Attire - Dressing for a formal occasion can be such fun! Young ladies, you're beautiful! In past years we've had minimal dress issues; we don't anticipate any this year! Here are your few guidelines for dressing for the Ball before you head out in search for that “perfect” gown/dress. Formal floor length attire is recommended, although tea length is acceptable. Strapless gowns and those labeled as "spaghetti straps" will not be allowed in the dance. Please remember we're dressing for the Lord and need to keep in mind modesty when choosing a dress. Let me know if you have any further questions. Young men, tuxes aren't absolutely necessary - just super fun! A snappy suit and mandatory tie will do just fine! Chaperones, Mass attire is recommended.
Cost - The Winter Ball fee is stretched to include a rented ballroom, decorations, rented lights and dance floor, sound system and microphone, a three course dinner and deejay (with pre-approved, appropriate songs). The cost of the dance, with all the amenities listed above is $70/person. Because the room has a maximum capacity, paid reservations will be accepted on a first come first served basis. If the room has filled to its capacity, you'll be placed on a waiting list and, should no occupancy open, you'll be refunded your money full. For those already on the guest list, please be aware that, regretfully, all reimbursements will not be in full, but rather, subtracted from any"non-refundable down payments" needed before the night of the Ball itself, balloons and deejay, for example. This means that I will add all down payments, subtract the total down payments by number of attendees and reimburse each family the difference. If COVID mandates a cancellation of the March for Life or if there is another unforeseen COVID issue, you have a choice of reimbursement. You may choose to either 1) be reimbursed via PayPal 2) Donate your registration to our local chapter of A Woman's Concern where I will very easily write one check and drop it off. Reimbursements due to cancellation of the event will be available for 30 days or until February 28th. If you choose reimbursement via PayPal, please be patient as 115 personal reimbursements will take some time! Thank you! Please make registration checks payable to Marika Ellis. Deposits are made every couple of weeks. Please reference your cancelled check as confirmation of your reservation.
Music - The song selections will be requested by the attendees (YOU!) along with your chaperoning parents and, therefore, will consist of ALL genres. Time restricts playing all requests and each song will be approved again this year. Because there will be hundreds of songs requested and very limited time, please remember to keep your requests to one song/person Please make your song request when registering. Thank you!
Reservation Deadline - The deadline for permission and reservation forms is January 15th while non-refundable payment is January 4th. Regretfully, if we don't have these forms, you'll be unable to stay at the dance. Please remember to be prompt in your deadlines. Please reference your cancelled check as confirmation of your reservation.
Chaperones - We need you! Please see COVID alterations on the home page for allowable number of chaperones. Sunday Mass attire recommended. Once the dance begins, we ask that you do not leave the ballroom. We, your fellow chaperones and the students need you present. Thank you!
Keepsake - We'll be ordering t-shirts again this year as a keepsake for whomever would like one. Because COVID restricts the number of attendees, we won't be granted bulk pricing of 125 shirts or more. However, you'll still have the opportunity to purchase one! If you'd like to order a t-shirt, please add $15.00/shirt to your payment indicating size of S, M, L or XL on the registration form. The design and color are not yet definite. You're welcome to purchase as many t-shirts as you wish for family and friends. Remember to add these on your reservation form. These will be handed out at the end of the dance as you leave the ballroom. I'm sorry that all left behind or lost keepsakes after the dance are no longer our responsibility. Thank you for understanding!
Safety - Most importantly, parents, we ask that when you drop off your child(ren) stay if you wish for photos then depart promptly. Because this is a new hotel for us this year, it’s imperative that chaperones quickly learn one another so to recognize any adults who shouldn’t be there. If your child needs an adult with him/her, please sign up to chaperone. A hearty THANK YOU for abiding by this ever-so-important precaution! Parents are most welcome to come 15 minutes early for pick-up, 10:45, for photos and enjoy their children as the dance is winding down. This is the best option we can think of to ensure the safest atmosphere for our children and ourselves. NO ONE IS TO LEAVE THE BALLROOM ONCE THE DANCE BEGINS without written permission from your parent.
Hotel Accommodations - Heather Thompson has secured a hotel block for our group. Thank you, Heather! For details, please see Chris Sebastian's email with attachments or seek membership on the Facebook group, "MODG unofficial March Gathering," and/or Facebook message her (Heather Beth Thompson) that you are actively homeschooling your child(ren) and are registered with Mother Of Divine Grace School. She can also be reached at [email protected]. Kindly note: Andrew and I are delighted to head and organize the Ball and do not have details about the March for Life or any younger grades’ activities. Please check out the Winter Formal Ball thread on the MODG proboards and the MODG Moms Facebook group. Start planning on placing faces with names!
Transportation - Most MODG families stay for the March for Life at the Residence Inn Arlington Rosslyn, which is approximately 25 minutes from the Ball venue this year, namely, the Tyson's Corner Marriott Hotel. Students are transported from the Residence Inn to the Tyson's Corner Marriott via chaperones and willing MODG parents. If your child will be traveling to Washington D.C. without the use of a personal car, please know that your child(ren) will be shuttled to and from the hotel to the dance venue. While there's no prearranged transportation arrangements, willing parents transport students in groups of 5-10 and will make sure that no student is left behind. Please ask your child to do his/her part and stay with the group to ensure his/her transportation to the Ball. This is also a requirement stated in the Code of Conduct that requires his/her signature.
