"M-News"
This is where we will put important information about the Twirling Corps.
See what's happening, what's not!
Who's doing what, when, and how.
Keep checking in to "hear all about it."
December 26, 2008
Congratulations and Best of Luck to three of our former twirlers!!!!!!
All three young ladies will be performing in college bowl games this year.
Pitt Majorettes - Sami Jo Young (a Sophomore) and Kelsey Gilchrist (a Freshman) - will be performing with the Pitt Marching Band on New Year's Eve at the Sun Bowl.
Penn State Majorette - Jill Robbins (a December Graduate) - will be performing in her last performance with the Penn State Marching Band on New Year's Day at the Rose Bowl. Make sure to look for her in the Rose Bowl Parade!!!!!!
We are extremely proud of all three of them!!!!
December 13, 2008
Registration for all of the baton twirling sections of the corps is now closed for the 2008-2009 season.
All of the baton twirling sections of the corps have stopped concentrating on teaching/reviewing basic twirls and have begun learning this year's routines. Also, measurements for all of the new uniforms are complete.
Please note: We will still accept registrations for our Color Guard section, as well as our Honor Guard section. The Honor Guard is the section of the corps that carries the American Flag, PA State Flag, Rifles and Corps Banner.
December 12, 2008
Tomorrow is going to be a busy day at all of the practices!!!!!!
1. All Sarris Candy orders will be available for pick-up. Remember - please make arrangements for your candy to be checked and picked up if you are unable to attend practice.
2. If you ordered one of the new pullover jackets, they will also be available for pick-up. If your order is supposed to be a Christmas gift, just let us know and will make arrangements for you to get it.
3. Mrs. Cunningham will be available to measure everyone for their new uniforms.
4. We will be celebrating Christmas with short little parties at the end of every class.
5. Oh, and all the while, classes will be held!!!! :)
Extra clothing items were ordered when the last order was placed. If you have decided that you would like to purchase something - a t-shirt, a sweatshirt, sweatpants, etc - just let Alice know.
December 1, 2008
The Senior Corps is officially registered as new members of T.R.W.E.A.!!!!!
T.R.W.E.A stands for Three Rivers Winter Ensemble Association.
For information on T.R.W.E.A., a new tab has been added on the bar above. Click on the tab to see the upcoming indoor competition schedule, the link to the T.R.W.E.A. website, etc.
Reminder: All Classes have a new time schedule. This new schedule starts this coming Saturday.
9:00 to 9:30 = Color Guard
9:30 to 10:30 = Sophomores
10:30 to 11:30 = Juniors
11:30 to 12:30 = Seniors
November 22, 2008
Announcements from today's practice - - - -
1. Due to some scheduling conflicts that have come up and due to the upcoming indoor competition schedule for the Senior Corps, we have decided to make a slight change to the practice schedule. Beginning on Saturday, December 6th, the new schedule will be as follows:
9:00 to 9:30 = Flags/Color Guard
9:30 to 10:30 = Sophomore Corps
10:30 to 11:30 = Juniors Corps
11:30 to 12:30 = Senior Corps
2. For the Senior Corps only = During the competition weeks, practice will move from Saturday at 11:30 to the Thursday prior to the competition. The practice will be held from 5:00 to 6:00. If we are able to secure Marion Elementary's Gymnasium, the practice will be held there. If we are not able to secure the gym, the practice will be held at the studio.
3. Sarris Candy Orders will be available for pick-up during all practices on Saturday, December 13th. If you are unable to attend practice that day, you must make arrangements for someone to come to the studio to pick up and check your order for you.
4. Mrs. Cunningham, our seamstress, will be at practice on Saturday, December 13th to take everyone's measurements for the new uniforms.
5. The December 13th practice will be the last practice of 2008. No new registrations will be accepted for the baton twirling corps after the 13th. This includes the Senior, Junior and Sophomore Corps. We will still accept registrations for the Flags/Color Guard at least through January.
