Guelph moving to ORANGE (restrict) level – November 16th, 2020

As of Monday November 16th, 2020 Guelph is being moved to ORANGE ( restrict) level as outlined in the COVID- 19  Response Framework. Dance schools follow the regulations for businesses and not for recreation centres and gyms- therefore are no immediate changes to be made to the existing protocols that GYD has implemented. Please continue to screen your dancer each day before coming into class and keep them home if they are not well. This is a simple screening tool to use for both school and dance. https://covid-19.ontario.ca/school-screening/

We will continue to monitor and implement the local, provincial and federal recommendations as they’re announced and make changes as necessary. We will take each week, or day to day, into consideration as it approaches and keep you updated on what’s happening. We will be updating through Facebook and email.

We take pride in our facility and how it operates and would like to highlight the protocols we have in place at GYD to help our dance families stay healthy and safe.

Prevention Steps​:

• ENTERING​ AND EXITING THE BUILDING: ​All dancers will enter the building from the OLD QUEBEC STREET entrance. After classes all dancers will exit the building through the back of the building at 21 CHAPEL LANE.

To make that a safe entrance for everyone to use. Here’s how this will work…

• 1. WAITING ROOM IS CLOSED​: we are asking all parents/guardians to drop off your child and wait outside the building for your dancer to enter or exit the building.  We will have volunteers ready to help students when needed (younger children).
  2. Once your dancer is dropped off, they will be ushered immediately into the studio and provided with hand sanitizer.  Everyone must wash their hands prior to and before exiting the studio. You may bring your own sanitizer if you wish. Please note that as the waiting room is closed, it is best to arrive only 5 minutes prior to class start time as dancers will be asked to wait in a line to the studio 6 feet apart.
  3. Everyone entering the building must wear a mask in all common areas and all studios where 6 feet distancing cannot be maintain.
  4. Please be in your dancewear when you arrive and bring as few items to class as possible. Items will be placed just outside the studio or in the corner of the studio so we can avoid going into the lobby.
  5. Pick-up​ – since the waiting room is closed and we cannot congregate in there, we ask that you all make a single file line up to the door where your child will be. Each child will be dismissed individually as each parent comes to the door (children 9 and under only). The line may be long on certain days so please be patient, this is all for the health and safety of your children. As long as everyone is there on time this will move very quickly. All students will be downstairs in their designated spots awaiting your arrival.

• Sanitizer: We have hand sanitizer in each room, hallway, and front desk. Students will be asked to use it frequently. If you’d prefer your own students are permitted to bring it in their dance bag. Our sanitizer does contain at least 60% alcohol.

• Water fountain – our water fountain is ​CLOSED​. Please make sure your child brings their own non-spillable container that has their name on it.
• No close contact: we will be adjusting many things in our classroom to avoid contact. Please bring in your own yoga mat for conditioning classes. Students will not be permitted to hold hands, high five, or touch each other in any way. We will also ensure that they are not in close proximity to each other. If you can please remind them to keep to themselves, they all love to hug each other 🙂
• Surface Cleaning: Every hour we will be wiping down frequently touched surfaces and equipment. Every evening everything is wiped down.
• Deep Cleaning: the studio will be professionally deep cleaned twice per week.
• Hepa filters running in Studios during class
• Sneezes and Coughs: We are encouraging dancers to cough and sneeze into their shirt or arms, not in their hands. If your child has either of these symptoms we are asking them to stay home.
• Staff: Only healthy staff members (without symptoms) will be in the studio. Our teaching staff is ready to fill in for each other so each child may get to know more teachers than normal this year.
• Class sizes: class sizes will be restricted to the number allowed by Public Health.

How you can help​:

• Do not bring your child to class if they are coughing, sneezing, have a fever, stomach ache, body aches, sore throat, chest congestion, diarrhea, vomiting, or any other illness.
• Do not bring your child to class if a family member is ill with any of the above symptoms
• Don’t bring toys from home.
• Don’t break any formal quarantine/government restrictions.
• Encourage your child to cough and sneeze into their arm not in their hand and to not touch other children or their teacher.
• Alert us if your child does have COVID-19 and has been to the studio within the last 14 days so we can contact their peers.

Each family is encouraged to make their own decision about coming to the studio, please do what you feel comfortable with and what makes the most sense for you and your family. Your health and safety are most important to us!!

We are so looking forward to healthier times and when we can hug all of your little ones again, they are such a bright spot in our day! The well-being of our students and families is a top priority! Please know that we are here to address any concerns or issues and are happy to hear from you on additional ways we can keep our community healthy!

