​Policies 

​General Policies: Students should wear appropriate cover-ups when outside the studio. Dance shoes are NOT to be worn outside. Students and instructors only are allowed on the dance floor during class times unless special arrangements have been made with the instructor. Non-enrolled children may not be left unattended at the school. Only water is allowed within the school unless other arrangements have been made. Respect others and their belongings. Violence or roughhousing of any sort is prohibited on the premises, in or out of class.

​Sonoma Conservatory of Dance
Policies and Procedures for the 2019-2020 School Year

• Parent Participation Opportunities: Parents and others wishing to participate or observe a student’s lesson may do so each month during the last week of classes. You will be able to notice your child’s progress easily. This policy is in place to ensure the progress of ALL students and to create an atmosphere of calm learning where the instructor can engage personally with each student free of outside distractions. Those visiting from out-of-town are welcome to view classes at any time during the month (please limit to 5 or less at a time). It is best for students to interact with the teacher alone. PLEASE DO NOT CO-TEACH.
• Need for Quiet: It is imperative we keep the entire building (lobby area and dance studio) a QUIET ZONE when classes are in session. Please restrict visiting and cell phone use to outside the building. Students are easily distracted by what is happening in the lobby, and we wish the pupils to fully concentrate on their class work.
• Parent’s Responsibility to Be Aware of Dates and Events: It is the responsibility of the parent and students to be aware of all school activities, such as viewing days, rehearsals, master classes, and school closing dates. The school may post all such notices on the studio lobby bulletin board, as well as send emails and/or place paper notices in the lobby as needed. It is the family’s responsibility to routinely check the board, email, front desk, and voicemail to ensure receipt of school event information. Additionally, SCD utilizes its own website and its Facebook page to post information and updates. These online resources may be accessed at www.SonomaConservatoryofDanceStudio.org and www.Facebook.com/SonomaConservatoryofDance.
• General Policies: Students should wear appropriate cover-ups when outside the studio. Dance shoes are NOT to be worn outside. Students and instructors only are allowed on the dance floor during class times unless special arrangements have been made with the instructor. Non-enrolled children may not be left unattended at the school. Only water is allowed within the school unless other arrangements have been made. Respect others and their belongings. Violence or roughhousing of any sort is prohibited on the premises, in or out of class.
• Pick-up and Drop-off: SCD cannot take responsibility for regulating pick-ups and drop-offs. Students should be picked up within 15 minutes of the end of their class; otherwise, the account will be charged a flat fee of $10.
• Extreme Weather or Other Interruption to Classes: If the school must cancel classes due to extreme weather or events beyond our control, such as power outages, the missed lessons must be made up according to school policy. No refunds for lessons missed due to these reasons will be given.
• Missed Lessons and Make-up Lessons: Students are encouraged to make up classes missed due to viruses, flu or scheduling conflicts. Refunds are given only for missed lessons related to serious medical conditions (submit doctor’s note to the Studio Manager). Students may do make-up classes at their level or below, as long as they are actively enrolled at the Conservatory. Classes must be made up by the last day of the current school year or end of active enrollment, whichever comes first. Classes that are not made up are forfeit.
• Substitutions: If the regularly scheduled teacher is ill or otherwise unable to teach class, the school reserves the right to provide a substitute teacher. If the school cannot arrange a substitute and the class must be cancelled, the student’s account will be credited accordingly.
• Dress Code: Required dance wear and shoes must be worn to all classes. Failure to wear the required dance-uniform as appropriate for the dancer’s level could result in students being asked to sit out the class. Repeated failure to wear the required uniform could result in termination of lessons. Dancers are not permitted to wear jewelry. Long hair must be secured up and away from the face and neck.
• Dance Class Attendance: Please respect the school year that SCD follows as well as the minimum number of weekly classes for your student’s level. A minimum attendance is required for a dancer to maintain his or her current achieved dance level as well progressing toward their desired dance goals. Our curriculum is designed to give students progressive dance instruction in a safe, caring manner. Extended periods of absence from classes affect the student’s progress and sense of self-confidence and self-mastery and can increase the possibility of injuries. If a student must miss class for any reason, the Office should be informed.
• Arrival Time and Tardiness: Please arrive at least 10 minutes early so students can prepare for class. A student who arrives late to class misses important warm-ups, which may result in serious cramping or injury. In line with our safety policies, the School reserves the right to have students who arrive late sit out the class. Repeated tardiness may result in termination of lessons.
