2025 Winter Pre-Cotillion Program Dates:

January 12, 2025

January 19, 2025

January 26, 2025

The purpose of the NATIONAL LEAGUE OF JUNIOR COTILLIONS™ PRE-COTILLION PROGRAM is to give young people instruction and practice in the courtesies that make life more pleasant for them and those around them. We offer instruction in social etiquette, designed for grades kindergarten through fourth, with special focus placed on developing great character.

In addition to the usual courtesies, including Greetings, Table Manners, Correspondence, and Appearances, we also offer instruction in the areas of Birthday Parties, Sports Manners, Restaurants (both fast food and formal) and the values of honor, respect, dignity, honesty, and responsibility.

The PRE-COTILLION™ program setting will encourage children to be comfortable together, to make new friends, and enjoy themselves. Through role-playing— practiced with our mascot, Peanuts, the Polite Elephant—hands-on experience and storytelling in a peer group, young ladies and gentlemen are expected to leave the program with the beginnings of confidence and poise that come from knowing the proper things to do.

PRE-COTILLION I—(Grades K-1) offers instruction in the areas of basic manners in the home--appearances, introductions, sports manners and basic table manners, including such things as the proper way to eat soup, using a knife and fork--while introducing words and their meanings, referred to as power words, that will instill common courtesies throughout their lifetimes--thank you, you’re welcome, yes ma’am, no ma’am, yes sir, no sir, please, may I?, I’m sorry, and excuse me. We will have a birthday party for Peanuts—complete with cake, presents, and thank-you notes—taught in a manner that will emphasize the proper courtesies. Class time: 1:15-2:30 pm.

PRE-COTILLION II—(Grades 2-3) offers continued instruction in the areas of introductions, sports manners, and basic table manners—while exploring new areas, including making friends—keeping friends, writing correspondences, and school manners. Fast food manners will be practiced when refreshments are served in a fast food restaurant set-up. During the third class, students will learn dining in a nice restaurant—complete with reservation, maître d’, menus, and tipping. Class time: 2:45-4:00 pm.

PRE-COTILLION III—(Grade 4) While Pre-Cotillion III is designed for this age group, the curriculum is a far more advanced study of common courtesies. It is meant to reinforce the skills that have been learned in the other levels and to prepare the students for Junior Cotillion, where there are more courtesies taught. The students will have study in building character—discovering what makes us who we are, age—appropriate table manners, answering R.S.V.P.’s, telephone etiquette, and manners in public places. Dance instruction will be introduced while learning basic line dance steps. The last class will include a three-course instructional dinner for students. Class time: 4:15-5:30 pm.

All PRE-COTILLION™ sessions are dress-up affairs for which careful grooming is required. Hair should be neatly combed, fingernails clipped and clean, shoes polished, and so forth. No tennis shoes, rubber or crepe soles, please. Ladies should wear knee-length, Sunday dresses or skirts and dress shoes. Gentlemen should wear khaki pants, shirt, and tie (sport coat or sweater is optional).

All classes will be held at Starmount Forest Country Club. Sunday Best Attire Requested.

Tuition: Membership dues for all grades for Pre-Cotillion are $160. We highly recommend that you send in your reservation early as classes are limited and are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. A $50 tuition discount will be offered to brothers and sisters of enrolled students.

**The 2 pm Class is for NEW students in 5th & 6th Grades; Returning 6th Graders will advance to the Year II, 4 pm Class**

The purpose of the NATIONAL LEAGUE OF JUNIOR COTILLIONS™ is to offer young people instruction and practice in the courtesies that make life more pleasant for them and those around them; to offer them thorough training in standard ballroom dance; and to provide opportunities to practice and enjoy these skills at memorable parties, dances/classes and balls, complete with refreshments, favors, and prizes.

