Janis Paulson

Class on Stage, office Rupert 201

phone: 301-475-2814 x492 (preferred method of contact is e-mail)

office hours: Mondays 3:00-4:00, other times by appointment

Class Description: This class is designed to give the student a structured dance performance opportunity. The course will cover warm-ups, dance techniques, dance styles (including tap, modern, lyrical, liturgical, ballet) and principals of choreography. We will use our dance abilities to worship the Lord and share our talents with each other, the St. Mary’s Ryken High School community, and the community in which we live.

Goals: I hope to be able to take at least one field trip to a festival or workshop, one field trip to see a live performance, one local trip to dance in the community, and have regular on-campus performances, particularly in the school masses and x hours. Students will be responsible for paying for their own transportation, participation fee, hotel and food for all trips. Chaperones will be required; any parents who would like to volunteer should contact Mrs. Paulson as soon as possible.

Dates: The following dates are already on the calendar. Additional dates will be added and appropriate notice will be given. All performances are required. Any student who misses a performance due to illness must have a parent or doctor’s note when they return to school or the absence will be considered unexcused and the student will receive a zero for the performance.

Sept. 11 in school mass

November 30 x hour performance, AND Christmas concert 7:00 P.M.

Male dancers are required to have tight fitting dark black sweat pants and a tight fitting white t-shirt by Sept. 4, 2007. The school will provide sashes and accessories or shirts for liturgical performances. Additional costume requirements will be determined by the choreography, and ample notice will be given. Every effort will be made to keep costs to a minimum. If anyone has a parent, friend, or relative who would be willing to help sew or make costumes, please have them contact Mrs. Paulson as soon as possible. For class, students will have the option to wear any combination of sweat pants (not too baggy,) shorts, and solid colored t-shirts. Solid sweat-shirts may be worn on top of t-shirts. Students must also have flat tap shoes and jazz or lyrical shoes and any necessary socks at every rehearsal.

Participation: This course relies heavily on class participation. All students will respect the opinions and efforts of their fellow students and teacher at all times, and will conduct themselves in manners appropriate to a safe and effective learning environment. All students are required to dance in class whenever asked by the teacher, and students are encouraged to volunteer for additional dancing opportunities outside of class.

Injuries: Like any physical activity, there is a risk of injury. Students are required to stretch at the beginning of every class, and are encouraged to do so before any practices outside of school. Students should also be aware of their position in relation to other students at all times. Accidentally bumping into other students will occur, but students should be courteous and attentive to the spacial needs of other students at all times. Students should also use care when walking or dancing barefoot on the stage. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES are students to be barefoot anywhere else besides the stage. That includes the stairs and theatre house. If a student is injured during class, the teacher must be notified IMMEDIATELY. If a student ever feels faint, the teacher must be notified IMMEDIATELY. If a student sustains any type of injury outside the classroom that would affect the student’s ability to dance, the teacher must be notified IMMEDIATELY upon the start of class. If a student has any medical restrictions that would keep a student from participating in class for more than one day, a parent’s note will be required. If a student needs to be on restricted movement for more than three days, a doctor’s note will be required.

Grading: Assessments are given regularly and will incorporate several different learning styles so that all students will have an opportunity to demonstrate their level of acquisition of the subject matter. In most cases, students will be given access to specific scoring rubrics. Grades are NOT based on talent level or dancing experience; they are based on effort and improvement at the individual level.

30% in class participation: Students will be given a score from 1-5 for each class period. If a student is to receive anything lower than a 5 for a given day, he/she will be given a slip for their records indicating the deduction and reason. Deductions will automatically be taken if students do not bring their dance attire (including shoes) to class.

20% tests and quizzes: Students will have several tests throughout the quarter including a mid-term and final. The mid-term and final exams will be given the same weight as all other tests throughout the term. Students will be given study sheets to prepare for assessments, and many of the materials they will need will be on the dance webpage.

20% homework: Students will primarily have private practice assigned as homework. However, there will occasionally be research, reading, or written homework. Students will also be required to attend a live performance. See details below.

Performance Attendance: All students are required to attend one live artistic performance of their choice outside of school each semester (music, dance, drama or other performance art with permission.) Guidelines for the connected assignment will be posted online. If a student is unable to attend a performance because of transportation, a parent note is to be turned in NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 4, 2007. Any student with a signed parent note will be given an alternative assignment to review a performance on video.

Make-up work: If a student has an excused absence, he/she will be allowed to receive make-up work from the teacher (check the website for materials.) Any assignments that were due on the missed day are due the day the student returns to school unless a parent’s or doctor’s note is turned in with extenuating circumstances. (NOTE: Items are still due even if the student does not have Dance on the day they return to school.) NO LATE WORK will be accepted for unexcused absences and no make-up work will be given.

Other late assignments: NO LATE WORK will be accepted unless a student has an excused absence.

Academic dishonesty: Any student caught cheating or plagiarizing will receive an automotive zero for the assignment or test, and may receive additional disciplinary actions as deemed appropriate by the school. Please see the student handbook for school policy. NOTE: Papers or written assignments may be run through anti-plagiarism software.

Class Materials: All students are required to have a notebook where they can record homework and other assignments, and a folder in which they can keep hand-outs. See dance attire for additional requirements.

Class Procedures: Students are to enter class on time, in uniform, and they should have all the above class materials with them every time or participation grades may be affected. Students should use the door to the theatre across the hall from the band office to enter the auditorium. They should immediately go down the stairs in the pit to the changing rooms and change into their dance attire. They should ALWAYS put shoes on, and carry up their other shoes, notebooks, folders, and any other assignments that are due to the stage. Any student not fully dressed and ready on the stage five minutes after the beginning of class will be considered tardy. As soon as students arrive on the stage, they should begin the stretching routine. Dancers. A bin will be provided for any assignments that are due. Students are NEVER to leave anything in the classroom or on the teacher’s desk without specific permission. The quiet bell means that all noise and talking should cease immediately so the teacher can give further instructions. Anyone continuing to talk or make noise after the quiet bell has been rung will have one point deducted from their class participation grade for the day. Restrooms should be used between classes, but if a student has an immediate need to leave the room, they do not need to ask permission. The student should take the bathroom pass by the door and go to the nearest restroom. They should return as soon as possible. If a medical need arises, the student must return to the classroom to get a pass to go to the office to call home. DO NOT JUST LEAVE WITHOUT INFORMING THE TEACHER. (Only one student may be out at a time. Students are NOT allowed to leave class during a test.) Cell phones are prohibited in class; they should be left in the student’s locker or car during school hours. If the teacher sees a cell phone during class, the student will receive an automatic 5 demerits and Saturday detention as per the school policy. Any cell phones in the room during testing will be considered automatic academic dishonesty whether or not they were being used at the time.

Student Responsibilities: Students should ALWAYS keep their assignments in case any discrepancies occur in grades. Every effort will be made to ensure accurate grades, but occasionally a mathematical error occurs or there is a problem with the grading program. Students should bring any problems to the teacher’s attention as soon as the discrepancy is noted. Students are to open their mind’s to new experiences and information, and they will allow other student’s to do the same without fear of retribution or harassment of any kind from other students.

Teacher’s Responsibility: The teacher is to give appropriate notice for all assignments and performances. She is to make expectations clear and give every student the opportunity to succeed. She is to grade responsibly and fairly by use of a rubric or other predetermined factors.

HAVE A WONDERFUL SEMESTER! YOU ARE GOING TO LOVE THIS CLASS!