School Blog of SchoolShows.com

Preventing School Assembly Disruptions | Suite101.com

2011-09-05T17:52:00.001-07:00

Large group activities can generate human turbulence. Strategies are needed to have assemblies be peaceful gatherings.

Whenever you get a large group of students together there is bound to be a normal amount of noise. It is important to understand that the anticipation of gathering with friends set many students on hyper-mode. Before a planned assembly it is a good idea to anticipate what might cause an eruption so that energies can be channeled elsewhere.

How Debt Ceiling Bill Will Affect K-12 Education

2011-08-08T11:26:00.000-07:00

The recent agreement on the debt ceiling will be cutting $7 billion in federal aid to public education. Here are 3 interesting articles on how this will affect these schools:

Debt Ceiling Deal: Big Questions for K–12 (Education Week)
Debt Ceiling Deal’s Effects on K–12 Education Unclear (U.S. News & World Report)
Debt-Ceiling Bill Forces Cuts to Education Spending (eSchool News)

Setting the Stage for Successful Assemblies

2011-07-28T18:50:00.000-07:00

by Mike Anderson

School assemblies, including those involving families, are an important part of building a strong school community. Whether it’s a science group presenting during the school day or a student band performing in the evening, a large-group gathering is a powerful opportunity for people from many parts of the school community to learn and celebrate together.

However, assemblies can also be challenging. It’s not easy, after all, to manage hundreds of audience members with diverse needs, as well as the needs of the performers. Here are some ways to help ensure productive and positive school assemblies for all. See rest of article

Ideas for Morning Assembly

2011-02-14T14:31:00.000-08:00

Article by Laura Werner

Assemblies are a powerful way to affect and motivate both staff and students. Beginning your school day with a morning assembly can set the tone for the day, the week or even the year, depending on the content. Make your assembly fun and exciting by incorporating leadership opportunities for students, showcasing school talent, or incorporating motivational or holiday themes. Morning assembly is a time to build your school community, set a challenge or celebrate an award.

Assembly Ideas for Primary School

2011-02-14T14:27:00.000-08:00

Article by Bettina Drew...

School assemblies can create wonderful memories for primary school children, offering opportunities to combine learning with a lasting feeling of community and camaraderie with classmates. The best assemblies are well organized and offer a variety of segments to maintain high attention levels and student interaction. Educators can begin by selecting a type of assembly and then adding personalized touches that reflect the primary school and student body's interests and needs.

He Wants How Much? I’M IN THE WRONG PROFESSION!

2011-01-06T05:02:00.000-08:00

Why Performers Are Worth Their Fees

by Judy Pancoast
Educational Entertainer and Creator of KidPop™

A multiple award-winning singer/songwriter, Judy Pancoast has entertained tens of thousands of children and their parents from Maine to Tennessee. Judy’s performances are highly energetic and filled with many styles of original, upbeat music. With several recordings to her credit, her Candy cassette won the prestigious Parent’s Choice Award. She also won the International Children's Music Web "Best Song for Young Children" for her songs, 'Swimmin' in Jello' in 1999 and for 'The Potty Dance' in 2000.

My name is Judy Pancoast and I make my living as a family entertainer, songwriter, musician and independent recording artist. Recently, I attended a meeting of a local community service club where I am simply a member, not wearing my performer ‘hat' (although I have volunteered my services in that capacity for the organization in the past.). The entertainment committee chairperson was offering the information she had gathered on available magicians for our upcoming Community Halloween party. She was listing their fees, which, for the most part, sounded reasonable to me, when one of the other members shouted out "He wants HOW MUCH? Holy Moley, I must be in the wrong business!" Everyone chuckled, as I kept my lips tightly zipped. Frustrating as it is, this is not an uncommon reaction, and it raises a good point. Why DO performers command such high fees?

The answer can be found in looking at the three ways performers make themselves worth it.

TIME SPENT IN PREPARATION:
Performers spend countless hours, often from the time they are young, learning and preparing their craft in order to put on the best possible show. While many people in non-performing professions are paid for on-the-job training, no one is there to pay the performer as he or she learns and practices.

