. Mark your calendars!

FOR THE SUMMER all of my Nite Owls kids please plan to attend a minimal of three sessions this coming week August 3rd - 6th from 5:00-5:30 the club closes at 6:00. The more you come the more your child will be ready for the Fair Performance.

If your unable to attend the summer performance we do hope to see you this fall I will be having a parent meeting in September the week after Labor Day for registration for the fall season.

ALL CLUB KIDS need to attend and sign up for routes this week in August to start planning and prepping to purchase shoes and clothing for the show. See Janae for used items we might have available for you.

SATURDAY AUGUST 8th REHEARSAL: I am requiring if you want a ticket for the Fair you must attend rehearsal on Saturday 1:00-3 or 4 little kids will be done within an hour.

MONTANA FAIR: Please meet us by the community stage is generally location up by the Metra Building by 2:30. If you plan to get ready at the fair please come by 2:00. We are asking if parents would please bring tents for costume changing rooms.

FALL SEASON: The website is going to be updated this month with all the new schedule and everything. I put it on hold until we sorted out location and session for our little kids. I am very excited about this coming year.

ARTICLE IN THE PAPER! If you missed the article be sure to read it at this link! http://www.billingsgazette.com/news/local/article_d4db0248-74f1-11de-a9fa-001cc4c03286.html

Happy Summer I hope to see you this week!

Miss April




DATE EMAIL SENT - 2009-07-13 12:30:22

Hello Everyone,
I have a few things I would like to review with everyone.

I have a few folks waiting on show program, if you need one please email me with your address so I can get those mailed to you this month.

COMMUNITY EDUCATION: I have still not gotten a message from Robyn regards to whether she will add in the Preschool program back into the Community Education, so far it is still a no go this fall... I also was notified that the phone numbers for the school districts have changed, I will need everyone to either write to Robyn Driscoll at Community Education or email Robyn at driscollr@billings.k12.mt.us and let her know you want the Preschool program to continue.

FALL SEASON - Due to the fact I have already put in my classes (so far the only class running is ages 5-7) Lil Kidz for the fall I am going to go ahead with the Lil Kidz Class. If Robyn chooses not to add the Preschool program back into Community Education I am currently along with Janae working on moving our Preschool and Lil Kidz classes to the Boys and Girls Club. This will mean I will need all of your help to promote the program, as promotion through CE will no longer be available. I think it will be for the best in the long run, it's an aweful lot of work for me to haul class materials around for one class.

Those of you with kids ages 4 have taken at least three seasons of the program you are welcome to sign up for the Lil Kidz class for the fall. I hope to see you all there!

THE BILLINGS GAZETTE! The article should be out NEXT Monday! Look for our article!

POSTPONING THE WIZARD OF OZ: Janae and I have talked over the weekend regards to the Wizard of Oz production many things have come up unexpectedly this summer that we feel that the kids at the club are probably not ready for a real acting/drama production. We must remember that the Auditorium is huge and the kids have to literally scream to be heard. We also were not expecting to have to move the Main Productions to the Winter season giving all our newer kids almost no opportunity to participate in the Oz Performance. We are currently short kids for all parts of the production, and we also are missing out on the opportunity for our Preschoolers to fill in as the Munchkins. So we decided we want to wait until 2011 so that everyone will have the fullest opportunity to participate in this exciting production! We hope to have the younger kids back in class and training so they can also be a part of this great fun.

CATS PRODUCTION: We gave it some thoughts and we thought it would fun that kids did the CATS production instead this Winter season. This way regardless if the kids are new or return, also the Preschoolers will be back in the Winter hopefully at the club, everyone will get a part in this awesome dance production! It will also save us money on costumes, we are aiming this year to use our budgets to provide shoes and clothing for the club kids. We also want to make room to add in some drama training so we can train and prep the kids for drama and acting. This will give our kids a lot more confidence before doing some of the bigger stuff. We also know the kids want to do High School Musical as well. So we have a lot of things to look forward to!

