PARENT STUDENT HANDBOOK
2024/25 Parent and Student Guidelines
This handbook is for you to refer to for any questions concerning policies, tuition, schedule and so forth.
Registration
-A non-refundable $25.00 membership fee per family per year
-A $10.00 late fee will be charged on all late tuition.
-A $25.00 fee will be assessed for Returned Checks and the entire tuition must be paid in cash or money order.
-Class minimums are set to (3) students in each class. If this minimum is not met the class will either be combined with another one or it will be cancelled.
Required at Registration
-Fully signed and filled out Registration Form
-Signed Media Release Form
-Signed Medical Release and Insurance Form
-Payment for registration and tuition.
all the above is in the parent portal, please make sure you have everything signed.
Studio Policies
-We are a smoke free environment. Please consider food allergies when packing meals. (avoid nuts)
-All drinks should have a lid, twist or snap cap, no cans or open containers.
-The studio is not responsible for any personal property. Clearly mark all personal items.
-Students are expected to be on time for classes and early dismissal needs to be approved first. If a student misses the first 15 of class he/she may be asked to sit and observe. Class time is drop off time. We need the space between classes to clear out the parking lot. Please don't drop kids off early and be on time to pick them up.
-Excessive absences in theatre are grounds for replacement (your child may be removed from their part)
-NEW STATING JAN 2024: students may not be dropped off before class start time. There will be a $1 per minute fee added per month for students remaining more than 4 minutes after class has ended.
-parents need to send a letter to the school giving student permission to be picked up by another person or guardian.
-Eating is not permitted in classrooms or dressing room. Students cannot eat while in costume or waking around costumes, props sets or on stage/backstage unless approved by the director. Only clear water is permitted in classrooms and backstage and dressing room.
-no food or drinks are permitted inside the music studio or sound booth
-Building Block reserves the right to limit any artist who is not fully adhering to all studio policies in regards to behavior, language, attire and disrespect toward others. Parents are to be cautious of talk in the waiting rooms and on premises and genuinely respect others and their differences.
-leave cellphones in cubbies or bag, they should not be out during class, lesson, or rehearsal. *added*parents please know that if texting your child during class time, they won’t see it or reply until break time. Please respect the learning environment.
-Students must have hair pulled back for all acting and performance classes.
ZOOM
cameras must be on at all times when taking a zoom class.
Students need to let the teacher know when they need to leave the view of the camera.
If they are signing off early, a parent must email [email protected] first
3 warnings about not following zoom rules will result in loss of zoom class privilege.
-Weather safety precautions. Severe weather happens in Tennessee. When it does we will close for the safety for the children and will notify you by our GoMotion App.
**If children are at the studio when it happens we will be in the basement for safety until the weather clears. You will receive a text notifying you that conditions are clear and we are all fine.
** If severe weather happens during pick up or drop off time please use your best judgement in deciding to wait or come early.
**You can text us at 931-442-5007 to communicate immediately.
*******Please make sure your texting phone number and provider is updated and current so we can contact you. ******
**We will also post on our seAPP that classes have resumed. We support your decisions as to whether it is safe to attend classes.
-Students are encouraged to check the SEapp to see what they missed or get with a student. We do not offer make up lessons, we will post a video on the goApp if you cannot attend your lesson in person or on zoom.
-it is required that students in performing arts classes check the app for notes before each rehearsal. If a director finds they are not reading notes, they can be dismissed from their part and replaced.
-ALL ABSENSES must go through the office as well as make up lessons. Please DO NOT contact the teacher regarding absences, make up lessons. Refunds are not issued for classes missed. If there is room, your child may attend another day of tutorial in the even they miss their day, but only if there is enough room available.
-Withdrawal from a student of a class must be done 30 days ahead of time in writing. No refund will be given if the cancellation is done after the 5th of the month. A Month tuition cancellation fee is assessed per student for withdraws not having a written 30 day notice.
School and Classical Arts
The two go hand in hand. Please discuss with your child’s teacher or Mrs. Johnson if your artist is not living up to standards at home or at school and a break from arts may be necessary. If the two work together you will see a pattern of discipline in how the artist thinks, acts and uses their time.
