bettyandbob Posted February 7, 2016 Share Posted February 7, 2016 My dd dances and she is graduating from PS this year. Her studio just announced the date of the final performance for the year. This will be dds final performance ever. The studio booked a theater on dds graduation date and the day after. Dds PS is the closest high school to the studio. The schools in this district have graduations spread out over a week. There is on other girl affected. The other graduating students go to private schools. It looks like dd can make graduation and the performance, there's an all night grad party for which we bought a ticket. I don't think the performance will end before doors close on the party and students are refused admittance. The timing is very strict and set to discourage students from certain impulsive activities ahead of party attendance. Dd would skip the party, but its a bummer. I told her to check with the other girl and see if she was going to ANGP and maybe we could request exception together. I'm pretty sure it's unlikely though. Why wouldn't you check school calendars before scheduling. In the grand scheme of life its meaningless, but I think dd should get to say goodbye to ballet and have nice grad celebrations. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKL Posted February 7, 2016 Share Posted February 7, 2016 Bummer! But I'm glad she won't have to miss the performance to go to the graduation ceremony itself. I hope she can get an exception. Maybe she could arrange (with administration approval) for one of the chaperones to meet her at the door and let her in. It sounds reasonable to me. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tita Gidge Posted February 7, 2016 Share Posted February 7, 2016 Yeah, I'm with you on this - it's surprising, and frustrating, that they wouldn't have considered the graduation dates of area schools, especially the closest and public school. I'd understand a conflict more if DD attended a smaller or private or further out school ... or if it were just a random dance or school event ... but this is disappointing! I hope both girls are granted an exception. Ideally she'd have time to savor all of the "final events" of the week, rather than rushing from one to another, but at minimum it'd be nice for her not to have to choose between events! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted February 7, 2016 Share Posted February 7, 2016 How frustrating! I can't imagine the studio not checking to see when all graduation dates are! (Any way the studio can change dates?) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline Posted February 7, 2016 Share Posted February 7, 2016 I would call the school (or PTA or foundation or whoever is sponsoring the grad party) and see if she could go late because of this conflict. They might let her. It cannot hurt to ask. (I'm a PS teacher and mom, and have seen such exceptions made.) Unless it is on a boat like mine was. Then it would be impossible to be late because we were out in the Chesapeake Bay. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spryte Posted February 7, 2016 Share Posted February 7, 2016 Oh, that is a bummer. I'm very surprised that they didn't check the local school's grad dates. Congrats to your DD. I hope she gets to do everything she wants to do! And that it's a happy time, despite the conflict. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pippen Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 I can't imagine the studio not checking the graduation dates of nearby schools. My daughter has been dancing since she was 7 and she would be so upset to have that conflict to work around. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted February 8, 2016 Author Share Posted February 8, 2016 I really like the studio owner. She is amazing with all the students, whether they are bound for professional dance careers. However, it is just like her to be so narrow focused and not think beyond the studio and ballet world. I think dd will get through this fine. She loves the owner too. She was apologetic when told of the conflict. She can't change the date. Booking time at quality theaters is hard. We've used high school stages and those are not well equipped and have had problems. Last year the school stage they got had an uneven floor. Really they need to organized about getting the spring rental. They always get a great theater for Nutcracker. It's a matter of someone getting it reserved as soon as they open year reservations. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justasque Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 If you let the school know of the conflict ahead of time, and if you take your dd from the performance to the party and escort her to the door (so as to reassure the school that she hasn't been up to no good between activities), I'd guess you have a good chance at an exception. Good luck! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsuga Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 My dd dances and she is graduating from PS this year. Her studio just announced the date of the final performance for the year. This will be dds final performance ever. The studio booked a theater on dds graduation date and the day after. Dds PS is the closest high school to the studio. The schools in this district have graduations spread out over a week. There is on other girl affected. The other graduating students go to private schools. It looks like dd can make graduation and the performance, there's an all night grad party for which we bought a ticket. I don't think the performance will end before doors close on the party and students are refused admittance. The timing is very strict and set to discourage students from certain impulsive activities ahead of party attendance. Dd would skip the party, but its a bummer. I told her to check with the other girl and see if she was going to ANGP and maybe we could request exception together. I'm pretty sure it's unlikely though. Why wouldn't you check school calendars before scheduling. In the grand scheme of life its meaningless, but I think dd should get to say goodbye to ballet and have nice grad celebrations. I agree with you. Our dentist's office has an academic year school calendar for every school in the three adjacent counties printed out in a folder at the front desk. I am like, you know what? This is awesome. Everyone needs this. Unfortunately some schools don't update their own calendars which adds to the confusion. Ugh, so sorry you're facing this. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsuga Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 (edited) Double post, so I'll just agree again: They should have checked. Edited February 8, 2016 by Tsuga 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theelfqueen Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 Oh I DO agree with you!!! That's CRAZY! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamiof5 Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 It has nothing to do with liking or not the owner, but we all make mistakes and she made a big one by not checking. Hope you can work something out with the school 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justasque Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 It has nothing to do with liking or not the owner, but we all make mistakes and she made a big one by not checking. Hope you can work something out with the school Or, perhaps, there were other parameters, such as finding an affordable theater with open time, and there just wasn't a solution that would work for everyone. Theaters tend to be used for all kinds of events at graduation time (recitals, choir or band performances, and of course graduations). The studio would need a theater with enough space to seat all of the parents/grandparents/friends who are likely to attend, which would limit the choices. The studio also often needs to book a dress rehearsal time at the theater, and needs time before and after the performance to prepare the stage, set up and clean up backstage areas, and so on. If this date is only a conflict for two dancers, it may just have been the date/venue that caused the least conflicts of those that were available. Even if it was the most logical choice for the studio, it is a shame you have to deal with it, OP. I know how you are feeling - my family's own major-graduation-event / last-dance-recital conflict this year involves one Fri-Sat-Sun weekend, five performances, two major graduation events, and a seven hour drive between venues. Oh - and moving a dc out of their apartment, furniture and all. Even with the major chaos, I try to remember to be thankful that we are blessed with such happy events to juggle. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasider Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 I JAWY! May is so dicey - I am grateful to our end of year performance/awards ceremony organizers who plan such things for April rather than May. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaithManor Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 The school districts in our county really do not coordinate their efforts at all. So it is very common to have two or three districts having graduation on the same night. It is soooooo frustrating! I have known grandparents that had to split up in order to make commencement for grandkids. As piano teacher, I can honestly say it was difficult to schedule end of year recitals. I gave up having "end of year" because between baccalaureate, commencement, college graduations, graduation parties, you name it, it was too much of a crazy maker. I went to having two recitals per year, one in February for my juniors and seniors. It was a big event. The kids and I were "black tie". The venue was beautiful, I provided refreshments afterward things like chocolate covered strawberries, seafood croissants, fruit arrangements and tarts, etc. with non alcoholic versions of champagne and wine. It was a down time for my students so they could really devote themselves to it. Then I had a regular recital at the beginning of May before the crazy began, and if my juniors and seniors did not want to learn more than one new piece for the event, I let them repeat one from the February recital. But let me tell you, GAH! Oh, and then on top of the last two weeks of May and first week of June being graduation nuttiness, there were brides and grooms that would throw in a Memorial Weekend or first weekend of June wedding!!! AI YI AI YI AI I.feel.your.pain.and.agree.with.you.that.it.is.insanity.making. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamiof5 Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 Or, perhaps, there were other parameters, such as finding an affordable theater with open time, and there just wasn't a solution that would work for everyone. Theaters tend to be used for all kinds of events at graduation time (recitals, choir or band performances, and of course graduations). The studio would need a theater with enough space to seat all of the parents/grandparents/friends who are likely to attend, which would limit the choices. The studio also often needs to book a dress rehearsal time at the theater, and needs time before and after the performance to prepare the stage, set up and clean up backstage areas, and so on. If this date is only a conflict for two dancers, it may just have been the date/venue that caused the least conflicts of those that were available. Even if it was the most logical choice for the studio, it is a shame you have to deal with it, OP. I know how you are feeling - my family's own major-graduation-event / last-dance-recital conflict this year involves one Fri-Sat-Sun weekend, five performances, two major graduation events, and a seven hour drive between venues. Oh - and moving a dc out of their apartment, furniture and all. Even with the major chaos, I try to remember to be thankful that we are blessed with such happy events to juggle. Totally agree. But from the op's post and later comment it just sounds she did not check at all, she was only worried of the ballet performance forgetting other important aspects in the student's lives. IF she checked and things didn't work out it's fine, understandably, but if she didn't check at all it's a different situation 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted February 8, 2016 Author Share Posted February 8, 2016 dd's graduation is late June. In the past the performance has ranged from mid May to early June. It really threw me that the shows would be this late. I'm sure the lateness has surprised many parents actually. This particular theater is great in terms of the stage, sound and lighting. I don't get how the studio has never managed to get in line for reserving the theater for spring, but always gets the December dates (reserving the theater for 2 weeks). Anyway, she told me when she learned there was an opening she just took it. I learned last year that reservations for the theater open in July for the next twelve months, but it appears the ballet studio can't fathom looking beyond Nutcracker. This ballet studio has been around 40 years, so this issue is not new. We will survive this. At least we won't have major driving to do. Graduation is at a college 40 minutes away, the ballet studio, the high school (where all night grad party is) and home are all in an 8 min radius. So, if there is a chance of doing it all we won't have extra variables. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamiof5 Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 Just read your last explanation. Not bashing the studio, and I am sure they are great at what they do...but still, can't avoid but feel this could have been better planned. I hope it all falls in place!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawthorne44 Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 I'd be peeved at the school if they don't grant an exception. I get why they would set a close-the-door time. But your kid and the other one have a documented other activity that can be pre-approved ahead of time. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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