DANCE STUDIO/DURING CLASS

Parent Viewing:

Our dance classes are closed and we ask parent/guardian siblings any other visitors to wait in our waiting room if your a preschool parent.

Primary & High School parent/guardian you are welcome to go for a walk, grab a coffee, go to the supermarket and return to studio at class finish time.

Selected lessons throughout the year teachers will invite parents into the studio to watch a duration of class to showcase their growth and what students have been learning during class throughout the term. We notify families via email when we are planning a showcase week. This optimises our students learning environment, without feeling overwhelmed and minimises distractions.

Our parent assisted classes such as Teeny Tiny Groovers or Toddlers one parent or guardian is permitted in studio during the dance class.
We understand if parents have to bring their baby or younger children to watch during the dance class however it is important they do not become a distraction and take away from our students dance experience. Siblings must stay seated and not dance or distract our toddlers on the dance floor during their class. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

RECEPTION & WAITING ROOM POLICY

We kindly ask parents to supervise their child whilst waiting in the waiting room until child enters studio for their dance class. This applies to our younger dancers. Students & families please do not enter a class while it is in progress.
Please wait quietly in the waiting room until teacher collects students for their class. Students will not be permitted to leave the facility without a parent or guardian. Parents please pick students up from waiting room on time.

It is important students arrive to class on time, arriving 5-10 mins earlier is best, to use the bathroom and have dance shoes on your feet ready to start.
For safety reasons, in certain classes if you are late and have missed warm up, you may be asked to watch class and not participate.

For safety reasons we kindly ask dancers and families to refrain from dancing, or performing tricks such as cartwheels, handstands etc in our waiting room and foyer areas.
Please keep all entrances and exits clear for traffic flow.

Please do not climb or play on our chairs or other furniture.
Please dispose of any gum, food or drinks other than water before entering the dance studio.
Please dispose any rubbish in the bins provided.
Please respect our studio facility and property, any damage to property in or around our dance venue families will be held liable for damages.

DANCE STUDIO POLICY

No Food, gum or drinks other than water to be taken into our dance studio areas.
Food and/or drink must only be consumed in the allocated waiting areas or break rooms. Please do not use any equipment or props unless instructed by the teachers.
We kindly remind our students not to run in our dance studio
For student safety, no touching or leaning on dance mirrors.
If a student is required to bring a mobile phone it must be switched to silent and not to be used during class and become a distraction.

DANCE STUDIO & CONCERT PHOTOGRAPHY/FILMING POLICY

For child safety reasons Students/Parents are not permitted to video or photograph classes, students or staff at anytime, or whilst in our dance studio unless given permission by the staff or individuals involved.

I give permission for Geelong School of Dance to publish photos to their social media or website of studio class photos, concert photos or other performances. I understand and give permission for my child to be involved in the Mid Year Showcase and End of Year Concert and understand it is professionally videoed and photographed.

I agree and understand I must contacting Geelong School of Dance by email in writing if I do not wish for photos of my child to be uploaded to social media or similar.

BEHAVIOUR / CONDUCT POLICY

Geelong School of Dance does not tolerate swearing, indecent or disrespectful language, defamatory comments, or indecent or disrespectful conduct from students, parents/guardians,family members, or visitors. Any individual who demonstrates any of the above will be asked to withdraw from Geelong School of Dance immediately. This behaviour includes at the Premises or outside of the Premises, social media or on the internet. Negative communications between parents and/or students will not be tolerated by Geelong School of Dance. Where negative communications take place, the parents and students involved will be asked to withdraw from Geelong School of Dance immediately. This includes at the Premises or outside of the Premises, social media, or on the internet. Any person who does not comply with Geelong School of Dance Terms and Conditions will forfeit their position at Geelong school of Dance and will not be entitled to refund.

STUDENT BEHAVIOUR POLICY

Our staff and faculty are trained to use constructive techniques of discipline to maintain class control and handle individual misbehaviour.

Children who exhibit unacceptable behaviour or attitudes are told what is wrong and directed to a positive alternative approach or behaviour.
Children who are disruptive will be respectfully asked to stop the behaviour.
If the behaviour is repeated, they will be reminded of it and told how it affects others.
If the disruption continues, the children involved will be asked to sit down for a short period of time (usually three to five minutes) before re-joining the class.

If a child’s misbehaviour continues to disrupt the class, the parent or guardian will be called

to pick up the child.
In certain circumstances, when it is in the best interest of one or more students, teachers or GSOD, it may be necessary for GSOD to terminate a student’s enrolment. All reasonable efforts will be made to correct a problematic situation before terminating enrolment.

BULLYING POLICY

We have a strict no bullying policy. The following will not be tolerated from students or parents, guardian, or families, in person, via email, via text messaging or via the internet; Verbal abuse or shouting, Physical Abuse, Excluding or isolating a person, Psychological harassment, Humiliating a person through sarcasm, criticism or insults, Ignoring or belittling a person’s contribution or opinion.