May our good and most gracious Lord continue to enrich and bless your family. We're looking forward to meeting each of you.
~Andrew and Marika
Cost - The Winter Ball fee is stretched to include a rented ballroom, decorations, rented lights and dance floor, sound system and microphone, a three course dinner and deejay (with pre-approved, appropriate songs). The cost of the dance, with all the amenities listed above is $70/person. Because the room has a maximum capacity, paid reservations will be accepted on a first come first served basis. If the room has filled to its capacity, you'll be placed on a waiting list and, should no occupancy open, you'll be refunded your money full. For those already on the guest list, please be aware that, regretfully, all reimbursements will not be in full, but rather, subtracted from any"non-refundable down payments" needed before the night of the Ball itself, balloons and deejay, for example. This means that I will add all down payments, subtract the total down payments by number of attendees and reimburse each family the difference. If COVID mandates a cancellation of the March for Life or if there is another unforeseen COVID issue, you have a choice of reimbursement. You may choose to either 1) be reimbursed via PayPal 2) Donate your registration to our local chapter of A Woman's Concern where I will very easily write one check and drop it off. Reimbursements due to cancellation of the event will be available for 30 days or until February 28th. If you choose reimbursement via PayPal, please be patient as 115 personal reimbursements will take some time! Thank you! Please make registration checks payable to Marika Ellis. Deposits are made every couple of weeks. Please reference your cancelled check as confirmation of your reservation.
Music - The song selections will be requested by the attendees (YOU!) along with your chaperoning parents and, therefore, will consist of ALL genres. Time restricts playing all requests and each song will be approved again this year. Because there will be hundreds of songs requested and very limited time, please remember to keep your requests to one song/person Please make your song request when registering. Thank you!
Reservation Deadline - The deadline for permission and reservation forms is January 15th while non-refundable payment is January 4th. Regretfully, if we don't have these forms, you'll be unable to stay at the dance. Please remember to be prompt in your deadlines. Please reference your cancelled check as confirmation of your reservation.
Chaperones - We need you! Please see COVID alterations on the home page for allowable number of chaperones. Sunday Mass attire recommended. Once the dance begins, we ask that you do not leave the ballroom. We, your fellow chaperones and the students need you present. Thank you!
Keepsake - We'll be ordering t-shirts again this year as a keepsake for whomever would like one. Because COVID restricts the number of attendees, we won't be granted bulk pricing of 125 shirts or more. However, you'll still have the opportunity to purchase one! If you'd like to order a t-shirt, please add $15.00/shirt to your payment indicating size of S, M, L or XL on the registration form. The design and color are not yet definite. You're welcome to purchase as many t-shirts as you wish for family and friends. Remember to add these on your reservation form. These will be handed out at the end of the dance as you leave the ballroom. I'm sorry that all left behind or lost keepsakes after the dance are no longer our responsibility. Thank you for understanding!
Safety - Most importantly, parents, we ask that when you drop off your child(ren) stay if you wish for photos then depart promptly. Because this is a new hotel for us this year, it’s imperative that chaperones quickly learn one another so to recognize any adults who shouldn’t be there. If your child needs an adult with him/her, please sign up to chaperone. A hearty THANK YOU for abiding by this ever-so-important precaution! Parents are most welcome to come 15 minutes early for pick-up, 10:45, for photos and enjoy their children as the dance is winding down. This is the best option we can think of to ensure the safest atmosphere for our children and ourselves. NO ONE IS TO LEAVE THE BALLROOM ONCE THE DANCE BEGINS without written permission from your parent.
Hotel Accommodations - Heather Thompson has secured a hotel block for our group. Thank you, Heather! For details, please see Chris Sebastian's email with attachments or seek membership on the Facebook group, "MODG unofficial March Gathering," and/or Facebook message her (Heather Beth Thompson) that you are actively homeschooling your child(ren) and are registered with Mother Of Divine Grace School. She can also be reached at [email protected]. Kindly note: Andrew and I are delighted to head and organize the Ball and do not have details about the March for Life or any younger grades’ activities. Please check out the Winter Formal Ball thread on the MODG proboards and the MODG Moms Facebook group. Start planning on placing faces with names!
Transportation - Most MODG families stay for the March for Life at the Residence Inn Arlington Rosslyn, which is approximately 25 minutes from the Ball venue this year, namely, the Tyson's Corner Marriott Hotel. Students are transported from the Residence Inn to the Tyson's Corner Marriott via chaperones and willing MODG parents. If your child will be traveling to Washington D.C. without the use of a personal car, please know that your child(ren) will be shuttled to and from the hotel to the dance venue. While there's no prearranged transportation arrangements, willing parents transport students in groups of 5-10 and will make sure that no student is left behind. Please ask your child to do his/her part and stay with the group to ensure his/her transportation to the Ball. This is also a requirement stated in the Code of Conduct that requires his/her signature.
May our good and most gracious Lord continue to enrich and bless your family. We're looking forward to meeting each of you.
~Andrew and Marika