Growing Giggles - Dance Policies/Liability Waiver

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• I understand that all Petite and Demi Dance classes require a parent/guardian/responsible adult to remain on-site for the duration of class. Good conduct, manners and politeness are expected from students and parents at all times.  The waiting room is NOT the place for personal information or other people’s children to be discussed. If a dancer needs to be excused from class (for assistance with shoe changes, bathroom break, behavioral reasons, etc.), the designated adult is responsible for addressing/handling such matters. All Grande classes allow students to be dropped off - however we require parents to come into the Health Club for both drop-off and pick up. In the event that a child needs to be excused from class for behavior, we reserve the right to have parents stay on-site for the duration of class. Additionally, all students must be picked up in a timely manner. If parents are more than 10 minutes late for pick-up, a $20 babysitting fee will be assessed. 

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• We strongly encourage students to observe our dress code for the following reasons: a neat and tidy appearance sets an attitude of attentiveness and respect for other students, teacher and the art of dance. Teachers must be able to see the dancer’s body outline clearly in order to make proper corrections on posture, alignment, etc. Gum chewing is not allowed due to the danger of choking and appearance. *If a student is enrolled into combo classes (ex: ballet and tap), please ensure they have both style dance shoes at the beginning of class.* Dancers should come fully dressed and ready to participate in class. 

  • Hair must be properly secured and tied up out of the face and neck for all dance styles.

  • Jewelry must not be loose or dangling.

  • No jeans or dresses. No loose fitting pants, or t-shirts. 

  • No costumes are allowed in class (unless a dress up day is announced by the individual teacher).

  • Tap: Black or Tan Tap Shoes. 

  • Girls: Any color leotard and tights, pink ballet shoes, dance skirts are allowed. Black/tan/white tap shoes. 

  • Boys: Any solid color T-shirt and black dance pants or sweatpants, black ballet shoes. Black/tan/white tap shoes.

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• Please arrive 5-10 minutes prior to class starting, to ensure a timely start to class. Please wait until the Dance Studio door is open to come in. 

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• NO GUM or FOOD in the Studio. Food and water is permitted (no foods containing nuts of any form) ONLY in the waiting room. We encourage all students to have a labeled water bottle in the Dance Studio. 

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• The doors to the Dance Studio will be closed while class is in session. All students are encouraged not to leave the room once class has begun. Please allow for appropriate restroom use prior to class. We ask that parents do not engage with the students during class time. If behavior of your student needs to be corrected, please do so during a break or after the class has ended.

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• During class if a student complains of being ill, or sustains an injury and cannot participate, the on-site responsible adult will be contacted immediately. In an effort to keep everyone healthy, we ask that you exercise caution and consideration for others if either you, or your dancer, are not well. Please use your best judgment when deciding whether or not to bring your child to class when he/she is experiencing obvious signs of sickness. If a child or responsible adult appears too sick to participate, Growing Giggles reserves the right to ask you to kindly leave.

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• During inclement weather, Growing Giggles reserves the right to cancel classes to ensure the safety of everyone. We typically follow the Boston Public School closings for weather related cancellations; however, we reserve the right to determine otherwise. In the event of a closure, you will be notified via email address provided.  At the discretion of the teacher, a Growing Giggles’s credit will be issued or a make-up day will be scheduled. A refund will not be issued.​

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• School Age Children/Teens: Please practice respect. Students are not to be socializing in a disruptive manner during the class with other students. Please come early or stay late to enjoy friends in the waiting area. Please honor your teacher and fellow students by giving full attention and cooperation. You will be advised if we feel any student is not well adjusted to the classroom environment for any reason over time. CELL PHONES are NOT permitted in the Dance Studio.

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• Younger Dance Students: Preschool children may need a parent’s attention from time to time for various reasons including bathroom or behavior issues. Please do not leave the waiting room when very young children are in class without informing the teacher or having another parent responsible during your absence. If possible, please make sure your child is potty-trained and can dress/undress themselves. If a student is not potty-trained and needs a diaper changed, they will require assistance from the responsible parent/adult. It is not uncommon for first time students to cry/not want to come to class for the first couple of sessions. Please do not become discouraged as they may take a few sessions to adjust to the new classroom environment. These young ones are welcome to observe from the waiting room or inside the classroom until they feel comfortable to participate. We make every effort to have all children feel safe and cared for in a loving and inspiring learning environment.