Here are just some of the ways I spend my "non-paid" hours in order to keep myself in business and available to perform for your function:

Practicing my instrument

Writing new songs

Recording new songs

Researching and developing new program themes

Training my dancers

Making phone calls to search for gigs

Writing letters to search for gigs

Developing publicity materials, including, but not limited to, press release and web-site maintenance

Planning each individual performance to meet the particular presenter’s needs

Researching and buying new equipment

Travelling to and from shows, dance rehearsals, etc.

A performer must constantly write new songs, develop new routines or learn new illusions to keep their shows fresh and unique, and the more time spent on these practices, the better the performance, and the happier the audience. The performer’s fees don’t just reflect the hour or so that they spend with the audience, but all that preparation time as well. If you were to divide up most performers’ fees by the hours they spend working behind the scenes, you’d learn that many of us are barely making minimum wage!

MONEY SPENT IN PREPARATION:
When the average person goes to work, most of the tools he or she needs for the job are provided. Not so for the self-employed entertainer. The expenses are many: sound systems, instruments, cords, magical illusions, performance clothing, stage decorations, vehicles, vehicle maintenance; the list is long and varies with each individual act. The more elaborate the show, the more exciting the performance, and, once again, the happier the audience. The more complete an act is (bringing their own sound system, for example) the less worries for the buyer. I know of one magic act that performs at countless fairs. They bring their own stage (which they offer to share with other performers), sound system, and even offer a racing pig act to the fairs where they do their magic show. They have a lot to offer the buyer and the audience, and their fees reflect that. They must be worth every penny, because they never lack for work. But I can’t even imagine what that traveling bus/truck/stage rig set them back, and I know they’re still paying it off!

TIME AND MONEY SPENT MAKING A NAME YOUR AUDIENCE WILL RECONGIZE
What would you expect to pay for a world famous performer, Celine Dion for example, to perform at your event? Lots of money, no doubt! But think of the people she would draw! Now, you probably don’t have Celine’s fees in your budget, but you are most likely looking for a performer who will not only put on a great show, but will draw people to your event. Someone with "marquee value." Someone known and loved in your community, in your state, in your part of the world. How did that entertainer get to be so popular? Was it all because of their natural talent?
Not usually. Even the most talented performer had to start somewhere, and that means doing a lot of free shows. Some people perform on the street, others do lots of charity events, but whatever they’ve done, you can bet they’ve done a lot of it for "the exposure," and then eaten lots of macaroni and cheese. If your budget is tight and you don’t care about "marquee value", perhaps you should look to hire a newer performer who is looking for a chance to prove herself. But please, don’t ask an established performer to work for free. If you tell them you’re a charitable organization, perhaps they’ll give you a reduced rate, or they may even offer to do the show gratis. But please remember that when a performer is doing a free show, they’re giving up the chance to work for money somewhere else, so don’t expect to get a free or reduced rate during the summer season especially. That’s when most of us make the majority of our bread and butter.
In addition to doing lots of free work on the way up, you can bet that an established performer has spent a lot of money on publicity. Promotional packets, posters, creating and mailing press releases, professional photos, writing, producing and distributing recordings, doing community access TV (unpaid) all of these things and more are out-of-pocket expenses that a performer supports in order to make his or her name valuable to you. I purchase thousands of 5x7 photos every year to autograph and hand out for free after my shows. Some performers will also be able to provide you with a press kit to promote your event, including, but not limited to, radio and newspaper press releases, posters, professional photos, and produced radio and TV spots. This is all a value to you and must be taken into consideration when deciding whether a performer’s fees are reasonable.

RESULT: THE SEASONED ENTERTAINER
As with any profession, the more experience a person has, the more he or she should expect to be paid. When you are willing to pay a fair price for a seasoned performer, you re getting a person who has done all of the above and has the skills and reputation to prove it. A seasoned performer can walk into your venue ready for anything. Power outage? No problem. The principal wants the kindergartners at the assembly at the last minute? No problem. It’s Grandchildren Day at the nursing home but there are only four kids there and a room full of residents? No problem. A seasoned entertainer can take just about any situation and turn it into a fun and memorable time for all concerned.