6. Christmas Poinsettias will be available for pick-up on Tuesday, December 16th. The studio will be available from 5:00 to 6:00 that evening. It is very important that the flowers are pick-up and delivered that evening. Please make arrangements for someone to pick up your order if you are not able to do so.
If you have any questions or concerns about the above announcements, please do not hesitate to call Alice or Donna.
November 11, 2008
Happy Veteran's Day!!!!!
Reminders about upcoming events =
Sarris Candy Orders and Money are due
during this Saturday's practices.
Poinsettia Orders and Money are due during
the practices on Saturday, November
22nd.
The studio will be closed on Saturday,
November 29th due to the Thanksgiving
Break.
Uniform measurements will be taken by Mrs.
Cunningham during practices on
Saturday, December 13th.
October 14, 2008
Just a reminder:
The studio will be open this coming Saturday (October 18th) for the first official practices of the 2008-2009 season.
The practice schedule for this week is as follows:
Flags/Color Guard/New & Returning Members
= 9:30-10:00
Sophomores/Beginners/Unless told otherwise -
All New Baton Twirling Members
= 10:00-11:00
Juniors = 11:00-12:00
Seniors = 12:00-1:00
Returning members are asked to make sure that they receive their "Champs" pins from last season.
September 28, 2008
We had a very good first registration day yesterday. It was nice to see the returning members who came in to the studio and to meet many of the new members who will be joining us this year.
If you are a current member and are unable to attend registration next Saturday (October 4th), please send an e-mail to let us know that you do plan on performing with the corps during the 2008-2009 season.
If you have already called to let us know or have already sent us an e-mail, you do not need to contact us a second time.
We just want to have a decent idea of how many students we are expecting in each class on October 18th.
Please make sure to look at the class schedule carefully. Due to the rise in enrollment in some of the classes, we have found it necessary to change some of the class times. The tentatve schedule is listed below:
Flags/Color Guard = 9:30 - 10:00
Sophomores/Beginners/New Students
= 10:00 - 11:00
Juniors = 11:00 - 12:00
Seniors = 12:00 - 1:00
Percussion = TBD if necessary
We look forward to hearing from and seeing all of you very soon!!!!!
The corps would like to take this time to announce a fundraiser that is being held for Cole Boytim. Cole is the brother of Senior Corps member Brooke Boytim. The information is listed below:
Slapsticks! Comedy Productions Presents:
Cole's Dream Team "Funny Fundraiser"
Helping An Extraordinary Child With Special Needs
1 Night - 3 Comics - A Million Laughs!
Featuring Shaun Blackham & Joe Eberle
Hosted by Chris Ciardi
Date = Saturday, October 18, 2008
Where = Turkeytown South Huntington VFD
90 Supervisors Drive
West Newton, PA 15089
Time = Doors Open @ 7:00 p.m.
Show begins @ 8:00 p.m.
Donation = $15.00
Tickets are on sale now!
Ticket locations include =
Youghiogheny Canoe Outfitters
Williams Hardware
Turkeytown Firehall
For tickets, and/or other information concerning the evening, please call:
Rachel Davis @ 412-558-9572.
(mother of Senior Corps member Alicia Davis)
August 14, 2008
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!
The parade season has officially come to an end and what a season it was!!!!!
During the season the corps won not one but two championship titles!!
2008 Fayette County
Firemen's Convention Champions
2008 Western Pennsylvania
Firemen's Convention Champions
Way to go, everyone. We are very proud of all of you. We will see all of you on Monday during the pool party at Crystal Pool! Remember to bring one of your corps T-shirts.
August 9, 2008
Please see the Event Directions page concerning directions for the Western Pennsylvania Firemen's Association 115th Annual Convention Parade at Fairchance, PA tomorrow.
Also, reminder = tomorrow's parade is a non-stop parade. Seniors do not need to bring their fire batons. We will, unfortunately, not be performing the competition routine.
