As of 3/6/22, we will be mask optional as long as Monongalia County falls in the Low or Medium spread designations according to the CDC. If covid numbers increase, we will revert to mask mandatory and depending on the level of community spread, reserve the right to re-introduce all of the policies listed below on an as needed basis.
“A note from Miss Jenny: I know these times are scary and uncertain. I want you to know that I feel an immense responsibility to keep our studio family safe, including our teachers. None of us know what the future holds, and science is a trial and error process so recommendations will continue to change. I’ve chosen what I currently believe to be the safest possible options for us, and I know that not everyone will be pleased by these changes, but for this fall and possibly this entire academic year, these changes are my very best effort to keep us safe. I have a responsibility to the studio, to our students, to their families, to my faculty, and to Morgantown as a community.
We hope these steps inspire confidence in our processes but are open to questions and suggestions. We know that we cannot possibly have thought of every eventuality and hope that we will continue to have the type of mutually respectful relationship with our dance families that inspires them to feel comfortable reaching out if they are concerned about a particular issue.
To borrow from Brené Brown, it’s not about being right, it’s about getting it right. If you see ways for us to improve at “getting it right,” please send us an email or facebook message.”
General Studio Procedures:
- Masks will be required at all times while inside the building. (This applies to students, teachers, and family members over the age of two.) The mask should cover both the nose and mouth. We know that our youngest dancers will not be perfect mask wearers. We have realistic expectations about pre-school aged dancers, but we do expect these dancers to come wearing masks each class and to try their hardest.
- Dancers are always welcome to attend class virtually. You will see both an in-person and virtual option on our registration page. If you choose in-person, you are encouraged to attend virtually when circumstances prevent you from coming into the studio. — If you register for a virtual class, you will need to stay virtual until social distancing ends or until an in-person spot opens up.
- Parents should check their child’s temperature before coming to the studio. Adult dancers should check their own temperature. We have a thermometer at the desk to verify temperatures if there is any question. We will periodically spot check temperatures upon entry. Please do not come to the studio if you have a fever over 100 degrees. (All classes are also available via zoom and can be attended virtually if you are feeling well but have minor symptoms).
- If you, your dancer or any member of your household has symptoms or has had symptoms of any kind within the last 48 hours, please do not enter the studio. Please attend your class virtually. Symptoms can include: fever, chills, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, body aches, headache, loss of taste or smell, congestion, runny nose, nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea. (All classes are also available via zoom and can be attended virtually if you are feeling well but have minor symptoms).
- Our lobby will be closed to parents for the time being. *We will be streaming all classes via zoom and you are welcome to log in and watch your child’s class this way. We ask that you keep your camera turned off so that you will not disturb other dancers who might be zooming the class. We also insist that you do not share your zoom link with anyone outside the studio. You will also be able to access the zoom feed through your Parent Portal.* Please note: If you need to conduct a transaction or use the restroom, you are welcome to enter to do so.
- Dancers will be bringing all belongings (except outside shoes) into the classroom space with them. We will not be using the dressing room for this due to it’s smaller size. We ask that your dancer bring only what is necessary for classes on that day so that we can keep the clutter to a minimum. Outside shoes can be left under a chair or bench in the lobby as students enter.
- Drop-Off: We ask that your dancer wait outside in your car until 5 minutes before the start of their assigned class time. Parents of dancers 6 and under may escort their dancer into the building and to the door of the classroom if they choose but must return to their vehicle as soon as their dancer has entered the studio space. Parents of dancers ages 7+ are asked to escort their dancer to the outside doors and see them safely into the lobby area. We have done our best to leave time between classes so that a teacher or staff member can escort your dancer into the studio space. If you have concerns about this, please contact Miss Jenny by emailing info@artistryhouse.com
- Pick-Up: Teachers will be escorting dancers to the lobby at the end of their class. We ask that you wait outside until we bring your child to the door. Please be there ready to pick up your child. (We know that sometimes a dancer will make it back to you and suddenly need to potty. Just head back in with your dancer and use the restroom. We are simply doing our best to limit unnecessary exposure for all parties.)
- Bathrooms. We know that you or your dancer will sometimes need to use the restroom at the studio. We highly encourage your dancer to use the restroom at home before coming to the studio if you live close by. There will be cleaning wipes in both bathrooms and we ask that you wipe commonly touched bathroom surfaces on your exit. Younger kids will be walked to the restroom by class helpers and these helpers will wipe surfaces after the dancer has finished using the restroom. We will also be teaching all of our dancers 6 and up to disinfect after themselves. (We also know that this process will not be perfect as kids are kids, but we will follow up in between classes to wipe down surfaces so that they are cleaned frequently.) You will notice this year that we have installed touches hand soap dispensers and paper towels holders that pull out. Both of these are measures to reduce the touch points in the restroom. You will also find a touches soap dispenser by the sink in the lobby.
- In-Person class sizes will be strictly limited and social distancing will be in place with new traffic patterns in classrooms and additional spacial markers to help dancers visualize the space.
- Class changes will not happen simultaneously. Start and end times will be staggered so that there is less congestion in the lobby area.
- The studio will be disinfected daily, with high touch areas like barres, doorknobs, light switches, bathrooms, and more being disinfected on a constant basis between classes. (Many thanks to our teachers in advance for helping with this as it is not part of their standard responsibilities but is a necessity of our current life circumstances.)
- Our 2020-2021 schedule will feature more daytime options for those who are choosing to homeschool for the year and if these classes fill, additional daytime options will be made available. But don’t worry, we will still have evening and Saturday options.
Class Time Procedures:
- We will be avoiding hand holding this fall. Pre-school dancers will have a large mat that works as their “island" during class and these will be disinfected between classes or be swapped out for a clean set. *This is not to say that we will never touch your pre-schooler. There are occasions when it becomes necessary to assist or redirect this age group and we will do so as necessary, but we will also keep this to a minimum, avoid brining our faces into the proximity of your pre-schooler’s face, and sanitize our hands throughout the class period.
- Partner work that involves proximity or touching will not be practiced during the fall.
- Teachers will not be working on any skills that require spotting of any kind. (This is the main reason that you won’t see our Acro-Stretch classes on the schedule this fall).
- All of our floor markers have been placed at least six feet apart.
- You will see markers along both the front and back wall of each studio space. These markers will be our waiting spots for dancing across the floor so that dancers don’t get too close while waiting their turn. We tested this out during the summer and the flow works quite well so I’m confident that we can have a very normal class with traveling movements across the floor without infringing on each other’s space. (Pre-schoolers will use their “islands" and return to the same spot throughout this process.)
- Teachers will help students establish movement symbols to show feelings like love and hug, because we love your dancers and want to keep our usual rapport while encouraging them to express their feelings, but we want to help them do it in a socially distant and safe way and we know that they will be excited to see us.
We will change and adapt policies as needed if we feel that there is a safer option.
From all of us Artistry House, we hope that your families are well and miss seeing you in-person. We send our good thoughts to each of you.