There are no guarantees in show-biz. How many times I’m hired is directly related to the effort I put into creating the best possible entertainment for your audience. Even then, there can be slow times. I may work daily in summer, but have only two or three gigs in January. Still, when I’m driving home through the ice and snow after my reduced-fee show and I think of the laughter, and the dancing, and the smiles on the faces of the kids as I gave them my autograph, then I know I’m in the right profession, and I’m grateful once again to you, for allowing me to make my living this way.

---------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2002, Judy Pancoast. For more information, please visit Judy's website at http://www.judypancoast.com.

School Assembly Preparation

2010-11-29T13:47:00.000-08:00

By Jacqueline Itson

A well-prepared school assembly is paramount in getting messages through to teachers, students and parents effectively and with ease. Preparation for a school assembly can be a task no one relishes but once in the swing of things, it will get easier and more interesting.

The first step is to decide what messages are important enough to be incorporated in the school program. Start with national or international current events that need highlighting and use these events to open debates or request opinions from the students and teachers. This can be an exciting way of educating everyone on global events and the impact that these events have on everyday life.

The second step is to investigate what kind of activity you can incorporate into the school program that fits with the theme or message being conveyed. Many organizations provide interesting and fun activities which can be incorporated into the school program which are effective and very educational.

The third step is to plan the school program on paper. This step is vitally important as good timing of the program will ultimately mean delivering a successful, interesting and exciting school assembly. Putting the program on paper will highlight any timing gaps in the school assembly program, as well as identify where the program needs to be expanded or shortened.

The fourth, and last step, is to practice the full program to make sure that all the pieces fit together perfectly. For someone that is new to presenting school assembly programs, it is advisable that the program is reviewed by someone with experience to ensure that the end result is successful.

A well prepared school assembly program will keep the students, teachers and parents engaged and interested in the content and excited about the subject.

Itson is a writer for the BMX Pro Stunt Team. For more information on Extreme BMX school shows and Red Ribbon week assemblies, please visit: http://www.perfectiononwheels.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jacqueline_Itson

Republished with permission of the Author

Using Title 1 Funds to Encourage Parental Involvement in Schools

2010-11-29T13:35:00.000-08:00

By Stacy Connor

First enacted in 1965, The Elementary and Secondary Education Act is the statute that authorizes the federal government to provide educational funding to schools. This act gets revised and renewed by Congress every five years to help the government keep up with the needs of schools and the resources needed to provide children with a quality education.

There are many sections and provisions to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Each section addresses specific needs in our education system and provides funding for specific projects. Title 1 (also known as Title I, Part A or Title One) is the section of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act that provides funding for schools with larger populations of lower-income families. This Title 1 funding is part of No Child Left Behind Act, which is part of the more recent legislation in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

As of 2010, there are over 50,000 public schools and educational institutions in the United States who receive Title I money. To qualify for funding, a school must have a certain percentage of families who fall under the United States government guidelines for being a low-income family. This percentage has changed over the years, but recently has been set at 40%.

There are strict guidelines to how schools can spend Title 1 funding. Title One grants / funds must be used to help schools meet the educational and graduation goals for their students. Acceptable use of Title 1 money includes funding to improve curriculum, increase teaching and counseling staff, pay for educational enrichment programs and assemblies, and provide after-school and summer tutoring programs to students.

Parental involvement is an important element to the Title One school program. Schools must have a policy that encourages parental involvement in the education of their child. Elementary and middle schools must also actively provide projects and activities to get parents and students involved. Getting lower income families involved in schools, however, can be a frustrating challenge. The following four easy-to-implement suggestions will help schools meet the parental involvement requirements of Title 1.

Provide free child care at parent meetings

Parent meetings are an important aspect of parental involvement in a school. Parents in lower income families, however, are less likely to be willing to pay for a baby sitter to watch their kids while they come to attend a school meeting. This then becomes are very easy and convenient for parents to not attend. You can eliminate this excuse by offering to provide free child care at the parent meeting. If you plan a fun activity for the students, such as crafts or an entertainer, they will be excited about the evening and encourage the parents to come.

