First Year
Our First Year program provides the fundamentals needed to confidently get through any social situation. From proper introductions to safe social media use & etiquette, and instruction in social dance, students will learn how to interact with others positively.
5
1
Classes
Grand Spring Ball
The skills taught in Year I highlight the importance of thinking of others and the impact actions can have in showing people respect. We know most people can open a door for themselves, for example, but building habits of showing respect in small ways now helps our students to get into the habit of thinking more broadly about the importance of showing consideration for people in all settings. At the end of each class, students are challenged to practice that class’s manners in the home, allowing them to practice (and fail safely, and try again!), and helps them to get in the habit of treating those closest to them with kindness and respect.
Class Overviews
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Class 1
Learning the basics
We review basic etiquette like how to make a proper introduction, how to go through a refreshment line, escort position, and even fundamentals of how to sit and stand properly. These fundamental skills may seem like things your student should already know how to do — but we like to review these basic mechanics and see a huge difference in student confidence between our first and second classes!
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Class 2
Developing interpersonal relationships
This class covers how to properly introduce a friend to people in different scenarios, basic interview skills, how to be a gracious guest, and how to accept or reject an invitation.
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Class 3
Meals and manners
Students learn about coats and doors, restaurant-specific etiquette, formal meal etiquette including table manners, polite conversation, and the responsibilities of a host and hostess. This is all in preparation for our 5-course instructional dinner
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Class 4
Enhancing Online and In-person Interactions
We provide an in-depth look at safe cell phone and social media etiquette, as well as the effect of screens and gaming on mental health and development. We also cover the do’s and don’t’s of being a polite conversationalist, how to write a proper thank you note, how to pay and receive compliments, and hat etiquette.
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Class 5
Preparing for Formal Events
We review the various different kinds of dress codes one might encounter for a variety of social settings, review how to go through a receiving line alone and with a partner, and how to answer or reject a formal invitation in preparation for the final event.
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Grand Spring Ball
The highlight of the First Year program is our Grand Spring Ball. Students come together from several classes to enjoy a fun night of dancing and refreshments. We finish the evening with our special Parent Honor dance, where parents are invited to dance the waltz with their student to close out the Ball.