The SEapp is where all info is posted. You can view this you’re your desktop at http://gomotionapp.com/tnbbsa In the NEWs section, find your class name and you’ll see all the updates and info on your class/show
Our Facility
We are a School for the Arts, but also a Gallery for Arts. Some of the Art displayed is very expensive and once you’ve worked on a piece for months, you’ll understand why. Please no running, or horseplay at school. We don’t have a complete sound proof studio as of yet, please keep conversations at a low volume. We encourage you to wait for your child in the gallery area, get to know other parents as well as play with the toys and art supplies made available to you.
Sick Policy
Colds, flu and other contagious diseases are a serious issue in a school environment because they can spread so rapidly. Parents are asked to keep children home when they show symptoms of illness. Also, take into consideration if you have other children at home with illness, it may be in the best interest of our students that your whole family stay home until the illness passes.. If your child exhibits any active symptoms of illness; Sneezing, Coughing, thick mucus draining, sore throat, or any other symptom we deem to be interrupting to their work and/or the teachers, he/she will not be admitted to the school, both for the child’s own comfort and to minimize the spread of illness to other children in the school. In the event of an outbreak of an infectious disease, such as measles, The Building Block School for the Arts will follow the guidelines set forth for schools by the Tennessee Department of Health.
The following tips are to help you decide if your child should be kept home from school:
· How does your child feel? Variations from normal behavior are the best indicators of illness. You know your child best; trust your instincts. We understand and sympathize with the inconveniences, but please trust your instincts.
· Fever. If your child has a fever at night, he/she must not attend school the next morning. Temperatures are lower in the morning and a fever may occur again in the afternoon. You are required to wait 24 hours after the fever breaks before sending your child back to school.
· Upset stomach. If your child vomits during the night, do not send him/her to school the next day. You are required to wait 24 hours after a child vomits before sending your child back to school.
· Diarrhea. Loose and frequent stools have many causes. Do not send a child to school until bowel movements are normal.
· Cold. Be sure a child knows how to handle tissues for coughing, sneezing and nose blowing, and practice good hand washing techniques. Your child may go to school as long as he or she does not have a fever or discomfort. If symptoms are severe (e.g., persistent cough or severe runny nose with thick mucous that will consistently interrupt their work or rest time), please keep your child at home so he/she may rest and recover.
· Earache. Never ignore an earache. Contact your physician and keep your child at home.
· Strep Throat. A strep infection requires a doctor’s visit and medication. Strep can lead to a more serious illness if not properly treated. The child must be on medication at least 24 hours before returning to school. Sore throat with headache is a big indicator; fever does not always come with strep throat.
· Contagious Condition. Head lice (see below), scabies, impetigo, chicken pox, strep throat, measles, rubella, mumps, whooping cough, meningitis and some forms of conjunctivitis (pink eye) are contagious and must be properly treated and no longer contagious before your child may attend school. Please notify the school if your child has a contagious condition so that other parents can be alerted.
*If your child has been out of school due to illness, we ask that you consider whether he or she is well enough to be outdoors before you send him or her back to school. The outdoors is part of our Homeschool Arts program and we do not have the staff to supervise students indoors and outdoors simultaneously. We need advance notice to keep your child inside while others are outside.
Illness or Injury at School
If a child becomes ill at school, he or she will be taken to the office area. A parent/guardian will be contacted and will be expected to pick up the child as soon as possible. If a child is injured at school, first aid will be administered if the injury is minor. An accident report will be filed for injuries which require medical attention, including first aid. Parents will be asked to sign the accident report when they pick up their child and will be notified immediately if there are any questions concerning the severity of the injury. The student’s emergency contacts and physicians will be called if the parents are unavailable. Paramedics will be called when necessary.
This goes for theatre as well. We artists types are very touchy feely, please remind your young artists that holding hands, touching others faces, hands, bodies is not a good idea when trying to stay healthy. We know we all feel the love for one another; Let’s keep it to a wink and a smile.
Uniforms - Students will have a place to change and store their belongings.
Performing arts
Boys will need to wear a comfortable shirt, Sweats or movable pants (no jeans) and tennis shoes or Jazz shoes. Hair always combed nicely away from the face.