CODE OF CONDUCT FOR DANCE STUDENTS
I will:
Arrive on time to each class to avoid disrupting my teachers and other students, and begin to warm up before the start time of my class;
Wear full uniform and dance shoes to each class in accordance with the uniform requirements, including wearing my hair in the appropriate style;
Conduct myself with behaviour that is beyond reproach at Community and Corporate events; Be honest in my attitude and preparation to group word, by working equally hard for myself and my peers;
Be positive and honest with my Teachers concerning illness, injury, and my ability to participate in each class;
Respect the Dance Studio and performance environments, putting all rubbish into bins and keeping them neat and clean for the safety of myself and others;
Respect and care for all costumes, props and equipment;
Honour and commitment that I make to the Dance School and my peers, once I make that commitment, by attending rehearsals and performance above all other social events;
Attend the week of rehearsals before our performances & end of year concert, knowing that if I am absent from these rehearsals then I will compromise my opportunity to perform with my peers;

I will not:

Bully, gossip about, or isolate other students
Use my mobile phone in class, in the foyer during my allocated class time, or in any change room environment;
Upload and GSOD dances or choreography onto Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or other similar sites as this could breach copyright and our Child Safety Policy;
Leave the Dance Studio premises without a parent/guardian or parental permission;

HEALTH & SAFETY POLICY

Geelong School of Dance have set up and will maintain safe dance environments for their students. Appropriate emergency procedures exist and staff understand the procedures relevant to their location. Geelong School of Dance staff have the responsibility and authority to ensure that health and safety objectives are achieved. They will identify and eliminate unsafe acts, procedures, conditions, equipment, and hazards of all kinds. Behaviour from students, parents or visitors that may cause an unsafe environment, will not be tolerated. It is the responsibility of the student or parent/guardian to inform Geelong School of Dance of any prior or current illnesses or injuries prior to enrolment or prior to class. In the event of an injury, Geelong School of Dance will administer First Aid treatment by a qualified first aider. All Geelong School of Dance Teachers hold their current First Aid & CPR certifications . If medical services are necessary and an ambulance required, the student/parent will incur the costs. Physical contact may be required. Geelong School of Dance MUST be notified of any allergies that a student may have. Any student who has been diagnosed by a Medical Practitioner as being at risk of anaphylaxis should bring an epipen to class and leave it at reception, labelled with their name. This epipen will be administered by a first aider if required, under the instruction of 000 staff if an emergency arises.

HOT WEATHER POLICY

Hot weather days, our program will be adjusted for the comfort of our students and teachers. Our cooling systems and fans will be running. We will run a less intense class, extra drink breaks, less cardio based routines and more stretching, technique and dance related exercises that are less strenuous. Where possible students who dance in studio 2 will be moved into the air- conditioned studio 1 for their class. In extreme heat conditions, a class may be cancelled. Parent/Guardian will be notified via email and a make up lesson or credit will be offered.

PAYMENT POLICY

Term Invoices are paid in full prior to a new term commencing. A late fee of $15 will apply once fees are more than 7 days overdue.
Enrolment will be placed on hold where fees are more than 14 days overdue.
Any missed dance lessons are still paid for the following lesson attended this applies to term invoices and direct debit payments.

We do not issue refunds on term payments or missed classes.
Direct debits accounts are a minimum 10 week term “sign up”.
Weekly payments will not be accepted by cash, eftpos or bank transfer. Weekly payments must be via our direct debit system Debitsuccess.

COSTUME HIRE POLICY

Students enrolled in multiple categories will be required to pay the costume fee per dance category/per costume.
Costume hire fee is invoiced to families prior to our Mid Year Showcase & our End of Year Concert.

We do not issue refunds once costume fee is paid.
This is a hire fee only and students do not keep costumes.
If your child decides to not perform at showcase or concert, you will not be invoiced/charged costume hire.
Hire price includes 1 dance costume custom and supplied to your child.

UNIFORM POLICY

The uniform set out by Geelong School of Dance is compulsory for all students.
The set uniform must be worn to all classes, including dance shoes required and hair pulled back neatly off the face.

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Parents/guardians are responsible for communicating absences with the Geelong School of Dance office. The office must be notified in advance if a student is going to be absent from class by sending us an email or text message. Students participating in concert must attend the extra rehearsals leading up to the performance.

COMMUNICATION POLICY

Where the student is under 18 years of age, they must have a parent/guardian manage their enrolment. Important information, invoices and newsletters will be emailed to the parent, at the provided email address.It is the responsibility of the primary parent/guardian contact to read newsletters and emails that are sent from Geelong School of Dance to keep informed. Please do not contact staff or teachers via their personal social media platforms. All communication must be forwarded to Director Emily Bradley via the Geelong School of Dance email or phone.

DROP OFF/PICK UP

Preschool dancers, we recommend a parent or guardian to wait in our waiting room or car during their dance class to assist your child with toilet breaks during class if needed. Primary & High School families: Our reception area is not a big space, reception/waiting area is closed for Primary & High School families to wait for their child to finish class. We kindly ask you wait in your car or welcome to leave and return at pick up. Please leave our reception clear for students to wait for their classes to begin, or uniform purchases. if you are not familiar with the area, our friendly team are happy to recommend local cafes, shops, walking track to fill in the time.

CAR PARK POLICY

The car park is not a safe place to run or play. No children are to be playing in the car park or left unattended at any time.
Please park in our GSOD allocated parks or ample street parking available. GSOD families can park in the "Pet Food shop" parks only outside of their shop hours, after 5.30pm weekdays, Saturday’s after 1pm

Our car park speed limit is a maximum of 5km.
It is the responsibility of the parent/carer to walk the children safely up the driveway/car park to our dance studio entrance.

ENROLMENT POLICY

I/We have read and understood the Terms and Conditions and GSOD Code of Conduct. I/we understand by enrolling at GSOD it requires the acceptance of: Terms and conditions & Code of Conduct. We also agree and are committed to the classes chosen and commit to fee payment by due date and uniform requirements. I give permission for Geelong School of Dance to publish photos to their social media or website of studio class photos, concert photos or other performances. I understand and give permission for my child to be involved in the Mid Year Showcase and End of Year Concert and understand it is professionally videoed and photographed. I understand for child safety purposes parents or guardians are not permitted to video or photograph in our studio premise. I understand and agree for copyright and child safety purposes my child or I/we will not upload any GSOD choreography to social media or similar.