The Junior Cotillion places as much emphasis on etiquette, manners, and character education as it does on dancing. The social and character education components of the program include rules of proper telephone courtesy; acknowledgments of gifts; introductions, receiving lines; participating in group settings; polite conversations; paying and receiving compliments; sports etiquette; first impressions; dress code for all occasions; manners in the home and in public; table manners; formal place settings: styles of dining including American, Asian, and Continental; skills involved in being a guest, hostess or host; and many other areas of social behavior. Other topics covered are the ethics involved in the areas of having honor, dignity, respect, fairness, a caring attitude, accountability, and citizenship. Dance instruction includes steps in the Foxtrot, Shag Swing, Waltz, and Cha Cha, as well as instruction in current line dances.

The Junior Cotillion setting encourages young ladies and gentlemen to be comfortable together, make new friends, and enjoy themselves. After constant practice in a peer group, young ladies and gentlemen are expected to leave the program with the confidence and poise that comes from knowing the proper etiquette in any social situation. Instruction in dancing and etiquette will be given throughout all sessions. The Balls allow formal opportunities to practice all training. The highlight of the year for Junior Cotillion is the Grand Spring Ball. All dance and etiquette training is taught according to grade level.

Appropriate Attire:

Dances/Classes – All Junior Cotillion sessions are dress-up affairs for which careful grooming is required. Hair should be neatly combed, fingernails clipped and clean, and shoes polished and so forth. Dancing requires hard-soled shoes. No open-toe shoes. No athletic shoes or flip flops, please. Ladies should wear conservative Sunday dresses or skirts, short white gloves, and dress shoes for dances. Gentlemen should wear khaki pants, dress shirts, ties and navy or dark blazers.

Holly Ball – Ladies should wear knee-length or longer holiday dresses or skirts, short white gloves, and dress shoes. Gentlemen should wear khaki pants, white dress shirts, ties, and navy or dark blazers.

Grand Spring Ball – The Grand Spring Ball is a semi-formal event for which appropriate dress is required. Ladies should wear knee-length or longer, age-appropriate, white dresses and short white gloves. Gentlemen should wear khaki pants, white dress shirts, ties, and navy or dark blazers or black tie tuxedos (optional).

Tuition:

Membership dues are $340 and include all costs for the training and balls. We highly recommend that you send in your reservation early, as class sizes are limited and are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Classes are filled according to the date the tuition is received. There will be no refunds except in the case of extraordinary circumstances such as moving or illness, in fairness to students who are placed on the waiting list. Tuition for Junior Cotillion siblings of enrolled Junior Cotillion students will be discounted by $100.

**The 4 pm Class is for RETURNING Students who completed Year I last season as well as NEW students in 7th-9th**

The purpose of the NATIONAL LEAGUE OF JUNIOR COTILLIONS™ is to offer young people instruction and practice in the courtesies that make life more pleasant for them and those around them; to offer them thorough training in standard ballroom dance; and to provide opportunities to practice and enjoy these skills at memorable parties, dances/classes and balls, complete with refreshments, favors, and prizes.

The Junior Cotillion places as much emphasis on etiquette, manners, and character education as it does on dancing. The social and character education components of the program include rules of proper telephone courtesy; acknowledgments of gifts; introductions, receiving lines; participating in group settings; polite conversations; paying and receiving compliments; sports etiquette; first impressions; dress code for all occasions; manners in the home and in public; table manners; formal place settings: styles of dining including American, Asian, and Continental; skills involved in being a guest, hostess or host; and many other areas of social behavior. Other topics covered are the ethics involved in the areas of having honor, dignity, respect, fairness, a caring attitude, accountability, and citizenship. Dance instruction includes steps in the Foxtrot, Shag Swing, Waltz, and Cha Cha, as well as instruction in current line dances.

The Junior Cotillion setting encourages young ladies and gentlemen to be comfortable together, make new friends, and enjoy themselves. After constant practice in a peer group, young ladies and gentlemen are expected to leave the program with the confidence and poise that comes from knowing the proper etiquette in any social situation. Instruction in dancing and etiquette will be given throughout all sessions. The Balls allow formal opportunities to practice all training. The highlight of the year for Junior Cotillion is the Grand Spring Ball. All dance and etiquette training is taught according to grade level.

