I'm planning on having a mandatory parent/student meeting for all those enrolled in pre-pointe and pointe for the first time this year to let them know what to expect/shoes and so forth.

Do any of you do this and what do you talk about?

I plan on talking about where to get shoes and how to try on shoes, how to prep shoes, what to expect in class, exercises that they will need to do, pointe shoe accesories that they will need to get, caring for their shoes. What else. Thanks

Caring for feet.

I would include information about practicing at home and what should and shouldn;t be done, the fact that begginer students will break in new shoes in class and should not attempt to break themm in by any other means without teacher approval (let the parents know you are saving them money and ensuring the safety of the students feet). Also explain your attendance policy for pointe studentsand explain the safety reasoning behind it and the consiquences for frequent absences. I hope this works well for you and i am now considering the same.

Thanks.

i would definitely cover the topic of advancing to pointe shoes, and what is required before this happens, i.e. development of bones, age, strength, bc despite having an extensive convo about this last year with kids, i still had several 9/10 year olds in prepointe(who were doing very well mind you) who were crushed when the didnt get pointe shoes because we didnt feel they had reached the crucial age/development when their bones were properly calcified, and parents were thinking theyre kids werent doing well. But i am not the SO, and was not allowed to have a meeting which i think would have been helpful.
In the end, they understood, but it still ends up being a downer when youre one of several who doesn;t get them. ya know?