TIMING

Grade 6     5:00 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.
Grade 7     6:15 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Grade 8     7:30 p.m. to 9:15 p.m.
  
  

Session Format

General Sessions will be Grade specific and consist of 1 hour dinner and etiquette and 45 minutes of dancing. Each dinner will cover one of a variety of dining styles and an etiquette lesson.   

Etiquette Night is a formal dinner that all the students attend together.  Throughout the dinner, the key points of Continental Dining and Contemporary Social Etiquette will be reviewed in an engaging and informative manner.  

CNY Buffet is another new addition to the schedule and will consist of a traditional Chinese New Year Banquet.  During the evening, the food and traditions of the holiday will be discussed and enjoyed. All followed by a dance lesson.

Founder’s Formal is a formal dinner where all students attend.  It is an evening that celebrates their successful Cotillion season and allows for the 8th graders to say their final goodbyes and for the 6th and 7th graders to say their goodbyes until they meet again next season.      

VENUE

​All events will be held at The American Club, 28 Tai Tam Road, Tai Tam, HK.

ATTENDANCES AND ABSENCES

Cotillion students are expected to attend all sessions. The students dance and dine as partners and full participation is necessary for a rewarding evening for all.  Etiquette Night, CNY Banquet and the Founders Formal are mandatory.
Early dismissal or late arrival due to conflicting regular activities is not allowed. Students should be prepared to attend full sessions on a regular basis. If this is not possible, the participant could be asked to withdraw from the program. 
A student with more than two absences on regular evenings may be asked to leave the program and/or lose priority for the next year.  Missing Etiquette Night, CNY Banquet or the Founders Formal could also result in lost priority or dismissal from the program. 

In the event of an absence, please use the link , COTILLION ATTENDANCE - REGRETS ONLY, on the Schedule page. and give the reason for the absence.  
​
Cotillion participants are expected to remain with their class for the entire duration of their respective session unless dismissed by a Class Patron with permission from the student’s parent or guardian. Once the class is dismissed, Cotillion participants are the responsibility of parents or a guardian, whether the participant remains at the American Club or otherwise.

ETIQUETTE                                               

Cotillion members are expected to conduct themselves in a polite and respectful manner at all times while at Cotillion. Roughhousing, inappropriate comments or language or acting disrespectfully towards other members, instructors, Club staff or Patrons will not be tolerated.
                                                     
Students must comply with the American Club rules and guidelines at all times. Should a student’s Club privileges be suspended for any reason, that student may not participate in any Cotillion event that may occur during the suspension.  Any events missed will be counted as absences.     
The consequences for poor behavior will be handled as follows:
                                                     
First incident: The behavior will be discussed with the student; parents may be contacted.
Second incident: The behavior will be discussed with the student and the parents; student may be asked to write an apology letter to the Class Patrons.
Third incident: The student may be asked to withdraw from the program.

RESPONDING TO A FORMAL INVITATION

Traditionally, Cotillion participants are expected to respond properly to formal invitations with a handwritten response. Due to modern times, an email from the participants is acceptable.  

Parent responses are not allowed. *Please be mindful of this request. Duplications in responses are unnecessary. 

Etiquette dictates that responses should be sent within 24 hours of receiving an invitation. 

There are four formal invitations sent to the members during the season: the initial invitation to join The Hong Kong Cotillion program, Etiquette Night, CNY Banquet and the Founders Formal. If a blank RSVP card is included with the invitation, please use that for your response. You may also use your own stationary.
                                               
Below are examples of acceptable replies to formal invitations. Any comparable wording is acceptable.
                                            
Dear Mrs. ____________
                                            
Miss/Master ___________________is pleased to accept the invitation of the Patrons to join the 2019-2020 Hong Kong Cotillion program.
                                        
Sincerely, (Student’s signature)
                                            
Or for Etiquette Night, CNY Banquet  or The Founders Formal (adjust accordingly to the name and date of the event you are invited to):
                                            
Dear Mrs. ___________
                                                       
Miss/Master ____________________accepts with pleasure the kind invitation of the Patrons of The Hong Kong Cotillion to attend Etiquette Night/CNY Banquet/Founders Formal on _______________.
                                            
Sincerely, (Student’s signature)

Refund and Withdrawal Policy
 
Should a student need to withdraw from the program for any reason, notification must be received at least 7 days prior to the next Cotillion evening in order to be eligible for a refund.  Pro-rated fees will be returned minus an administrative fee of HK$500.
  
Written notification to [email protected] is required. 
 
Should you withdraw from the program after December 31, 2023,  no refund will be given.

​