For the End-of-the-season picnic, we would like for all of the girls to wear one of their corps T-shirts. We would like for them to wear them during the awards presentation before lunch is served.
July 11, 2008
Due to the forecast for tomorrow - exceptionally high temperatures of 90 degrees and above - we wanted to remind everyone to be very cautious about spending a lot of time in the sun prior to a parade.
We realize that it is going to be perfect swimming pool weather. However, please remember that although the water is a great way to cool down, being out in the sun all afternoon can really drain the body's energy. We don't want anyone to get heat exhaustion.
If you are going to go swimming prior to the parade, please try to go for no more than a couple of hours. Also, we do want everyone to drink plenty of water - not soft drinks or other beverages loaded with sugar!!!!!!
Martinette Spirit Night!!!!!
We would like for everyone to wear a
Martinette T-shirt
(black design or turquoise design)
to practice on Monday, July 14th.
We hope to take "action shots"
throughout practice.
July 2, 2008
We hope everyone has a
very safe and happy 4th of July!!!!!
On days when the weather is bad and events need to be cancelled (practice, parade, performance), please check the website and your e-mail. If you have seen the cancellation, please use the link on the Home Page of the website or send an e-mail to let us know that you have received the information. This will help us out a lot!!!!!! We will not have to bother you with a follow-up phone call, as well.
Please note that ALL of the rain-dates, for the remainder of the season, have now been changed. This is due to a schedule conflict that has started with the beginning of July. Please look at the Schedule Page carefully to see when each rain-date will occur.
If you haven't looked at the Pictures Page lately where the photo album is, you may want to check it out. Some new photos have been added from last summer's parade season. Pictures from this summer's parade season will be added soon. Keep checking!!!
June 30, 2008
Due to the inclement weather, this evening's practice is cancelled.
We will now have practice on Tuesday, July 1st.
Outdoor practice schedule at Bellmar will remain the same.
The Sophomores will practice from 6:30 to 7:30
The Juniors, Seniors, and Flags will practice from 6:30 to 7:30/8:00.
If the weather is bad again tomorrow evening, we will move the practice indoors at the studio.
If we need to move indoors, it will be posted on the website, e-mails will be sent and phone calls will be made. Hopefully, we will be able to practice outdoors.
The indoor schedule will be as follows:
Sophomores = 6:30 to 7:15
Juniors = 6:30 to 7:30
Flags = 6:30 to 7:30
Seniors = 7:00 to 8:00
June 28, 2008
I want to thank everyone for "sticking it out" with us today during the rain shower. Fortunately, it didn't last long, and we were able to get all of the pictures done. It is just unfortunate that we had to use the blue sheets for the girls to sit/kneel on. I apologize for that and hope they don't interfere with the group pictures too badly.
We should have the pictures back in a couple of weeks.
Revised parade/performance schedule sheets were passed out today during the individual pictures. If you left before we started passing them out, or were absent, you can get a copy at the next practice.
The next practice is Monday night (June 30, 2008) at the back of Bellmar Middle School. The start time is 6:30 for all groups. Seniors are reminded that they are not to bring their fire batons. July dues can be paid starting with this practice. They will be $45.00/child for the month.
(The monthly dues for August will be $22.00/child. August dues can be paid starting with the practice on July 28th.)
We do not have a parade during this upcoming week. Except for practice, the corps has the week off.
Enjoy the holiday weekend!!!!!!!
June 20, 2008
Congratulations!!!!!!!
All of you did an awesome job at the Mt. Pleasant Parade Tuesday night and the judges agreed. The corps was awarded 1st Place in the Senior Division and 1st Place in the Junior Division. Way to go, girls!!!!!!!
Seniors are having an extra practice tomorrow morning at 10:00 a.m. to learn the fire routine. The practice has been moved to Donna's house due to the construction going on at Bellmar/Marion. Please look in the Event Directions section on the Schedule Page for directions to her house.