Girls will need to be in a comfortable modest shirt, Sweats, leggings, or stretchy pants – not jeans, and jazz shoes or tennis shoes. Hair must be pulled up and secured away from face.
Matinee mini's Performing Arts Tutorial Classes will need to be dressed for dance classes. Girls will need leotard and tights with jazz or tennis shoes. Hair should be pulled up and secured away from face. Boys will need comfortable shirt, sweats, or movable pants (no jeans) and jazz or tennis shoes. Hair must be combed nicely away from the face.
Visual Arts and Woodworking
Please know that you will get pant and smudges on your clothes. A cover up shirt or apron is suggested. Wear clothes that fit well and not loose on your body or arms. Closed toe shoes, and hair pulled back completely.
Classroom and Tutorial
For theory, songwriting, creative writing, journaling, and tutorial (Tuesday and/or Thursday) please just wear comfortable modest clothes. Avoid clothes with what parents of 5 year olds would consider vulgar print. Avoid short shorts. Avoid skirts/dresses, we play way too much for that. Avoid crop tops that show more than belly button (again, we play way too much for clothes that reveal too much too easily)
Tuition
Tuition is calculated based on a 4 week per month system from August thru May. We do not prorate for 3 weeks or charge more for 5 weeks of classes.
Tuition is billed on the 25th of the month and late on the 2nd of the folllowing month.
$15.00 fee late fee is applied to any account with a tuition balance on the 2nd. You will not receive a monthly invoice from us, so please note the due date of payments on your calendar. Tuition is due regardless of absences. You are paying for a reserved spot in a class. (Please review Studio policy). Missed classes are not refundable.
HOW TO PAY TUITION?
1 Pay by Check, made out to Building Block Arts. Please put cash or check in a sealed envelope with student’s name on the front and drop it in the black box outside the Kitchen door. For checks, payment must be written out for 5 months in individual checks, post dated and handed to an administrator at the beginning of the semester with your child’s name on the envelope.
2 Automatic Payment. We are happy to store your credit card information in our secured system. The first of each month your monthly tuition will be charged. You must do this on line the first time, through our website www.buildingblockarts.com
MONTHLY TUITION
60 minute packages are 165. 00 per month/ $1980 per year
Group Lessons are $62.00 a month/$620 per year
30 minute Private Lessons are $92 a month/ $1000 per year if paid in full
Our classes are made affordable by the TN Arts commission, United Way and many other corporations and donors. We hope that you will visit our website to see all the wonderful people who make arts affordable to all students in Maury County TN. www.buildingblockarts.com
Homeschool Arts (HSA) is $89 per child per day. Three day High School "S.A.L.T.eens" ($259 per month for 10 month committment)
We are a continuous enrollement studio. You only need to give us 30 days written notice when you need to drop a class. email [email protected] to withdraw
WAITING AREA:
We don’t have one currently. All spaces are being used for classrooms etc. Also, as our mission states; "We ignite your spark through the arts by providing safe and creative space for experiencing the arts through community, creativity, and education". To do this, we are upholding our policy that no adults will be permitted inside the building without proper background check and training by our staff. We are working on a plan for expansion where a waiting room with live feed video is provided. Until then, we thank you for helping us keep our space safe for all students and teaching artists.
You are welcome to leave the facility while your child is in class, but please be back by the end of class to pick up. Parents that do not pick up within 5 minutes of the end of their child’s class, will be charged $1.00 per minute for the teacher’s time for waiting with the child. If you have additional children waiting with you, they must be with you at all times. We ask that all parents and siblings wait outside.
Please keep talk inside the building to positive and encouraging talk. Please. Any complaints you may have about a child or another parent, policy, or decision, need to be made to administrators, or board members and can be done so by making an appointment.
Showcase
We will have a showcase every 7-9 weeks. Your child does not have to participate each time, but is welcome and encouraged to. Teaching the Art is what we do, but becoming a performer is what experience does.
Summer Camps start June 1st. Stay tuned!
**all dates subject to change, please read emails to stay up to date. If you are not getting emails, please let us know asap. **Events also will be added for Artw
ZOOM CODE for Classes 475 379 7104
Zoom code for lessons 303 676 6167
password is me4theatre for both
