Banquet Ideas from Cindy Clough

Banquet Ideas from Cindy Clough SUGGESTIONS * Start planning early *Do you have everything for set-up – Microphone, sound system, projector, etc. * Decorations: Balloons, usually whatever our song theme was that particular year. * Sign any awards certificates days ahead ~If we do the certificates way early, you can have them more organized and waiting. * Put all special awards, letter or participation award and items in one large envelope with each dancer's name. This saves time and is organized. When you call the name they just stand and you do not have to fumble looking for them. * Have a script with the order and winners all in a list. * Need alpha letter list of dancers. *We have parents pay ahead for the meal and upcharge the tickets to cover some of the awards. * Head Coaches Speech: ~Items to Cover: ~Thank parents ~Thank Assistant Coaches ~Thank Coaches husbands and children ~Have someone speak to JV -JV coach *I suggest not announcing next year’s captains as it can ruin the banquet.

THINGS WE DO FOR OUR BANQUET * Slide-show. Early in the year we have a parent in charge of the slide show. All dancers and parents submit pictures to the dropbox of this person, including senior baby pictures. * Video of the year in review, including clips from practices, shows and competitions. * Senior parent speaker * Senior speakers. We try to have each one senior have a part in the banquet. ~We give them each a topic. (They can share a topic.)

Topic Suggestions *Prayer if your school allows *Thank parents *Thank Coaches *Speak to the team about the year *Speak to the future team *We do Belly Busters which are funny things from the year. (Inside jokes) *Senior poem (A Time to Remember) *We’ll Be Missing Your Song (All seniors, one must coordinate) PUBLICITY Have someone assigned to publicity ahead of time. They can track awards and take photos of winners. INVITE your local newspaper.

SPECIAL GUESTS Consider inviting special guests. A custodian, bus driver, etc. who has helped you a lot.

May invite your administrators.

SAMPLE BANQUET SENIOR ADDRESS This year we graduate ___seniors from the Warrior Dance Team. Each of them has left their imprint on our team and in our hearts. They all played their special role. Some pushing, some pulling, some….

Tribute to seniors....

Tradition never graduates....Thus the saying, ALWAYS A KIXTER. As you leave our team, and enter a new and exciting phase of your life, I just know or I guess I hope, that you will take a little bit of each one of us with you.

On our team, we talk a lot about The Journey. It is a Journey to get to this level and we stress to our dancers to enjoy the moments as we get to this point. You the audience only see the finished product and sometimes don’t realize the amount of work and pain it takes to get to this level. The pain such as being in this gym at 6:00 am this morning and here still at 9:00 pm at night. The pain of dancing when you are so sick you can hardly stand up. The pain of dancing with sore muscles and shin splints. The mental strain of trying to remember all the changes. It would be a lot easier to quit.

One value we try to teach, is, what is the easier...isn’t always what’s best. Not to take the easy way out. I also feel one of the biggest lessons our dancers learn is you are going to fall down........just get back up. Keep on trying.

Sample Voting Sheet for Awards – Maybe used for both Varsity and JV Teams Best Leaps Best Kicks Best Toe Touches Best Turns Most Spirited (biggest motivator) Most Helpful Best Facials Quickest Learner Most Dependable Stick it Award (tightest dancer)

Most Organized Hardest Worker Most Optimistic Most Improved Rookie Most Improved Vet Hardest working Swing Stand Out as a Stand-In Personal placement (best at) Miss Coachable (takes critique well) Positive teammate (motivates other) Rookie of the Year (outstanding rookie) Most Valuable Dancer (MVP) OTHER AWARDS: Academic Letter winner Participation winner All-Conference.

All-State Academic All-State Scholar Athlete Scholar All-Conference Have kids vote via google.doc. and coaches make the final decision. Consider doing 3-4 for each award if you have a big team to honor more athletes. The team may vote for captain at the same time.

LETTERING POLICY

Have this laid out ahead and coordinate with how your school does it. Have it the SAME each year to eliminate questions and scrutiny. Consider it being vague rather than tied to so many aspects.

Senior song that our seniors always sing at our banquet. * To the tune of "I'll Be Missing you."

We'll Be Missing You Every step you take Every move you make Every muscle that aches Every smile you fake We'll be missing you From the very first day You've gone out of your way To always do your best and never stop to rest We'll are thanking you We're saying goodbye Try not to cry We've had a lot of fun But now So when we go away We hope you'll always stay Focused to the test A step above the rest We'll be missing you And you, and you, and you, and you!

Just shake what your momma gave ya Just shake what your momma gave ya GO KIXTERS!!!! *****************

I got this off a graduation card and we have read it every year at our banquet. I have a senior reads it.

A TIME TO REMEMBER As you move into new times and places, I hope that special memories like these go with you into a wonderful future---Congratulations!

I'm going to miss this old dance team for a million different reasons.

I remember what it was like to be new around here---the routines seemed to be a little harder back then and though I never admitted it, a whole lot scarier.

I remember looking over the group filled with unfamiliar faces, hoping to find someone to share my confusion with---and feeling grateful whenever anyone smiled.

For a while, I wondered how I was ever going to fit into this strange, super-sophisticate world--but now I wonder what I was so worried about---the confidence came and so did the fun.

What an assortment of unforgettable characters I have met here! There were dancers I liked right from the start and there were those who took a little getting used to. There were the upper line celebrities who awed me with their style and there were lower line innocents who appeared to stand in awe of mine.

Most of all there were the good friends I have made here and all of the together times we've shared.

I remember times when we won together and times when we lost---times when we worried together and times when we celebrated--but how do you ever say thanks for a mind full of beautiful memories?

I remember autumns warm with the glow of our hope for the new year, winters where all the excitement in the world flashed between two basketball hoops and springtime's that dazzled us with the promise of freedom.

Looking back, I'm amazed that so many crazy and colorful things could have happened to me in just these few years---but I'm glad they all happened to me!

It won't be easy saying good-bye to this line---to these friends---but I have so much more to learn about myself---and it's time to get started.

I only know, that wherever I go, whatever I do, the days I have spent right here will always be a very special part of my life-------------------------------A TIME TO REMEMBER.