Have a parents-only party

School parent meetings do not have to be all business. Offer parents an incentive to look forward to coming to a school meeting by scheduling a guest speaker, entertainer, or parents-only ice cream social as part of the night.

Switch to Email Newsletters

Printed school newsletters that are sent home with students are more likely to end up squished in the bottom of a backpack than in the hands of the parents they are intended for. If your school offers an option for email delivery of newsletters, you can at least be sure that the newsletters are arriving to the intended recipients. Title 1 funding could be used to help set-up an email newsletter program, either through your school districts internet website provider, or through an email newsletter company such as Mail Chimp or Constant Contact. Parents can be invited to sign-up their email addresses at open houses and during school registration.

Host hands on educational fun nights

Hosting family nights with math, science or reading themes is a way for parents and students to explore educational concepts beyond the classroom. Stations can be set-up around the school where families can do a fun project, activity or game that ties into the theme. Teachers can be available at each station to encourage discussions with parents, as families rotate through the projects.

The station concept allows for an "open house" format to the evening that will accommodate more schedules. You can encourage families to stay for all activities by ending the evening with special refreshments or a performance by an entertaining presenter who does a science demonstration show, reading program, or show about math. Ending with something extra special will end the evening memorably and give a chance for all the school families to come together. The cost of the station activities and educational entertainment show can qualify for appropriate use of Title I funds.

Parent-teacher groups, principals, and teachers who wish to use Title I money for family activities at the school should consult with the Title I coordinator in your building or school district. They will be able to direct you on how to apply for the funds and how much funding may be available in the Title 1 budget.

In-school assemblies and family night educational enrichment programs offered by Midwest School Shows can be brought into schools using Title 1 grants. The math, science, and social studies presentations are a balance of entertainment and reinforcement of curriculum.

Recommended by the Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principals Association, Midwest School Shows will work with your Title 1 coordinator to schedule programs for one school or an entire district. Information about all of the performances are available at their school program website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stacy_Connor

Used with permission by the author

Make Booking Elementary School Assemblies Easy

2010-11-29T13:31:00.000-08:00

by Stacy Conner

Many elementary schools have school-wide assemblies where all the students gather for announcements, lectures, or special presentations or performances from guest speakers. These programs can be an excellent opportunity for the students and teachers to come together and share an experience as a school community. A school assembly program gives students a chance to practice proper etiquette as the member of an audience. Students love school assemblies because it gives them a break from their normal routine and have some fun.

As beneficial and exciting as school assemblies can be, the logistics of coordinating and scheduling school assemblies can be difficult. Many times the school principal is in charge of school assembly coordination and has found a system for smooth assembly planning. More often than not, however, the job of elementary school assembly coordinator is placed in the hands of a teacher, parent, or PTA committee. The job is "passed along" from year to year and many assembly planners find themselves starting from scratch at the beginning of the school year.

Here are a few suggestions for new (and experienced) assembly coordinators to help make your assembly planning easier. These suggestions come from real world experience of people who have planned school assemblies for elementary schools across Ohio:

#1. Ask For the Assembly Folder From Last Year

Almost every school has a folder where the school assembly coordinator or PTA has collected fliers, brochures, and advertisements from school assembly presenters. These folders may also contain notes, past contracts, and information about assemblies that your school has booked in the past. This folder is a great starting point when planning assemblies, but many times you have to ask the principal or past planner if you can borrow it. Do not be afraid to ask for notes or planning tips from past coordinators.

#2. Know What Your School Needs

When you begin your search for school assemblies, you will find that there are literally thousands of options available. These options can VERY quickly become overwhelming. You can avoid being overwhelmed by knowing what types of programs you are looking for. It is much easier to research assembly programs if you know you are looking for an "assembly for reading month" or "program with a Halloween theme". If you were not given any specific direction for program types, ask the principal or teachers what types of assembly programs they would like to brought to their school.

#3. Select Dates in Advance

You will save a lot of time and back and forth phone calls and emails if you know in advance what dates are good to schedule assemblies on at your school. Many times, schools must schedule assemblies around music class days, field trips, etc. It is always good to have one or two "alternate" dates for each program in case your first choice is not available in the presenter's schedule. Schedule a meeting with the school principal to pick good assembly dates BEFORE you call presenters.