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• Behavior Policy

  • Growing Giggles is committed to educate our students, model behaviors, and help dancers grow with love and respect in this program. If for any reason a student does not meet the expectations outlined above, Growing Giggles enforces a 4-strikes policy with regard to students misbehaving at the studio – in or outside of class. 

  • ** Students will initially receive a couple verbal prompts with guidance by their teacher to help students demonstrate appropriate behavior. Strikes will not be given for these initial redirections of behavior. Strikes will only be given after behavior correction and/or redirecting does not work in the classroom context. Our goal is to help students shift their behavior in a more positive direction. 

    • Strike 1 is an official warning; student is still able to participate in class. Student and relevant teachers will have a discussion about a plan to support appropriate behavior in class. First strikes are administered after some attempts by the relevant teachers/staff to redirect behavior in a positive direction. In other words, first strikes are not given until a teacher or staff member decides that basic prompting is not sufficient to shift behavior appropriately. 

    • Strike 2: Student will be asked to take a break from class to re-set, breathe, take a drink of water, and re-focus on class before coming back. The responsible adult on-site will determine the amount of time needed to re-set. After class, the adult, student and teacher will discuss the behavior concern and talk about a plan moving forward for class. 

    • Strike 3 (very rare): Student will be asked to leave the classroom for the remainder of class and sit in the waiting room with the on-site adult until class is finished. In the case of a Strike 3, the teacher, student, and guardian will talk about implementing a clear & detailed plan for shifting behavioral issues to make the classroom environment more positive for everyone.

    • Strike 4 (extremely rare!): Student will be asked to cease attending class if disruptive behavior is not adjusted or controlled adequately after previous steps taken. Student is encouraged to return to class during the next class offerings. Strike 4 situations are rare and are avoided as much as possible by Growing Giggles. 

 

Liability Waiver

Although reasonable precautions are taken to provide proper organization, instruction, and equipment for your Child’s participation in the activities at Growing Giggles, there can be no guarantee of absolute safety against injury and accident. There are elements of risk in any program involving physical exertion and the use of any equipment in connection with the activities. I, on behalf of myself and my Child, understand that my Child and I may be involved in activities including but not limited to dance, movement and/or other physical undertakings

Acknowledgment of risks: I recognize that there is inherent danger in any activities that involve physical exertion; that although the program may not be strenuous, injuries or medical complications may occur.

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Express assumption of risk and responsibility: In recognition of the inherent risks of the activities in which my Child will be engaged, both seen and unforeseen, I assume full responsibility for personal injury, accidents or illnesses to my child, myself or another responsible adult attending the Growing Giggles program with my child. On behalf of myself and my Child, I assume the risk(s) of personal injury, accidents, and/or illnesses of all kinds and nature.

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Release, hold harmless and covenant not to sue: In consideration of my Child’s participation in the Activities, I do hereby for myself, my Child and our respective administrators, executors, heirs, spouse, dependents, successors, and assigns, knowingly and intentionally release, forever discharge and covenant not to sue Growing Giggles and its owners, teachers, employees and volunteers (collectively, “Growing Giggles”) and the owners and operators of the facilities in which Growing Giggles’ activities take place, from and against any claims, demands, expenses, actions and causes of action of every name, type, and nature I or we now have or may ever have arising out of my Child’s participation in the activities.

Acknowledgment: In signing this Agreement, I acknowledge and represent that I have fully reviewed it and understand what it means, and that I agree to this document as my free act and deed. No oral representations, statements, or inducements, apart from the foregoing written statement, have been made. I further agree that this Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. If any of its terms or provisions shall be held illegal, unenforceable, or in conflict with any law, the validity of the remaining portions shall not be affected thereby to the fullest extent permitted by law. I further state that I agree that I, my child and our respective estates, heirs, administrators, personal representatives, and assigns shall be bound by the same.

 

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY. THIS IS A RELEASE AND WAIVER OF IMPORTANT LEGAL RIGHTS.

 

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