Appropriate Attire:

Dances/Classes – All Junior Cotillion sessions are dress-up affairs for which careful grooming is required. Hair should be neatly combed, fingernails clipped and clean, and shoes polished and so forth. Dancing requires hard-soled shoes. No open-toe shoes. No athletic shoes or flip flops, please. Ladies should wear conservative Sunday dresses or skirts, short white gloves, and dress shoes for dances. Gentlemen should wear khaki pants, dress shirts, ties and navy or dark blazers.

Holly Ball – Ladies should wear knee-length or longer holiday dresses or skirts, short white gloves, and dress shoes. Gentlemen should wear khaki pants, white dress shirts, ties, and navy or dark blazers.

Grand Spring Ball – The Grand Spring Ball is a semi-formal event for which appropriate dress is required. Ladies should wear knee-length or longer, age-appropriate, white dresses and short white gloves. Gentlemen should wear khaki pants, white dress shirts, ties, and navy or dark blazers or black tie tuxedos (optional).

Tuition:

Membership dues are $355 and include all costs for the training and balls, plus a five course instructional dinner. We highly recommend that you send in your reservation early, as class sizes are limited and are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Classes are filled according to the date the tuition is received. There will be no refunds except in the case of extraordinary circumstances such as moving or illness, in fairness to students who are placed on the waiting list. Tuition for Junior Cotillion siblings of enrolled Junior Cotillion students will be discounted by $100.

The purpose of the National League Of Junior Cotillions Premiere Cotillion Program is to give students the opportunity to learn, practice, and enjoy age-appropriate etiquette and social and character skills.

Opening Social: Vacation Etiquette & Sustainability Hotel Tour-- The Premiere Program Cotillion Season will debut with a wonderful outing to the Proximity Hotel and Printworks Bistro. Students will learn about advanced vacation courtesies and take part in a hotel sustainability tour. Outing times span from 2:00-3:30 pm on August 25th. We will meet in the lobby of the Proximity Hotel.

Protocol In Foreign Cultures Forum & Salsa Dance Instruction-- This session will afford students an opportunity to learn and practice multi-cultural etiquette associated with various countries. Students will also learn how to Salsa during this session. This event will span from 5:45-7:15 pm on September 29th at Starmount Forest Country Club.

"Amping Up Your Confidence" Masterclass--Get ready to unleash your full potential! In this engaging session, students will discover empowering strategies to boost self-esteem and conquer imposter syndrome, setting the stage for future success. Students are certain to leave this dynamic class with newfound confidence! This event will be held on November 17th from 4:30-6:00 pm at Starmount Forest Country Club.

Wear It & Wow! How To Impress With Your Dress Seminar-- There's no such thing as a second impression. Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak. Clothes themselves may not change the world, but the person who wears them might! This seminar will offer students an opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue and practice around developing and maintaining a positive image, selecting appropriate attire, and mastering fashion principles needed to succeed. Students will leave with a heightened awareness and reinforced understanding of the importance of dress codes and how to leverage their personal images for overall success. This session will take place on January 12th from 5:45 to 7:15 pm at Starmount Forest Country Club.

Public Speaking 101 Seminar & Advanced Instructional Bruncheon-- Fear of public speaking is a top-rated fear among adults, and it can be incredibly crippling. This fun and engaging experience will equip students with a solid understanding of the essential skills and techniques important for speaking effectively in public in a clear, convincing, confident, and concise style. We'll help ease anxiety and lessen stress while also boosting students' enthusiasm and self-esteem around public speaking. Additionally, this experience will include an advanced instructional meal, highlighting courtesies associated with dining etiquette and bruncheon protocol. Students will enjoy a wonderful dining experience, while learning, practicing, and applying advanced dining techniques. This event will take place on February 2nd from 12:15 to 1:45 pm at Starmount Forest Country Club.

Attire--All events are dress-up affairs. Ladies should wear age-appropriate dresses or blouses/skirts and dress shoes. Gentlemen should wear dress pants, shirt, tie, jacket and dress shoes.

Tuition--Membership dues are $350 and include all costs for the training & outing. We highly recommend that you send in your reservation early, as class size is limited and is filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Seats are reserved according to the date the tuition is received. There will be no refunds except in the case of extraordinary circumstances such as moving or illness, in fairness to students who are placed on the waiting list. Tuition for siblings of enrolled students is discounted by $100.