#4. Timing is Everything

Once you pick the dates, also find out what times during the school day are best to schedule assembly programs, and whether your school can fit all your students into one assembly, or if you need to schedule two or more assemblies on the same day to accommodate everyone. When picking times, be sure to consider lunches, recess, and morning / afternoon kindergarten classes.

Be sure to keep detailed notes as you do your research and planning, this will make it easier to confirm and book programs when you make your final decisions. This will also give you the start of an "assembly folder" you can pass along to the next coordinator - they will thank you for it!

The website http://www.michiganschoolshows.com helps make planning school assemblies easy for hundreds of Michigan and Ohio schools every year. You can browse over 30 available elementary school assemblies by topic and program type, making it simple to schedule one school assembly or assemblies for the entire school year.

Article Source: Stacy_Connor
Used with permission by the author

Guide to Booking Elementary Assembly Programs & Saving Money on School Assemblies

2010-11-29T13:28:00.000-08:00

by Stacy Conner

Elementary and Middle schools across the country bring in assembly programs as educational and entertaining enrichment for their students. These programs reinforce educational curriculum, but also provide students with an important exposure to live performances, theatrical arts, and appropriate audience behavior. There are hundreds of professional speakers, authors, magicians, musicians, and athletes who have assembly programs available to elementary and middle schools. This guide will help you make your school assembly show planning easier.

Assembly Programs With A Message

Most school assemblies have a theme or message that can be tied into the student's curriculum, or to social / behavioral messages. There are two different ways assembly presenters can deliver their message.

Some assembly presenters are simply speakers or lecturers who talk in front of the audience, delivering facts through personal stories and question and answer time with the audience. This type of assembly usually delvers the most information and educational content. When the message is more serious (anti-violence, anti-drug), this can be a more effective and motivational presentation for your students. You must, however, be careful when booking a "speaker" presenter for elementary audiences, as they make quickly get restless and bored if the presenter is not engaging enough.

Other assembly presenters use a performing art such as magic, music, or storytelling to make the presentation energetic, fun and interesting to students. The messages in these shows are intertwined with the entertainment elements. There is usually a balance between the entertainment (fun) and the educational portions of the show. These types of entertainment assemblies are best suited to reinforce general curriculum themes to your students.

Popular elementary and middle school assembly program themes include:

Geography
Bully Prevention
Self Esteem
Math
Science
Social Studies
Reading
Money Responsibility
World Cultures
Ethnic Diversity
Environmental Issues
Black History Month

When deciding on what assembly program themes you may want for your school, it is a good idea to get input from your teachers on what curriculum or message they feel could use reinforcing. You also could consider scheduling a program to coincide with a school wide project or special celebration.

Saving Money On Your School Assembly Programs

Fees for school assembly programs can vary greatly. A large touring theatre group may have a performing fee that starts at $2500, whereas a more regional assembly presenter may only charge $375. No matter what your budget is for an assembly program, here are some ways your school can save money:

1. Grants: Many states and organizations offer grants to help schools bring in enrichment programs. These grants can range from $100 to the full cost of the assembly program. Many professional school assembly companies will be able to tell you if any grants are available for the programs that you are interested in booking.

2. Block Booking Discounts: Most school assembly programs offer discounts if another school in your district books the same assembly program on the same day or during the same week as the program at your school. This discount can sometimes be $100-$400 for EACH SCHOOL, so it definitely pays to call around other schools in your district and try to coordinate assembly schedules.

3. Search Local Assembly Presenters: Start your search for assembly presenters by looking for assembly programs in your state. A locally based school entertainer will have less travel expenses and their performing fees can often be 50% less than a national act. Start your search for local school assembly programs by doing a Google search that includes your state and "school assemblies": Michigan School Assemblies or Ohio Bully Prevention School Shows

Three Questions to Ask Every School Entertainer:

It is always best to talk with someone over the phone about your school assembly needs. Specific requests and important information can often get left out in emails. Of course, you will want to talk about the programs available, pricing, availability, etc, but there are also some other questions you should ask before you book an assembly program:

1. Is the show grade level appropriate? Many entertainers have great programs for middle or high school students, but the same show may get lost on an elementary audience. You want to make sure that the material in the program has been specifically designed for the grade levels of your audience.

