This prizegiving is for students who participated in a Medal Checkpoint in July/August 2025.
MEDAL CHECKPOINT PRIZEGIVING IS COMING UP!
Saturday 13 September
Rosamond Bowling Club, 114-118 Rosamond Road, Maribyrnong
Juniors (Prep to Grade 2): 1.00pm-1.45pm
Grade 3-4 & All2Gather Class: 2.00pm-2.30pm
Grade 5 to High School: 2.30pm-3.00pm
Families, we ask that you limit attendees at this event to a +1 (where possible) due to space limitations. Unfortunately with the RecWest no longer available, we cannot accommodate large numbers at prizegiving this year.
Our new Medal Checkpoints have been an absolute success!
We re-designed our internal assessments to be closer to a real class with an observer and less of an exam so they'd align better with our values and the actual work we do here at Dance Habit. This change has allowed our students to shine in all their colours, instead of showing a dim performance covered in unnecessary nerves.
WHAT HAPPENS AT PRIZEGIVING?
In class groups, participants will be invited to stand and receive their medal and report card from our team as we give them a big round of applause to celebrate their hard work and success. Students who receive the top grade (more on that below) will receive a special mention and a gold medal. Additional awards will also be presented for each genre of dance across Junior (Prep to Grade 2), Grade 3-6 and High School and families will have an opportunity to take photos in front of the Dance Habit banner.
Our perpetual trophies (Most Improved, Most Versatile and the Dance Habit Award for effort and attitude) will be handed out at our end-of-year concert this year, not at the Medal Checkpoint prizegiving.
WHAT DO THE RESULTS MEAN?
At Dance Habit, each dance style has its own syllabus and guide, built around five key components - the pillars of that style.
During checkpoints, students are assessed and given a tick for each component using the following criteria:
Basic Understanding (just beginning to learn the skill)
Familiar With It (starting to recognise and practise it)
Working Hard (showing effort and steady progress)
Confident (demonstrating the skill with growing assurance)
Skilled (performing the skill strongly and consistently)
These ticks provide a visual of student progress and together they build an overall result of:
Developing Knowledge;
Growing Skills;
At Standard;
Above Standard; or
Exceptional.
Teacher input is also included in two important areas:
Dance Habit Values – How students show our values of Kindness, Inclusion, Empowerment and Growth, in ways that are appropriate to their age.
Class Etiquette – The everyday habits that set dancers up for success: regular attendance, punctuality, grooming, effort and a positive attitude.
If a student receives the highest (skilled) ticks in both teacher input areas, they earn two bonus ticks, which might lift them to the next overall level. Additionally, to achieve Exceptional, students must receive the highest ticks in both teacher input areas, making Exceptional quite a tricky result to achieve! We think this provides a really balanced approach, not just focusing on technical proficiency but also rewarding hard work and positive attitudes. It supports our belief that we are building strong, confident humans who love to dance, not just dancers.
SOME IMPORTANT THINGS TO CONSIDER
Our Medal Checkpoint results are designed as a visual tool for feedback - a way to celebrate progress and highlight areas to keep growing. They are a snapshot in time, showing where a dancer is on their journey right now.
We encourage students and families to view them as part of the ongoing learning process, and we warmly invite you to reach out if there is anything on the Report Card you’d like to discuss.
QUESTIONS?
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions and we hope to see you at prizegiving!