Do not forget dance workshop last week of July! You must be club member to participate.

We will also have our final review, workshop, and preparation for the Montana Fair Performance first week of August. All of the Nite Owls/Community Education kids (Toddlers, Preschoolers, and Lil Kidz) are encouraged to attend the workshop August 3rd-6th from 5:00-5:30 at the Boys and Girls Club dance room (505 Orchard Lane). We will have our rehearsal and giving out free tickets for admission to the fair on August 8th at my house.

If you have any questions feel free to send me an email!
Miss April




DATE EMAIL SENT - 2009-07-07 15:12:42

Hello everyone!
I hope the summer is treating you well we have added a new puppy into our family as our two huskies have passed away during this year. I miss them greatly. Our new addition is a handful but bringing us a lot of joy and a lot of work for me, its back to puppy training!

In addition to some good and bad news, we will be in the paper regards to the KKZ program through the Boys and Girls Club. Janae has called the lady that interviewed us she says the article should appear either June 13th or 20th, so keep your eyes out for the article!

I will say the kids were delighted when they found out about the interview, I could not help but to be sure they were part of it, after all, the program would not exist without the kids. At the club things are different verses a studio or even through Community Education, these kids come on their own free will... They stay on their own free will, no one forcing them to join or stay, or even continue. We have a lot of kids that come and go in the program, this is expected they get busy with other events and activities. While being interviewed (which I admit we were all so nervous!) she did ask me a question I guess I had never really pondered a lot on. While my intentions of the program is to offer a variety in the performing arts, I have been working more lately building the program to help our kids learn some valuable tools and lessons (not just dance).

I think the most frustrating part about the program is lack of understanding, participation, and even appreciation of the program. Too easily we the parents get so caught up on quality of things, the best of things, we forget that kids are kids, and while we want them to be the best, and to succeed, to shine like stars, not all kids have the ability, talent as I may have and some of the kids within the program that have awesome talent in the performing arts. We deal with a lot of things in the program between the kids and parents. Kids especially girls tend to get cliquey and girls just before the tween years get attitudes and the constant "gossips and kid drama" I have found myself repeating to many of the girls, "I cannot help you do not like so and so, but this program is not about who you do or do not like who is or is not this or that or makes you happy or..." I also find that parents seem to get distracted by content of the program focusing more on money aspect - which I understand right now we are all having financial burdens do to our times and the recession, but at the same time, we must not forget, the important that was asked of me, why did I come back to the club why do I GIVE eight plus hours a week to the program and to the kids?

While my family is struggling along with many others financially, my husband being a realtor, things are not so easy on us, commission is very rough, its not steady income and worried we may not have a job tomorrow or next week but yet I continue to give my time why? I had the chance to open a studio, and many may not know I did open a studio, to shut it down a year later. I realized when I did open it, that my heart was built on the passion of dance and that is something I cannot change, I want dance to be something valuable but yet pleasant for all kids not just the talented ones. Studios are more geared to perfect and focus on their talent and extend beyond, and there is nothing wrong with that. But at the same time I also knew my hearing will not last forever, and even now I depend on the kids greatly to be my ears... This is something I do not feel belongs in a studio but more something the kids can learn many things from me, and me alone. Sign language being one of the biggest benefit of the program they learn a little something of people like myself that lack ability to communicate we take these things for granted and I also feel that the parents take this for granted as well. It is a miracle I do what I do and I know this but I keep my focus on my passion, I love to teach, I love the kids, and of all I love the program.