2. What equipment does the school need to provide? Most professional assembly programs come self-contained with everything they need to put on a quality presentation. Some presenters, however, will have a list of requirements that will be a part of their contracts. These requirements could include: tables, chairs, projectors, sound systems, or bottled waters. Be sure to discuss any set-up needs prior to confirming a booking, so you can be sure that your school can meet the requirements.

3. What is the ideal size audience for your presentation? Some shows work better with small groups, while other shows can easily play to a packed gym of 500 students. Find out what works best for the presenter and determine if multiple presentations may be needed.

Final Thoughts:

Good school assemblies get booked up early. Begin planning your assembly programs several months in advance to avoid disappointment and to have a better chance of getting your choice of dates.

Michigan and Midwest School Assemblies Guide http://www.michiganschoolshows.com A resource for booking Michigan school assemblies, Ohio School Assemblies, as well and programs in Indiana and Illinois. Intant School Assembly Grants are available for select performances.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stacy_Connor

Finding money...Getting Discounts... for school assembly programs

2010-11-28T08:35:00.000-08:00

by Rick Davis, Director of SchoolShows.com

Here are some great tips for funding your assembly programs...

Funding Sources: Go to Funding Sources to find a state-by-state list of the many sources of grant money for educational assembly and residency programs. (If you know of other funding sources, please email us at listings@schoolshows.com)

Block booking. This refers to booking your school for the same day as another school. Performers are often willing to discount their assembly programs if you do this. Ask your performers if they offer a "block-booking discount". Then call the other schools in your area to see if they might book with you.

Multiple assemblies. If you book more than one assembly during a day, most performers will discount the additional assemblies. Ask performers if they offer a discount for additional assemblies.

Last minute booking. Try calling a performer 1-4 weeks before your desired date. If performers have not booked an assembly by that time, they might be willing to offer a discount so they can fill the empty date.

Flexible timing. Likewise, you might get a discount if you offer to have your assembly on a date of the performer's choosing. This allows a performer to fill last-minute empty days.

Sponsors. Ask your local business community to sponsor an assembly program. This benefits them by generating goodwill and reaching out to their local community. They will get favorable publicity as well if you invite the local media to your event. Contact businesses that have some connection with the program you are presenting. For example: hospitals might sponsor health programs; museums might sponsor history programs; energy companies might sponsor energy conservation programs. You could also try your local civic Groups -- Lions, Rotary, Kiwanis, etc.

Professional Development. Schools have funds for teachers' professional development. If a performer offers a full day or multiple day program that includes teacher training, you may get your school to pay for the program out of their professional development budget.

District funds. If the program you want to book is researched-based and meets certain state educational standards, your district might be willing to offer funding.

3 Secrets to Having a Great School Show

2010-11-27T03:38:00.000-08:00

by Dennis Regling

If you are responsible for scheduling a speaker for your next school assembly you may be overwhelmed with all the decisions you will be making and the choices you have.

The following three tips will help to insure you get a great perfomance with true educational value. This means you want a presentation that not only presents core curriculum ideas clearly, but in a memorable and entertaining fashion.

First, make sure your performer has a proven track record. Many magicians and authors attempt to enter the school show business without the necessary skills. Most people who attempt to produce a great school show fail after a few years. It is nearly impossible to have longevity unless you are getting repeat customers. It is just too costly getting new customers, so all great school show companies rely on repeat customers and referrals to grow and stay in the business. Make sure you check the history of the company, references and volume of business. The longer they have been around and the more school shows they have delivered suggests quality.

Second, make sure your performer gives a strong message. Unless you are using your school show as just a fun reward, you need to justify the time out of class. School shows can be both, fun and educational, but make sure they are really up to the task of blending both objectives successfully.

