March, 2020 Newsletter

School Dance:  A Big Thank you to our chairpeople, Brenda Daly Jamieson and Linda Naughton Walsh and Barbara McCoy , and all who supported through their attendance, donations, gift baskets, etc.  Thanks to those who came to setup and anyone that stayed to clean up.  It was a great afternoon for our entire school. A financial report will be available at class.   Karen says a “big Thank you!!!” to everyone who helped celebrate with her and for her lovely gifts!  Thank you to Barbara McCoy for creating the outstanding Violin for Karen - it was a beautiful, one of a kind gift!!
 
BERGEN COUNTY ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE AND DANCE-OUTS
We usually have an amazing turnout of dancers and families for this event which will be Sunday, March 15th! We hope to see lots of you there to follow our school  down Washington Avenue!
 
Thank you in advance to our dancers  who will be signing up for and are performing at various St. Patrick’s Day shows and functions!  You make us proud!  We also appreciate all the parents who will be shepherding them to and from all the shows !!
 
RINGWOOD ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE AND SHOW
The parade is Saturday, March 28th .  Line up is at 12:30 – Parade starts at 1:00pm.  The show starts at 3:00pm.  We need to know if your dancer will be participating if you haven’t already told us.
 
SCHOOL COSTUMES -
We have a limited number of school embroidered costumes for a reduced sale price of $200. We also have some of the newer black/yellow jumpers for $250.  Let us know if you are interested in trying any of them on!
 
ANNUAL SPRING RECITAL – (Ceili)
The date for this year’s Recital with the McLoughlin Dancers is Sunday, MAY 17th.  The location is Guardian Angels Auditorium in Allendale from 2 – 6pm.  More information will be coming home shortly.  This is a very popular afternoon highlighting our brand new beginners, novice and prizewinner dancers and in past years has been a sold out event. We don’t want anyone to be disappointed so you really will have to purchase tickets as soon as they open.  Last year some people who ordered at the last minute were unable to get tickets.  Thanks! Our chairpeople for this event are Christie McGraw and Margaret Murphy.  At this event, we will be honoring  Elaine Greenan for 25 years of teaching Irish Dance!  We are looking for someone to take charge of the Tricky Tray Raffle and coordinate the baskets/gift donations for this.  Please email me if you can do this. 
 
For the ceili we would like to try and get more help from committees.  Here are some examples of where we are going to need people to sign up for spots: (no need to email me yet - it’s just for informational purposes right now)
 
1- Raffle - on the day of the ceili - people that will help our raffle chairs to deliver the baskets to the proper tables when won. Also, people to take turns sitting at the door to sell raffle tickets.
 
2.  50/50 - someone to take charge of this on the day of the ceili, and along with another person, go to each table and sell tickets.
 
3.  Definitely some dads to sign up to take shifts in the kitchen/bar so the burden is not just on 2or 3 people.
 
4.  Also a few more dads to help put up tables/chairs earlier in the day (of the ceili).
 
CEILI JOURNAL
We also have a booster ad Journal for our Recital where you send in a photo and congratulatory message to your child on a great year in Irish Dancing !  You can also send congratulations and good wishes to Elaine and Karen on their 25 years of teaching Irish Dance!  All ads can be accompanied by a photo - please see flyer for full details when it is sent to you.
 
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT -
JOURNAL COVER CONTEST FOR THE RECITAL
 
We would like to invite all of our dancers to submit a drawing/painting/sketch to us which we will then use for the cover of our Journal this year at the Ceili/Recital!!!!  A prize ($25 Amazon Gift Card) will be given to the winning submission.  Please design a picture (8 1/2 x 11 size) and put your name on the BACK along with your class location and return to class later than FRIDAY, APRIL 10th.
 
SUMMER DANCE WORKSHOP DATES
Monday, July 27th  through Thursday, July 30th.
 
The summer workshop is a wonderful opportunity for every dancer to improve technique, turn out, and learn new material. While all Oireachtas dancers should be participating, all levels of dancers are encouraged to attend as this is a great path to moving ahead. The King Center in Ringwood, NJ is an air-conditioned studio with multiple dance floors and thus an ideal location for the workshop. The week is very beneficial to all of our dancers so register soon.
 
We are very happy that we have our workshop teacher, Carol Leavy Joyce, who is a former World Champion, TCRG/ADCRG, a teacher of World Champions and a choreographer for dance shows!  This is a great opportunity for all of our dancers!
 
NATIONALS ENTRIES ARE DUE SOON - PLEASE REMIT YOUR FEES TO PATSY AT CLASS. PLEASE GO ON THE NATIONALS WEBSITE TO SEE THE FEES.
 
CURRENT FUNDRAISERS:
We currently have 3 fundraisers for our dancers traveling to the National Championships in Nashville, TN this July.  They would love your support - and thank you in advance!  See the flyers on the fundraisers tab - http://www.mcloughlinschool.com/fundraisers.html
 
IMPORTANT NOTES
Reminder re: class fees.  All monthly fees are due at class or by mail  by the FIRST class of the month.   
HAPPY SAINT PATRICK’S DAY EVERYONE!