• Pointe: Beginning with Elementary II, students wishing to prepare for pointe work are required to attend a minimum of two ballet classes weekly. Students who have been placed on pointe must attend the minimum required ballet classes weekly in order to maintain the privilege of dancing on pointe. These minimum requirements have been established to ensure that students are safe and secure in their basic technique and muscle strength. Students who do not fulfill weekly class minimum requirements will not be allowed to work on pointe until class attendance has resumed a minimum level and the instructor deems that the student is strong enough to safely dance on pointe. Everyone can enjoy ballet, although dancing on pointe may not be recommended for each student.
• Student Progress: Keep in mind that those students who are enrolled in more than the minimum requirement each week, who participate in as many performance opportunities as possible, who attend the Summer Dance Workshop and/or who attend Master Classes when offered will most likely progress more quickly than students who participate at the Conservatory at a minimal level only.
• Bullying and Harassment: Bullying and harassment of any kind (whether in jest or anger) is explicitly prohibited and may result in dismissal from SCD. There are many forms of harassment, some of which include gender (negative remarks about societal roles based on gender) and sexual (negative remarks with reference to sexuality, including homosexuality). Other types of harassment include verbally threatening behavior and ethnic/racial harassment. Please treat others as you would like to be treated.
• Further Clarification Regarding Bullying: All members of the SCD community have the right to feel safe and protected from bullying. Bullying physically and/or emotionally harms a person; targets a person in a negative way for any actual or perceived characteristic; and/or creates a hostile environment in the dance studio. Bullying will not be tolerated in any form — direct or indirect, physical, emotional, social, verbal, written, electronic, or otherwise. Bullying threatens the very core of SCD. Even one documented bullying event will have repercussions. Immediate termination of enrollment may be imposed for serious violations. Anyone witnessed bullying or harassing another student, parent, or SCD staff member will be sanctioned. If you or your child is being bullied, please alert the Artistic Director or Studio Manager as soon as possible. You may speak directly with someone or you may anonymously report an incident in writing. Each situation of bullying is unique and will be treated with urgency, proactivity, and sensitivity by the Artistic Director and Studio Manger.
• Alcohol and Drug Policy: Students have the right to attend dance classes in an environment conducive to learning. As alcohol (given the age of our students) and drug use are illegal and interfere with both effective learning and the healthy development of young people, SCD takes seriously its responsibility to prevent the use of these substances and to maintain an alcohol and drug free environment. Use of alcohol and/or drugs while a student of SCD is strictly forbidden. Any student found possessing, distributing, or using alcoholic beverages or illegal or controlled substances of any kind will be subjected to disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from the Conservatory. This includes improperly using prescription or over-the-counter drugs. Any student who knowingly remains present where alcoholic beverages are being consumed by minors, or where illegal or controlled drugs are being used, is also in violation of this policy and will be held accountable. Students who are in possession of drug or alcohol paraphernalia are also subject to disciplinary action.
• Injuries: Parents, legal guardians of minor students and adult students waive the right to any legal action for any injury sustained on school property resulting from normal dance activity or any other activity conducted by the students before, during or after class time.
• Photo Release: The School is hereby granted permission to take photographs or video of the students to use in brochures, websites, posters, advertisements and other promotional materials the school creates. Permission is also hereby granted for the school to copyright such photographs in its name OR
• Photo Release Opt-Out: By initialing the appropriate form, I withhold permission for SCD to use photographs or video of my child(ren) for promotional purposes.
• Lost and Found: Periodically, all items in the Lost and Found will be donated to a local thrift store.

​Financial Policies

• Registration: A non-refundable registration fee of $40 is required at the time of registration.
• NSF Payments: A NSF fee of $25 will be added to Sonoma Conservatory of Dance to electronically debit my bank account for the amount of any NSF paper check or scheduled e-payment transaction, plus a $25 NSF fee.
• Late Fee: The Conservatory will charge accounts a Late Fee equivalent to 10% of monthly tuition when neither payment nor communication has been made by the 15th of the month.
• Withdrawals and Refunds: The Conservatory requires two weeks notice before the discontinuation of classes or the account will be charged as usual. The notification can be made sent via written communication to the Studio address (561 Broadway Suite B) or via email ([email protected]).