Practice on Monday, June 23, 2008, has been changed to Tuesday, June 24, 2008. This is also due to the construction going on at Bellmar/Marion.
Papers were passed out at the parade tonight concerning a possible July 4th parade at Canonsburg, PA. Please make sure that you turn in your form at the next performance or practice.
June 7, 2008
Awesome job in the Dawson Parade this afternoon!!!!!!! We are so proud of all of you.
The window decals have arrived!!!!!
They will be distributed to those who ordered them at Monday night's practice.
June 6, 2008
Announcements from Thursday night's practice:
The first parade is this Saturday at Dawson.
Line up is at 12:00 noon. The parade begins at 1:00 p.m.
All girls should now have their costumes.
Sophomores =
Gloves and bows will be distributed at the parade.
Hair should be worn up somehow (ponytail, pigtails, etc).
White lacy socks may be worn with plain white shoes.
Juniors and Seniors and Color Guard =
Pull hair up into a bun and use a curly hair piece around
it. Do not add any extra decorative pieces. Your hair clips
are being made.
Remember to wear low, preferably tan colored, socks (for
Seniors and Juniors). Color Guard should wear black
socks with their shoes.
Walking Parents =
Please remember to wear either a turquoise or hot pink
top, t-shirt, etc. Please do not wear the new black t-shirt,
if you are walking with the corps in the parade.
Slacks/shorts/capris/crop pants may be white, tan, black,
turquoise, or pink. Please no blue jeans.
Bring a water bottle to the parade with your name on it.
Directions to Dawson were passed out at practice. They will
be on the website by the end of today.
We are revising the current schedule.
We just received word about Washington Twp. having a
parade.
We will now attend the Washington Twp. Parade on
Friday, June 20, 2008 instead of the Greenock Parade.
Line-up is 6:00 p.m. on or around McDonough Street
Begin at 7:00 p.m.
Addition to the schedule:
Martinette Picture Day = Saturday, June 28, 2008
We will begin at 10:00 a.m. @ Bellmar Middle School
A picture schedule will be announced and posted soon.
Rain-date will be Saturday, July 5, 2008
June 3, 2008
Tonight's Full Corps Practice is cancelled due to the inclement weather and pending storms!!!
The rain-date will be Thursday night - June 5th @ the same times.
If you are a senior and need to pick up your uniform, the studio will be open starting at 6:30. You can come there to pick up your uniform.
May 27, 2008
This year's captains and co-captains have been announced!
Leading the corps this year are:
Senior Corps Captains:
Sarah Jara
Caitlin Sawyer
Emily Tenuta
Senior Corps Co-Captains:
Jenna Cecil
Whitney Ptak
Junior Corps Captain:
Brittany Robertson
Junior Corps Co-Captains:
Kaylee DeWitt
Victoria Thomas
Sophomore Corps Captain:
Gianna Gilotty
Sophomore Corps Co-Captains:
Autumn Bretzel
Sydney Varga
Congratulations, Girls! We know that you all will do an outstanding job!!!!!
We also want to recognize and congratulate all of our members and past members who participated in high school and college tryouts this spring. All of the girls listed below will be performing with their respective high school or college twirling squads in the fall.
Belle Vernon Area High School Majorettes
Caitlin Sawyer = Senior = Majorette Section Leader/Captain
Sarah Jara = Junior
Emily Tenuta = Junior
Deidra Balchak = Freshman
Frazier High School Majorette
Sara Diamond = 6th grade
Ringgold High School Majorette
Brianna Young = Freshman
Yough High School Majorette
Brooke Boytim = 7th grade
Penn State University Majorette
Jill Robbins = College Senior
University of Pittsburgh Golden Girls
Kelsey Gilchrist = College Freshman
Sami Jo Young = College Sophomore
Girls - We are so very proud of each one of you and look forward to watching you perform. We know that you will represent each of your schools very well.