Sincerely,

Catrina and Janet

Parent Information Online meeting Thursday August 27th!

In case you missed the Information meeting, no worries it was recorded! This is the earlier meeting for those with dancers 1-8 years and has all the information pertinent to parents with young children as well as everything that was discussed in the later meeting for dancers of all ages (including our adult dancers). We discuss the start of class occurring outdoors and what that will look like, go over our Covid-19 Policies and Procedures and go over using our Parent Portal to ensure you are getting the most use out of this new system. I hope this helps!

FAQ’s

Do you offer online classes?  

We have been working hard to ensure that everyone can continue to dance throughout these difficult times.  We have many new online classes for ages 4 years to adult.  Some of the classes will be streamed so that students can dance with those in the studio, others will only be offered online.  While we acknowledge online classes cannot replace being in the studio- they do provide the opportunity to ensure you are staying connected to your body, to other students in the class and continuing to build on your skills and perhaps even trying new classes for the first time! Online classes are offered at a reduced rate from In Studio classes. Go to our ONLINE class offerings on our website to find out more.

When do In Studio classes start?

In Studio classes begin the week of September 14^th!  We cannot wait!

Do you offer outdoor classes?

All our In studio classes will be offered outdoors from September 14-October 10^th.  Thank you to our backyard hosts! If inclement weather the classes will be moved into the studio.  We will send out locations soon! They will be in the St. George’s Park and Exhibition Park areas.  We will then move into the studio beginning the week of October 11^th. 

When do your online classes start?  

Online classes will begin October 11^th. This is because many of online classes will be streamed with our in studio classes and therefore we need to wait until the classes move indoors.

What are you doing to ensure everyone’s safety during the pandemic?

Guelph Youth Dance has been working hard to ensure the safety of everyone returning back to dance.  We have Policies and Procedures which can be found on our homepage of our website.  We encourage everyone to read these carefully. We will offer an Online Parent meeting around our new policies at the end of August.  We will announce this meeting date soon.

Can I enrol for just the Fall to be sure the class is right for me?

Yes! We are continuing to offer classes by the season.  Go to our Parent Portal and be sure to click on the Fall 2020 tab to see the class offerings available per dancer’s birth year.  Please note that many of our classes are full and have a waiting list. Registering by Season will not guarantee a spot for the Winter or Spring season.

I am on a waiting list- what are my chances of getting into the class?

We will make every effort to ensure everyone can dance.  Sometimes it means just juggling the spots available from the Full year to the Fall or vice versa. We will also try to add classes at the same or similar time to ensure everyone has a spot when possible.  

When is tuition due?

Full tuition is due on September 14^th to ensure your spot in the class. Please be sure to either pay by sending an e-transfer to guelphyouthdance@gmail.com or by paying online through the Parent Portal. 

Can I pay in instalments?

Yes! We offer 3 month payment plans for the Fall session and 8 month payment plans for Full Year registrations. Simply take your total owing and divide it into 3 or 8 equal instalments and date it the 1^st of the month from September to April.  All instalments must be provided by postdated cheque by September 14^th.

Do you offer refunds?

Yes.  Your registration fees and company deposits are non-refundable. If you would like to cancel your registration you will be charged a $20 drop in fee per 45-60 minute class for the classes taken to date and will be refunded the balance. 

What will happen if businesses are shut down again?  

We are ready to move classes online so we can all continue to train!  At this point you can decide whether you would like to continue to dance or if you would like a refund (see our refund policy).

What should I wear to dance?

Please visit the For Parents section on our website for a complete list of what to wear to class depending on the class you are enrolled in.

This is my child’s first dance class- what if they want me to stay close by?

Our lobby will be closed this Fall to parents to keep everyone as safe.  This means parents will drop their child off at 42 Quebec Street with one of our Studio Assistants (current graduating dancers who are there to help ease any discomfort!) who will help young dancers find their way to the studio and ensure they feel safe and secure. They will also be close by the whole class time in case anyone needs to go to the bathroom or needs anything at all. Parents will pick up their child at 21 Chapel Lane (entrance off the back of the building).  All dancers will be chaperoned to the back until parents arrive. This is the safest scenario for all and we hope that parents can follow this whenever possible. We do however recognize that there will be times when your child needs you to accompany them to their class or stay closer by.  We will allow a few parents in our lobby and if space available in Studio C (small studio on the second floor) if absolutely required. 

Other questions?

I am sure there are other questions!  Do not hesitate to contact us at guelphyouthdance@gmail.com and we would be happy to help!