I think we have come a long way and we have much yet we can do to make this program even better yet. The article is amazing and I am thankful for the recognition Brian has given us for the hard work not only I have put in, but the kids, and the few parents that have really made the best effort this past year. As many of you return this year, if you return, do know I am going to encourage you the parents to remember how special the program is, how far we have come and successfully! Sure we have problems here and there all businesses and things in life do, we cannot improve we do not make mistakes or have our downfalls that is what makes us better each year, to learn from them. The one thing I will say, I would like to see more appreciation and help from the parents this year and the coming year ahead. Whether it be helping with the shows, giving donations, really doing well in the fundraiser, giving a few hours a week in class to keep the class organized and helping other parents, should never be looked at as a burden. I have never felt that the program and kids are a burden even when the season is near the end and I am just fully exhausted and even when we have parents that are giving us the hardest time or trying to bring us down, or the kids having their issues and problems.

I think parents need to realize that everything we do and we give, we are giving that much more not only to our own children or grandchildren, but to the future generation as well. We cannot make a difference in this world if we depend on everyone else to do it for us... I am proud and honored to do what I do, nothing is more rewarding than to give to those that want it and appreciate it. I hope that as we get near the fall season we are going to have a lot of changes for the better as always, but to remember our kids are learning some of the greatest tools... How to get a long, how to appreciate, be responsible, dedication (sticking with something and doing your best), to appreciate those that are less fortunate, and of all things, I hope this year we can have more appreciation regards to the sign language that it is not just another performance, but it is time I start teaching the kids how to communicate with me in sign... Not just me it is a secondary language, it is yet another valuable tool you will not find in another dance program.

I want to thank all the parents that have shown the greatest appreciation and supported this program and our passion (the kids and myself) because with the help of parents, makes it all the better for me and the kids, that should always come first, the kids.

Enjoy the article! I know the kids are excited! I will buy an extra copy and paste the article in the dance room, it is a great honor and I am very proud of them all.

Miss April




DATE EMAIL SENT - 2009-07-02 20:08:08

I need everyone's attention for the ages 2-4 kids I have some very disappointing news.
Our deadline for the Community Education (Nite Owls) class has come, only to receive a reply from Robyn CE director that she is no longer wanting to run any of the classes under age five.

While I realize that we have good seasons bad seasons it is without a doubt we had some struggles with the two year old classes this season they did not work out as well for many of the parents that participated. I think we did fairly well considering the age group. But due to the fact that three parents had complained this last season, Robyn wants to discontinue the classes under age five. I have taught ages 3 and up for six years with a lot of success - and yes we always have a parent or two complain about something, costumes, price of shoes, class fees, class is too long or too short.

If you would like to help me or want Robyn to reconsider allowing ages 3-4 Preschool continue we will need you to either Email Robyn or call her to tell her you would not want the Preschool program removed. For those of you that have been regular parents/students of the program do let Robyn know why you do return what you like about the program and why she should continue the program. As all of you know we are very open to suggestion to improving the program.

In addition to the news, I will say I am going to request they drop the Toddler class, I feel that the parents are not cooperative enough to make the class work for the toddlers, I do feel that the class had a good structure and would have been successful if parents had given it more credit... Many dropped out before the third class... I am also going to discontinue allowing new students/parents from signing up for performances, I think about 90% of the complaints were directed to that, people didn't understand the schedule, where to go, the complaints on costume prices and so forth. We did have a few kids that just totally lost interest in the dance, and that happens, no more than I have no interest in sports... I tried it, but had no interest. But it isn't fair on the few kids that do find the program fun and interesting. I do feel it would be more beneficial if the parents first waited to make sure the kids are first interested in the program, secondly most first time performers are frustrated because they have never done it before where second time is generally a lot easier for them.

I welcome you to share all thoughts and opinions with Robyn regards to the program I will be very disappointed if she does indeed discontinues the Preschool program, almost all of the preschoolers performed this last spring.

Email Robyn at driscollr@billings.k12.mt.us  or call Robyn at  247-3702
I hope to see you all this fall and the Preschool program too! For those of you that were in the Toddler class that are not YET three by the time fall starts, you are welcomed to enroll them in Preschool in the fall so you can stay with us, but first we must convience Robyn to keep the class running.

Thank you for your time!
April