All clothing items and twirling equipment have arrived and have been passed out. If you have been absent from practice, you can get your items at the next practice that you attend.
Any uniforms that have not been distributed will be available at the next practice.
The window decals will be mailed to us from Texas on Friday. Hopefully, they will arrive in time to be distributed at next Tuesday's practice, also.
Senior Corps Members = unless we have inclement weather for next Tuesday's practice, we do plan on practicing fire. Please remember to wear appropriate clothes, pull your hair back (tightly) and bring your fire baton, if you own one.
We hope everyone enjoys their last full week of school.
Good Luck to all of you who are taking final exams.
Study hard and do your best!!!!!!
We will see all of you on Tuesday after everything is all over.
May 17, 2008
Congratulations to all of the girls that made it out to the first outdoor practice of the season. We felt that everyone did a great job for the first time outside!!!!!!
Remember to keep practicing on your own at home. Doing the routines standing still & inside the studio is one thing. Doing the routines outside & moving is completely different.
Next week's practice will be outside again, weather permitting. The full group will begin at 10:00 for parade routine practice.
The Sophomores will end practice at 11:00.
The competition corps (Seniors, Juniors, & Color Guard) will practice the combined competition routine from 11:00 to 12:00. Senior corps members are reminded to wear old practice clothes and come with hair securely pulled back because we do plan to begin practicing with the fire batons.
All new Sophomores uniforms are finished and were available for pick-up at today's practice. If you were absent, you will be able to get your uniforms during next week's practice. Mrs. Cunningham is still finishing up on new Junior and Senior uniforms. She hopes to have them finished soon.
Batons have also come in. They will also be available at next week's practice.
Clothing and window decals are not available, yet. Those will be distributed as soon as they arrive.
We would like to take a count at next week's practice for how many girls will be available to perform and compete at the Westmoreland County Convention Parade being held in Derry on Saturday, June 14th. Please check your personal schedules before coming to practice so that you can let us know if you will be able to travel to Derry. With this parade being a Title Parade, we can only attend if we are going to have a good turnout of girls.
Good Luck to all of our Senior Corps members who are going through Majorette Tryouts at their respective high schools. We hope to announce the results of all of the local school tryouts at next week's practice.
May 8, 2008
This Saturday (May 10, 2008) is our last official indoor practice. All classes will be held at their regular times.
Practice on Saturday, May 17, 2008 will be the first official outdoor practice for the upcoming parade season. All corps will begin practice at 10:00. The sophomores will be done at 11:00. The competition corps (Seniors, Juniors, and Color Guard) will practice until 12:00.
Please make sure that you dress according to the weather, wear tennis/twirling shoes and socks and bring a water bottle. You may also want to put on sunscreen.
We want to congratulate Senior Corps member, Deidra Balchak. She has been named the Belle Vernon Lions Club Student of the Month for May!! Deidra is an eighth grade student at Bellmar Middle School in the Belle Vernon Area School District.
We are very proud of you, Deidra!!!!!
March 6, 2008
Sarris Candy Orders will be available at this Saturday's practice. If you are unable to attend practice, please make arrangements for your candy to be checked and pick-up.
If practice is cancelled due to inclement weather, the orders will be available for pick-up on Tuesday, March 11th, at the studio, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. If you have any questions, please call Alice or Donna.
February 23, 2008
DUE TO THE INCLEMENT WEATHER, ALL CLASSES ARE CANCELLED FOR TODAY. We will see everyone, next Saturday, at their regularly scheduled times.
Enjoy the snow!!!!!!!
We want to wish three of Senior Corps Members, and two of our past Senior Corps Members, the very best of luck in tonight's TRWEA Majorette Competition @ Norwin High School.
The current members are Caitlin Sawyer, Sarah Jara and & Emily Tenuta. The past members are Marla Veschio and Kelsey Gilchrist.
They are all members of the Belle Vernon Area High School Indoor Majorette Competition Squad. Go for it, Girls!!!!