Presenters can be a great inspiration to your students and will motivate and direct them towards setting their goals and believing they can live their dreams. Make sure the message your performer delivers isn’t just a passing phrase here and there, but a substantial, strategically delivered theme of the show. Curriculum based programs emphasizing Math and Science can motivate students to excel in these areas.

Third, check to see if the presenter has materials for the teachers to use in the classroom. The follow up after a presentation helps to anchor the ideas presented in your students. Personally, I leave all schools that schedule me a copy of my science books I have written for students plus additional materials for the teachers.

Dennis Regling has been a professional trainer and speaker for over 22 years. In the past 10 years, he has presented his math and science assemblies in over 1400 schools in 25 states. Dennis is the author of two science books for grade school students and over 20 books for professional entertainers. He will present his “Magic of Science” program at the National Engineering & Science Festival in Washington, DC in October 2010.

Dennis Regling can be contacted at begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-800-858-5402 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or at his website: http://www.greatassemblies.com1-800-858-5402

Teacher proposes to girlfriend in front of junior school class - mirror.co.uk

2010-11-26T06:44:00.000-08:00

A romeo gave a lesson in love when he proposed to his teacher girlfriend in front of 250 children at a junior school assembly.

Read more: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2010/11/04/teacher-proposes-to-girlfriend-in-front-of-junior-school-class-115875-22690974/#ixzz16OpfWa4C

Teacher proposes to girlfriend in front of junior school class - mirror.co.uk

Book Great School Assemblies! - Here's The Secret

2010-11-24T09:36:00.000-08:00

by David Jack, a three-time Parent's Choice award-winning, national children's recording artist. Find out information about him and his wildly-popular school assemblies at http://www.elementaryassembly.com.

It's 10 a.m. As the kids file into the multipurpose room, you wait nervously in the back. They don't know what to expect of this welcome break from studying the three "R's" but they know it'll be something different. Hopefully -- something fun. The principal quiets the children, makes a small speech thanking the Home and School association for sponsoring their school assemblies and then he introduces the presenter. Within a minute into the performance, the realization hits you - "Uh, oh... I think this was a mistake."

Hiring a school assembly presenter is one of the toughest jobs around. In the words of Forest Gump "You never know what you're gonna get!" As the cultural arts representative of your Home and School Association or your Parent-Teacher Organization, you have the daunting task of sifting through the mountain of promotional materials that's been sent to your school by presenters from every corner of the country via U.S. Postal Service or these days - via email.

By the end of the school year, you finally have a grasp on the "who to hire" and "how to hire" an assembly presenter, but sometimes by then, it's too late. Next years' cultural arts person will start where you started -- at the beginning.

Having been a successful school assembly performer and presenter for nearly 20 years, what follows will be the number one secret that home and school representatives can use when hiring a performer that promises to at least give you some measure of confidence that your school assembly will be a success.

Ready for the secret? Hire experience. Although you may have been to a birthday party and the twelve kids there were mesmerized by a magician while the parents enjoyed their coffee, doesn't mean that the guy can do the same at your school. Handling an auditorium of elementary-aged kids can be difficult for even a seasoned educator.

Think back to when you were in elementary school. Do you remember the day your substitute teacher walked through the door? The happiness and glee you and your classmates felt because you were about to abuse that poor guy for the rest of the day?! You don't want the same situation to occur during your school assembly program. An experienced, professional presenter is one that has hundreds (yes -- hundreds) of school performances under the belt. Not five, not ten, not even twenty. I've seen countless young presenters fresh out of college that, although they might be unbelievable performers, can't handle this type of young audience. They get frustrated and the situation can turn from bad to worse. Another natural progression of experience is longevity. Typically you'll find that one of the reasons that a performer has been in the school assembly business for a long time is because he or she does a pretty good show. Although this work can (at times) be extremely difficult, it is ultimately extremely rewarding and if you're not offering quality school assemblies performances, you probably won't work that much and ultimately will be forced to leave the business.

A successful booking can never be guaranteed. But -- If you can keep this advice in mind when searching for your next school assembly, then you'll at least get the odds in your favor that the show you're bringing to your school will be a good one. Who knows? You might be responsible for their best show ever!