The following information will make your learning experience more enjoyable:

be prepared
class placement
parent role & responsibility
important dates & how to sign up for the next session
instructors, evaluations & testing
continuation of lessons
questions, suggestions or comments?

BE PREPARED:

• Arrive: 15 minutes prior to class time.
• Name tags: Name tags are given to each skater for quick identification by the instructor.
• Skates: Properly fitted & laced with blades sharpened - no double blades/runners. (Visit our Before You Arrive page for more information)
• Apparel: Warm & comfortable. Don’t forget mittens or gloves. (Visit our Before You Arrive page for more information)
• Read: This information and the parental section carefully. Also, read brightly colored signs posted in the hall for important reminders and notices.
• Practice: In the coned-off section of the rink. See below for specific information.
• Unwilling children, crying children or children not able to stand by themselves after the second week may be asked to re-register at a later time to allow for additional development. Since our lessons are intended for group learning, we cannot spend excessive time with children who are unwilling to try to skate and partake in the class. It is not fair to the rest of the group.
• Advance approval with the Skate School Director is necessary for you to be on the ice with your child in rare circumstances and will be allowed only by obtaining prior approval. Through our many years of teaching, we’ve learned that having the parent on the ice will hinder the child from learning instead of helping.

CLASS PLACEMENT:

• Based On: Ability and age are the two criteria. It may be difficult to place students in classes based on friendships simply because of our size. Friends may skate together in the practice area after class. This is a great opportunity to meet new friends as well!
• Changes: May be made. We will notify you only if your child’s class time has changed.

PARENT ROLE & RESPONSIBILITY:
You can help us with providing the best learning environment possible just by following a few simple guidelines:

• Read: This important info and any hand-outs and posted signs.
• Rules: Be familiar with these, and help your child understand them.
• Watch: From the bleachers and not in the hockey boxes. Skaters are distracted easily by ANY person sitting in this area and lack the ability to focus on the instructor. We will ask you to move if you sit in the hockey boxes.
• Assistance: will be provided by our helpers in getting your child to class. Do not attempt to bring your child onto the ice. We will assist your child. Please do not walk on the ice surface to help your child. Let us help your child. Shoes are not allowed on the ice.
• Questions: Do not attempt to talk with your instructor unless they are off the ice. Instructors are scheduled back-to-back so if we field questions during lesson time, everybody has reduced learning time.

The Skate School Director can answer your questions or connect you with the instructor later. There is on-ice time required by the Skate School Director to ensure each child is placed in the correct ability class. We will attempt to answer all of your questions as quick as we can.

IMPORTANT DATES & HOW TO SIGN UP FOR THE NEXT SESSION:

• Schedules (visit our Registration page for current dates)
• Refunds: Not available.
• Make-Ups: Not available.
• Registration: One week prior to class start, or after you have received your child’s evaluation form from the instructor on the last day of each session, or after you have checked with the Skate School Director.
• Time Changes: None at this time. We will notify you of any changes.

INSTRUCTORS, EVALUATIONS & TESTING:

• Instructors: The Hudson Skate School offers high quality instruction with experienced, dedicated coaches. The Skate School Staff has years of training and coaching experience, and are all members of U.S. Figure Skating and have many personal and coaching achievements and accreditations.
• Evaluations: We provide valuable feedback on each child’s performance during the session. During the last few weeks of each session, we prepare a written evaluation by asking each child to test each element by themselves. Please be aware that there is some down time to allow for this important process. The evaluation form will also inform you as to which level to register for next session.
• Absence: Miss four or more lessons and no evaluation is done. Those skaters will be required to retake the class.
• Badges: Provided for those students who move up to the next level and will be included with the evaluation. If you lose a badge there is a $3.00 fee to replace the badge.
• Distribution: Last day of each session. If you miss this class, you are responsible to contact the Skate School Director to make arrangements to have your evaluation sent to your home.

CONTINUATION OF LESSONS:

• Register: Last day of each session or on special registration and family skate days. (Registration forms area available at the information table set up each week.)
• Turn In: Form and payment at the information table set up each week, or mail to: Hudson Skate School, P.O. Box 25726, Woodbury, MN 55125. The next session usually begins within one week of previous session.

QUESTIONS, SUGGESTIONS or COMMENTS?
The instructors are scheduled back-to-back with lessons. However, you can certainly talk to them before classes begin or at the end of the skate school session. Otherwise, please contact the Skate School Director, Ann Harschutz at hudsonskateschool@comcast.net or by phone at 612-859-0622 if you do not find her on the rink. She will return the email or call as quickly as possible. We welcome your suggestions, comments or questions. Our goal is to provide you with a wonderful learning experience!