Registration
All students entering our school must go through an audition or trial class to be placed in classes at the appropriate level.
Students must submit a signed, updated registration application and policy statement every year before the start of academic-year and summer classes, with a separate registration fee of $75 (used for administration throughout the school year). Students who are continuously enrolled for 12 months without breaks will not pay more than one registration fee per year. The non-refundable registration fee is collected each September or at registration time.
Tuition & payment
Families of registered students may: 1) pay upfront for a full year, 2) pay in installments per session — Session 1: Sept–Nov, Session 2: Dec–Feb, Session 3: March–June — or 3) pay monthly. All tuition must be paid in advance and is due by the first class of every month or installment plan. Full-year tuition and session plans are significantly discounted; sibling and other discounts also apply.
All payments are made at the front desk. The school accepts cash, check and Zelle.
- A 5% late fee applies to payments made after the 5th of the month, 10% after the 10th and 15% after the 15th.
- If tuition is two weeks overdue, the student will not be admitted to class until payment is made in full.
- There is a $35 fee for each returned check. Accounts overdue by 60 days or more may be turned over to a collection agency.
- Accounts with balances will not be able to perform at events until fees are paid.
Refunds & cancellations
- Registration fees are not refundable under any circumstances.
- Full refunds (minus registration fees) must be requested in writing and received by the school’s office before the first class.
- No refunds will be given once the student’s installment session has begun. All tuition charges are calculated on a per-lesson basis.
- In exceptional cases, students may be eligible for a partial refund if they must withdraw due to prolonged illness (more than one month) or severe injury, verified by a doctor’s note.
- Cancellations are not accepted beyond 72 hours after registration.
- All cancellations of private lessons must be made 24 hours before the lesson; lessons cancelled with less notice will be charged.
- All classes are subject to change without notice; such changes do not entitle students to a refund.
Make-up classes
All lessons are subject to make-up; there are no refunds for missed lessons. Students may take 2 make-up classes per 3-month session plan, or 1 per month on a monthly plan.
- Make-ups for classes missed due to illness (verified by a doctor’s certificate) must be taken within the paid period of the absence.
- Make-up classes are scheduled with the administration and taken during the paid session, in the same level or a lower level class.
- If you cannot attend a make-up, notify the school 24 hours before the class or the make-up is forfeited. There are no make-ups for a make-up class and no roll-over to the next session.
- Lessons missed because of a teacher’s absence will be made up later.
- There are no refunds or pro-rating for classes missed due to personal reasons, vacations, schedule conflicts or terminations during the month.
Attendance & punctuality
Consistent attendance is critical to consistent progress. Students are expected to attend regularly and be on time; repeated absences or lateness disrupt the class and hinder progress.
- Report all absences to the school before class time. Report an absence online.
- A student who arrives very late may be asked to sit out and observe. Please call the studio if you expect to be late.
- Prior permission is required to leave class early.
- Excessive absences may require a student to move to a lower-level class.
Weather cancellations
In case of severe weather we will send an email and post on our Facebook page if classes are cancelled. We are not automatically closed when public schools close, because weather conditions often change later in the day when our classes take place.
Classes cancelled because of weather are not added or made up, and are not refunded.
Communication
Important school notices and schedule information — including changes and holiday closings — are posted on the school bulletin boards, on our Announcements page, and on Facebook. It is the responsibility of each student and parent to check postings before and after class.
Class conduct & Code of Conduct
Students are expected to be attentive, courteous and kind. There is no talking between students during class; students raise their hand before speaking and use the bathroom before class. We strive for an atmosphere of discipline, while motivating each student to work to their fullest potential and still have fun.
Every student is expected to behave in a disciplined and responsible manner and to read, sign and follow the Code of Conduct. The school reserves the right to suspend or dismiss any student whose behavior or attendance does not agree with school policies. We ask each person in our community, but especially students:
- to conduct themselves with honesty and integrity;
- to speak courteously to each other at all times, without abusive, profane or disrespectful language;
- to follow school policies on attendance, dress requirements and nondiscrimination;
- to treat school facilities and property, and the property of others, responsibly;
- to follow all posted safety rules and regulations;
- to avoid any disruptive or distracting behavior in the classroom or anywhere on school grounds.
By signing the registration form, parents confirm they have read and discussed the Code of Conduct with their child and agree to uphold it.
Dance group commitment
Consistent attendance is very important to the growth of each dancer and of the group. No dancer wants to let the group down, so these rules apply:
- No more than 2 absences from rehearsal, for any reason, per 3-month session during the academic year. With more than 2 absences, the dancer may be removed from the upcoming performance or the final show.
- Injured dancers are asked to keep coming to rehearsals, and may sit out.
- Extra rehearsals may be called before a performance; attendance is mandatory and the usual absence rules apply.
- A student may not miss the last rehearsal before a performance unless excused by the instructor. Placement back into the dance will not happen until the next rehearsal.
- The school allows one private lesson, covering the material of a missed rehearsal, to make up ONE rehearsal.
Recitals, performances & costumes
A recital fee (non-refundable, per student) is due in September or at registration. It helps cover the cost of performances for instrumentalists, and the production, rehearsals and insurance of our group performers and dancers. It is a once-a-year fee intended to keep future ticket and performance costs negligible: with it, you receive tickets to your child’s performances and recitals at no extra cost.
Group-class and dance families purchase costumes and/or accessories for each number their child performs in. The initial costume deposit is always due in September (or at registration). Costumes are not ordered until deposits are received.
The administration chooses students for specialized programs, concerts, performances and competitions; not all students will be selected for every event. Because the school is a nonprofit organization, students taking part in special events pay additional fees for costumes, staging, music and similar costs, and competitions carry separate fees.
Safety, pick-up & property
- All children under 12 must be picked up by a parent or guardian, who should be waiting 10 minutes before the end of class.
- Parents drop off and pick up children in the front lobby only.
- To protect every student’s privacy, parents may not photograph children in classrooms, hallways or elsewhere at the school without permission from the office.
- No eating, drinking or gum chewing on school premises.
- Students arrive on time, in the appropriate attire, ready to participate.
- The administration may move a student to a more suitable class if the teacher believes it is in the student’s best interest.
- The school is not responsible for lost or stolen property.
Photo, video & interview release
Unless otherwise noted on the registration form, the parent or legal guardian grants permission for the student to be photographed, videotaped and/or interviewed by Shostakovich School of Music, Art and Dance or its authorized agents, and consents to the publication, broadcast or other use of the student’s images and words to promote the school. The parent releases the school, and parties acting on its behalf and with its approval, from liability for such uses. All such videos, images, words and other likenesses are the property of the school, without compensation.
Families who prefer not to give this permission can tick the opt-out box on the registration form.
Nondiscrimination policy
Shostakovich School of Music, Art and Dance admits students of any race, color, sexual orientation, and national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sexual orientation, or national and ethnic origin in administering its admissions policies, scholarship programs or placement decisions.
Waiver of responsibility
As a condition of participation, the parent or guardian acknowledges: (1) assumption of risk — activities involve certain risks, including physical injury; (2) release and waiver of the school, its instructors, staff and volunteers from liability for loss, damage or injury sustained during school activities; (3) authorization to seek emergency medical treatment, with reasonable efforts made to contact the parent; (4) the school is not responsible for personal property; and (5) a media release for promotional use. Parents of Modern Dance students may also give optional consent for acrobatic elements in choreography.
The full waiver is signed as part of the registration form.
