KathyG

Try your local library to borrow them.  My library still has some of the titles in stock.

You have to be very careful with sinuses as DS knows only to well. Hope for a speedy recovery.

Might be worth asking on notapushymum as they may have more experiences of the school on there.

I also went to the dentist recently expecting work as all my teeth were hurting to be told it was my sinusitis. Thought it was due to grinding my teeth over DS.

We never got anything PAT tested while DS was at Elmhurst.  Also if the item is under a year old it doesn't need doing we were told.

We've been up for shoes today and discovered Sansha has closed down. (Not surprised) For the boys/men it turns out if you ask in Bloch about men's wear they have a small selection which isn't enough to put out but they will bring out for you.  DS very pleased as he got jazz pants which are actually to long for him.  Totally unheard of for him.

We did the 9 months to get the year no claims for non DS although it appears cheaper after a couple of years it was better value to get a full years insurance.

For DS when he was learning we took out one of those pay for so many days at a time as he was away but as soon as he passed his test that was no longer available.  First of he was on Grandad's insurance and then last year he took out his own.  We did investigate the little black box but they wouldn't touch him until he was older, can't remember the age though. But tis was when this type of policy was new.  As he was in Birmingham it was expensive.  We're now considering his options as he is now no longer a student and dancers get a very high penatly stuck on them and as he is about to leave the country is it even worth keeping an insurance so he can build up his no claims? 

We applied to the Mason's as Grandad is a member but we didn't fit the criteria. We earnt to much.  Which was always the case when we applied for extra funding not that we earn alot.  Another girl at DS school did apply to them and was granted funding towards her fees at 6th form.  Though we believe there were some conditions attached to the funding.  Not sure they kept in touch with her though.

DS did a summer school last year in Florida and finding insurance was interesting. You can get cover to jump of a bridge but to cover ballet very few would offer cover. There was a student company that would cover ballet but wouldn't cover his asthma. In the end one of the online companies came through covering both his ballet and asthma. I did keep a copy of the online chat which confirmed this as a precaution.

At Elmhurst they only give the flu jab to those who need it (Asthma sufferers).  Though DS managed to evade his last autumn.

As it has year on they probably don't want any not sold so by pre-ordering they only order what is needed.

Was it this one? 

http://www.balletcoforum.com/index.php?/topic/638-old-dead-pointe-shoes-and-their-after-life/?hl=pointe

Until published by school don't think I can divulge Elmhurst graduate destinations.

My DS did London ChildrenBallet the year Irek Mukhamedov did the choreography and I remember how he came into the boys dressing room.with a large pile of programmes and proceeded to.sign everyone of them and he said you should always make time to.sign autographs for.those who.support you.

My DS was at the hospital on the day they took the class photo so he isn't in the picture.

Couple of years back I made a variety of skirts for the girls in DS year.  They ranged from plain black to quite psychedelic ones.  They have been worn at both summer schools and in class.

Thank you for all your lovely comments. 

DS has been cleared to dance in a couple of his numbers in the summer show this morning so he is happy.

I recently met an ex-Elmhurst parent from Camberley days whose daughter went into the army. Would appear very much a second choice

The continuing hunt for a job...

DS has continued his trips abroad and several in London.  He auditioned for a very well known ballet company in London who said we will email all of you and he's never heard a dicky bird from them.  Doesn't hurt to send an email to say no!

A number of company directors came to see their appraisal class but only one job was offered to one boy in his class.  The appraisal class was followed by a Graduate performance but DS had to miss this due to still performing in Aladdin.

DS was beginning to panic so thought he'd try a cruise ship open audition, encouraged by one his teacher's at school he came home from school got a peak train to London to be told you're to tall before he even got into the audition.  He had triple checked the details and no where was it mentioned any height restrictions. At least he was back in time for his sister's birthday lunch.

After this he had 1 audition left, so another early morning run round to Luton and put him on a plane, Arranged a pick up for him on landing as timing was tight.  Then following a nearly 3 hour audition I get the call "They've offered me a job" I didn't scream loudly I was waiting to collect my car at Merecdes World but I did walk around quite excitedly saying "Seriously" I did get a few strange looks. He'd also said that he'd fallen and hurt his ankle.  It was also my birthday so what a lovely present.  The paperwork is now in progress and it's looking good.

I had arranged a hostel for the night but his ankle was causing him trouble so he got a taxi to the airport and he stayed in the airport for the night so he didn't have to walk to the airport.  Flight home was at 6.30 in the morning.  Turned out he had fractured his ankle though he is now recovered and is waiting to find out if he can resume his place in some of his dances in the Summer Show.  Though he is more concerned now in keeping well and not agraviating his ankle.

So after 5 trips abroad, 1 trip to Wales and 4 London auditions it is looking very promising that DS has a job.  It has been a long haul, we have learnt alot about airports and where to park.  It has cost about £1200 in flights and accomodation not including the UK auditions. In his year group at school 3 boys have already left to take up jobs and 2 more with jobs to take up in Aug/Sep. It's not looking as good for the girls with only about 3/4 having jobs for Sept. Though that may be out of date.

Looking forward to the end of term now but not having to find homes for all of the stuff he has accumulated in his house.  Then arranging for his move to another country. 

It will be good for us all to have our DC home for the summer before they either start or continue this long and hard journey.  Did we envisage how this journey would run when 10 years ago we started at JA's would we have done anything differently? Possibly but he is happy and that is all that I want for all of my DC.

Wishing everyone a happy summer, enjoy the summer shows and good luck to all for the future.

Kathy x

It's expected in our family to take theory test on your birthday then test asap afterwards. DS even though he was away was able to do theory on his birthday and passed. He then passed on his 4th attempt! Silly mistakes! He has luckily been able to have his car at school as his houses have always had space. It has made life so much easier he can take hisself backwards and forwards on half terms and leave outs. Downside he takes far too much to school. At the moment though car is outside our house as when he was home last week he fractured his foot! Now wondering how we will get all of his stuff home at the end of term. Another bonus when he is home he cam drive around!

I remember a programme where it was said that they cooked Spocks ears along with their roast chicken as part of the preparation!

If anyone has been watching Dance Moms the costumes and dances on there are very inappropriate for 8 year olds. Even in class they are showing more flesh than I think appropriate.

Just love a discussion about Star Trek on ballet.co. Would love to see this film but don't have the time at the moment. Also a fan of the tribbles.

We know of one Tring student who had their MDS funding withdrawn in year 9. They had to leave at the end of year 9 as they couldn't afford to stay on.