2024-2025 PREMIERE COTILLION PROGRAM SCHEDULE:

Opening Social: Vacation Etiquette & Sustainability Hotel Tour-August 25th; 2:00-3:30 pm; Proximity Hotel

Protocol In Foreign Cultures Forum & Salsa Dance Instruction-September 29^th; 5:45-7:15 pm; Starmount Forest Country Club

"Amping Up Your Confidence" Masterclass-November 17th; 4:30-6:00 pm; Starmount Forest Country Club

Wear It & Wow! How To Impress With Your Dress Seminar-January 12th; 5:45 to 7:15 pm; Starmount Forest Country Club

Public Speaking 101 Seminar & Advanced Instructional Bruncheon-February 2nd; 12:15 to 1:45 pm; Starmount Forest Country Club

**Schedule Subject To Change

The High School Cotillion Society is designed specifically for High School students. Etiquette and character development topics, which are pertinent to the High School years, will be presented and discussed. The High School Cotillion Society will focus upon personal protocol, professional etiquette, civic stewardship, and social courtesies in exciting and innovative ways.

2024-2025 High School Cotillion Society Schedule

September 8^th: Opening Social & "ABC's of the South" Seminar

During this Meet & Greet, we’ll discuss the power of great introductions and will polish our skills in this important area. This most engaging session will also highlight the great hallmarks of the South & afford students an opportunity to experience a few of them first-hand! Students will leave with a deeper understanding of key southern traditions and why they are important to the area in which we live. Think monograms, Moon Pies, & much, much more! To be held at Starmount Country Club; 5:45 pm-7:15 pm. Standard cotillion attire requested.

Sunday, October 20^th: Teen Life Prep 101

This highly interactive & informative session will equip students with key life skills that they will use now and in the future. Teens should expect a wonderful time! Need to sew on a button? Know how to handle a plumbing emergency? This session will help students tackle some of the small hiccups that arise in everyday life. To be held at Starmount Country Club; 5:45pm-7:15 pm. Standard cotillion attire requested.

Sunday, November 17th: "Amping Up Your Confidence" Masterclass

Get ready to unleash your full potential! In this captivating session, students will discover empowering strategies to boost self-esteem and conquer imposter syndrome, setting the stage for future success. Students are certain to leave this dynamic class with newfound confidence! This event will be held on November 17th from 4:30-6:00 pm at Starmount Forest Country Club. Standard cotillion attire requested.

Sunday, January 19th: Personal Branding Seminar

We are all Chief Marketing Officers of our first and last names. This exciting seminar will teach students the importance of developing a positive personal brand, how to build a very good teen brand, and how to best manage their brand throughout life. Students will leave feeling motivated, encouraged, and positioned to leverage their respective brand for success. This session will be held at Starmount Country Club from 5:45 pm-7:15 pm. Standard cotillion attire requested.

Sunday, March 9^th: A Gratitude Bruncheon Honoring The 2024-2025 High School Cotillion Society

This very special celebratory event will be held at Starmount Country Club from 12:30 pm-2:00 pm. Standard Cotillion attire requested.

*Schedule Subject To Change

ADDITIONAL HIGH SCHOOL COTILLION SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP PERKS:

The Director remains available to:

-Coach High School Cotillion Society students in resume and portfolio development;

-Conduct preparatory mock interviews with students pertinent to scholarships, collegiate admission, and job preparation;

-Offer assistance with scholarship and collegiate recommendations and job references

APPROPRIATE DRESS: Most all events are dress-up affairs. Ladies should wear age-appropriate dresses, pant suits, or blouses/skirts and dress shoes. Gentlemen should wear dress pants, shirt, tie, jacket, and dress shoes.

TUITION: Membership dues are $350 and include all costs for the training and outings. We highly recommend that you send in your reservation early, as class size is limited and is filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Seats are reserved according to the date the tuition is received. There will be no refunds except in the case of extraordinary circumstances such as moving or illness, in fairness to students who are placed on the waiting list. Tuition for siblings of enrolled students (who also enroll in the High School Cotillion Society) will be discounted by $100.