Dance PE Mrs. Palmer(310)544-4816 ext.819

PVIS

Welcome to 8th grade Dance

Class Objectives: All students will…

  • Improve strength, flexibility, endurance, balance, and coordination
  • Use appropriate vocabulary to critique performances based on aesthetic, technical, and artistic values
  • Create and perform original works of choreography
  • Perform movement combinations in a variety of dance genres
  • Research and analyze the cultural and historical influences of dance
  • Develop an awareness of musical and rhythmic elements
  • Improve overall health, self-image, and physical well-being

Class Supplies:

  • Jazz shoes, ballet shoes, fitness shoes
  • Black jazz pants
  • Leotard and tights
  • Dance/ PE t-shirt
  • Spiral
  • Tap shoes (optional)

These clothes/shoes will also be used as part of the students costume for our class performance.

***If you have trouble supplying any of the listed course materials, pleases let me know as soon as possible, so we can make other arrangements.

Dance supplies can be found at Target and other local stores including:

Alva’s

1417 W 8th Street

San Pedro, Ca 90732

(310)833-3281

Expressly Motion Dancewear

23891 Madison Street

Torrance, Ca

(310)378-2204

Dance Attire:

Dressing out for dance class includes wearing jazz pants and a dance or PE t-shirt. If a student chooses to wear a t-shirt other than a dance or PE shirt it must be long enough to follow school dress code, or they must also wear a leotard underneath. If a student chooses to wear dance shorts they must also wear tights. For performance and end of unit tests, students will be required to wear specific dance shoes and leotard and tights. It is never acceptable to wear clothes that you wore to school for class participation, as the student would also be wearing their “sweat” for the rest of the day. On days that we dance barefoot, for safety purposes you still must wear shoes to and from the locker room.

Dress code is checked as soon as you walk through the dance room door. That means hair should be secured away from the face and jewelry stored in the locker room before entering class. Also, please label all of your belongings with a permanent marker.

Class Rules: The 5 P’s

*Be Polite*Be Productive*Be Punctual *Be Prepared *Be Positive

Dance etiquette(citizenship):includes not talking during the warm-up or instruction, not sitting down during class, keeping hands to yourself (unless otherwise instructed), and respecting the teacher, fellow students, your environment, and yourself.

Grades: DancePE relies heavily on each student’s active participation and contribution to the class. Each day of participation is worth 10 points. These points are earned by following the rules and directions, cooperating with the teacher and classmates, dressing out, behaving appropriately, and putting forth a concentrated effort each day. Additional points for the class will be earned through various writing assignments, performance assessments, and tests/quizzes. There will be a mandatory performance in the spring, dates will be posted and announced in class at least 12 weeks in advance.

Point deductions will be taken from the 10 point daily total for any of the following infractions:

  • Non-dress (or partial dress)
  • Unexcused non-participation
  • Unexcused tardy
  • Gum chewing!!!
  • Cuts/truancy
  • Low effort
  • Not following directions
  • Overall behavior

***Note: If a student exceeds three non-dresses, there may be a deduction of 10% taken from his/her grade at the end of the trimester.

Tardies: Students are considered tardy if they are not in the locker room before the tardy bell rings. Students must be dressed out and in the dance room 5 minutes after the tardy bell.

I-pods and other music-playing electronics: Periodically, there will be class assignments during which students will have the opportunity to do their own choreography. Students will be permitted to bring their own music-playing device with parent permission. Students must understand that use of the device is for an in-class assignment only and any inappropriate use of said device will result in loss of the privilege. Furthermore, the teacher and school are not responsible for the loss, damage, or theft of the device. Students will not be penalized if they do not receive parental permission to use the device in class.

Video: There may be opportunities to video record informal dance assignments in class. These opportunities will serve as a learning tool only and will not be posted or shared in any way outside of class.

Absent or inactive: If a student is absent from class (excused or unexcused), he/she may be required to either complete 40 minutes of continuous and supervised physical activity for each day missed or an assignment approved by the dance/ PE teacher. The student may be asked to complete the necessary form and return to teacher within 48 hours of returning from absence. No more than 12 days of make-up work is permitted per trimester. After 12 days of absences, students will no longer be allowed to make-up daily participation points.

If a student is not able to physically participate in PE because of an illness or injury, a parent’s note stating the specific reason for the excuse will be accepted for up to 5 days (and must be submitted to the health office prior to PE). If the student is excused from PE longer than 5 days, a doctor’s note stating the nature of the illness/injury is required. Students present in class who are excused from an activity will be required to either watch class instruction and take notes, or complete a non-physical alternative assignment. Students are still responsible for all material/ choreography that they miss due to illness or injury. Long-term illness or injury situations will be handled on an individual basis.

If a student misses classroom instruction, assignments, or tests or quizzes, it is that student’s responsibility to find out what he/she missed and to turn in any missed assignments for credit and or notify the teacher if he/she needs to make-up a quiz, test, or performance assessment. Students have as many days as they were absent to make-up any written assignments. A student may n ot receive participation points for an unexcused absence.

Late work: Unexcused late work may be considered for partial credit at the teacher’s discretion.

I have read and shared this information in the 2016-2017 handbook with my parent(s) or guardian(s) and accept responsibility for meeting these expectations in physical education and/or dance. Please sign and return this form to your teacher.

Student name (print)______

Student Signature and date______

Parent/guardian (print)______

Signature and date______

Phone number______e-mail______