Thread: teachers when does your spring session end?

When are you all going on summer hiatus / or when do your spring classes end? Are you teaching over summer? It feels like summer already..

My Spring session ended mid-April. The summer session starts second week of June and all but the beginner level will be completed in late July. Fall classes start mid September. That gives me a month and a half of no classes (although troupe practices still occur weekly) in the early part of the summer and the a month or so at the end of the summer when I have just one class (Beginner level wraps mid August) and then back to just weekly troupe practices.

However summer is our busy performance time. We start in May and perform an average of two times per month until October. That's a lot for a troupe of hobbyists . . .

My spring session end May 15. I'll then take time off from teaching until September.

All of my classes end by the last week of May. We take 1 week off and we are back at it. I've been working 5 years straight without a break! I am due for a hiatus!!!!!

I end on May 14th. The last two weeks of May I spend getting ready for my big event that I work for........
that's why I ended up cancelling my trip to Fifi....just couldn't get away, thought I could, but.....
I start up again June 4th, I'm doing 4 week sessions over the summer. Then back to 6-8 weeks in September.

edited to add: I took off most of summer last year and get MANY complaints and unhappiness from students, so, we'll see how it goes this summer.
I took off most of last summer because the summer before I was down to 4 students a class for most of the summer. it's summer, and people go on vacation, spend time with kids outdoors, etc., etc.
so, hopefully, classes will remain full over the summer, or, somewhat fuller than my last summer I taught.

Gawd, I don't even take a week off in between, no wonder I'm feeling just a smidge burned out.

My Spring session ends the week before Memorial day, and picks back up again the week of June 11th. I usually schedule myself a two week break between sessions, although sometimes with the dates, I only get one week off. I also don't teach the week of major holidays, if they fall in the middle of a session, because no one shows up anyway. This applies to my group classes and any privates/semi-privates I teach. I lose a little money, but I need it for my mental health. If I was younger, and didn't have a family, I might be able to go-go-go nonstop; but I'd collapse from exhaustion if I tried that at this point.

I would definately suggest building a break into your sessions, Lauren. It's funny how when we work for others, we have no problem taking a week of vacation. In an traditional job, would you even consider working year-round with no time off? I look at it like this - just because you're your own boss, doesn't mean you shouldn't treat your employees fairly!

Originally Posted by laura 2

I would definately suggest building a break into your sessions, Lauren. It's funny how when we work for others, we have no problem taking a week of vacation. In an traditional job, would you even consider working year-round with no time off? I look at it like this - just because you're your own boss, doesn't mean you shouldn't treat your employees fairly!

True, and thanks for your concern. But this is my only source of revenue, I flat out can't afford to go without pay for a whole week, that would be 12-15 classes missed!

I do take a week off once a year or so to travel, and I frequently take long weekends & get a sub.

Just take care of yourself, habibi! You are way too valuable to get burnt out - what would we ever do without you?

Originally Posted by laura 2

Just take care of yourself, habibi! You are way too valuable to get burnt out - what would we ever do without you?

LOL -- guess I should start a thread, are we due for another one on burnout yet?

I also take a break from classes. The first weekend in June ends my spring session. I restart the end of September/ beginning of October.

During my "off" months. I perform and teach seminars. This bridges the income gap and helps me to stay in touch with my passion for the dance. I also get to reconnect with my "creative powers". LOL!

The hardest part is...in order for me to take the break, I have to start booking events throughout the fall and winter WHILE I am planning class curriculum and teaching. I also have a full time job that pays my bills and supports me and my little ones. I do still really need the dance money though.

I completely sympathize with "burnout". But in the end... the satisfaction of a job well done, the money to support oneself, and the ability to express ones inner passion makes it all worth it. Doesn't it? ,r:;

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Gawd, I don't even take a week off in between, no wonder I'm feeling just a smidge burned out.

I'm with you Lauren. I don't take off either. Classes are still in session for as long as there is enrollment. Students don't take to kindly to me taking off in the summer. ..g.:

I end at the end of July and take the entire month of August off. There is so much giong on during that month with vacations and workshops in the area that I need it off! ;-)

I teach all year round. But or the last few years I have promised myself that I would take August off, or at least the bulk of it. This year I will keep that promise!

Otherwise--classes are always in session!

jeez you guys work hard :)

for those of you who take the break over summer, how do you take advantage of that free time..or is it used to prepare fall classes?

i have to take a break or I would kill my students. I love them, really, but you need to not see people sometimes. i take a one or two week break between each session. and usually only do one short one over the summer. that way i can travel and so can my students. summers are almost always a pain- with people backing out because of vacation or you get people paying for a full session and end up having some classes with only 2 in them... and of course it is gorgeous outside those days.

I break late May/early June. All the local dance schools close for the summer.
It's not worth fighting the "end of school" and "off to the beach".
Taking a break is so important...revive yourself! ..g.:
I schedule this time to do more travel, teach workshops, sewing, and reviving my dance w/new choreos and ideas. - Things for me- ..l;,
Do keep in touch with your students via email or something - a blog, maybe.
[these are the cutest smileys!]

A lot of dance studios use the same calendar as their local school system. So many families plan vacations around that. I think it depends on your students. If most of them are college age, you might have to plan around final exams.

I'm year round and twice a week at the YMCA. During the summer months, attendance really drops, so I give out a prize to whoever has the best attendance that month. You never thought anyone could be so excited about old harem pants from the back of my closet or $5 dangle earrings from WalMart!,r:;

My spring session ends May 24th, and the summer one begins the very next week. This year, my summer session ends in July. I have two weeks off for vacation and then, if there is interest, I will do a "short" session before the regular classes start again in September.

I have always taught over the summer, with a short break for my vacation. The attendance is good, so it's worth it. If the attendance wasn't so good, I'd re-think it for sure, though.

Break? What would that be?
We go year round, pretty much back to back sessions. This year we'll take a week off for 4th of July since our session ends the week before and if we were to start that week one of the classes would end up a week behind the others for start/end dates. There will be a week or so off around the holidays again so we can keep class start dates the same. The gals in the main office get a bit ticked off with us if our classes don't all start on the same week since it makes registration a mess to have four or five classes all starting at different dates *grin*.
I've noticed that the May/June sessions tend to be the biggest classes of the year. I suspect its the "OMG It's swimsuit season and I need to get in shape" syndrome. I loose a few when they realise that belly dance isn't a quick fix to shape up but I find I get a more consistant attendance in the summer verses the school year when there are kid's activities/commitments/holidays to pull gals away from classes.