GENERAL POLICIES
- Only staff members are permitted in the office area at the studio.
- All patrons entering the Ward School of Dance lobby are required to remove soiled footwear and store it in the spaces provided. Shoe racks can be found at the front entrance and or below all benches in the lobby area.

Students will enter classrooms using the following entrances:
- Blue Room - main entrance on the west side of the walkway.
- Yellow Room – Main entrance on west side of walkway
- Grey Room – Main entrance on west side of walkway
- White Room – Main entrance on east side of walkway
- Purple Room- Entrance is in the mini mall across the north parking lot
- Classes are not to be interrupted by neither students nor parents.
- Parking is located just north of the main entrance. Patrons are not permitted to park in staff parking stalls at any time.
- If you wish to speak with your child’s instructor, please alert the front desk staff or email the studio with the subject “Attention: TEACHER”. The instructor will phone you and/or set up an in-person meeting with you. This ensures that our classes remain uninterrupted and that the evening dance schedule is not postponed.
- Students (or parents of students) unable to attend any festivals/competitions/performances should inform their instructors of their anticipated absence as soon as possible.

STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT
During Class Time:
- Students will arrive to class with a positive attitude and ready to participate in class. Where appropriate, students should ensure that they have warmed up prior to entering the class.
- Students will store their belongings in the cubbies provided. Cell phones must be stored in student bags.
Ward School of Dance will not assume responsibility for any lost or stolen items.
- Students will speak respectfully to all other class members, teachers and student helpers. If issue is taken with something that occurs within class time, the office staff should be informed immediately following the dismissal of that class.
- Students will use appropriate language; swearing and derogatory comments are not permitted.
- Cell phones are prohibited from use during class time and must be turned off or to silent mode. Students are not to look at their phones during class time unless there is an extenuating circumstance.
- Water is the only acceptable beverage in our four dance studios and should be kept in a resealable container.
- Students with multiple classes in a row may have a 5 minute snack time at the beginning of class. Parents dropping off food should leave it with the office staff or leave it in the community fridge in front of the desk. Items left in the community fridge must be wiped with lysol wipes immediately before being placed in the fridge. Lysol wipes can be found on top of the fridge.
- Students will abide by the dress code; attire is discipline specific. (See our website for dress code.)
- Students will not take unauthorized pictures or videos in the classroom without teacher permission.
- Students will not bring friends/siblings/parents to watch their class.
- Students injured in class will immediately report their injury to their instructor.

BEFORE/AFTER CLASSES:
- Students will use appropriate language; profanity and derogatory comments are not permitted while in the studio or at festivals/competitions/performances.
- Students will ensure that dressing rooms and washrooms are respectfully maintained; all garbage and recycling is placed in the proper receptacles, lost articles of clothing are placed in the lost and found, any accidental spills are promptly cleaned up, soiled footwear is placed in the shoe rack, etc.
- Students will act appropriately while waiting in the dressing room. Standing on or jumping on benches, slamming the dressing room door and raising of voices will not be permitted.
- Students will not run in the studios or hallways.
- Students will physically distance using the star markers provided in the hallway, lobby and dressing room.
- Students will not be permitted to change in the dressing room, as this space will be used for physically distancing during classes.
- Students are asked to wear their required attire and be able to fit other items in their bag. For example, if a student has ballet and then hip hop they could bring a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt to add over their bodysuit upon completion of ballet class.
- Students will not be permitted to enter studios without Ward School of Dance staff present.
- Students will ensure the same standards of cleanliness and appropriate behavior are maintained in festival/competition/performance dressing rooms.
- Students of the Ward School of Dance are expected to act in a respectful way and with a positive attitude. Any student’s action can be seen as a reflection of our studio. As such, we do not tolerate speaking negatively about staff, students or families attending Ward School of Dance or any other studios. This includes any actions that occur beyond the hours of school operation or off of school property, if the behavior or conduct detrimentally affects the welfare of individual students or the governance, climate of efficiency of the school. Doing so could result in disciplinary action.

SOCIAL MEDIA
- Students/parents/guardians will not use any social media outlet to put down or in any way demean, exclude or otherwise bully Ward
- School of Dance as a business, its patrons, its staff or any other member of the online community.
- Students who post combinations/rehearsals/dances on social media sites are not permitted to use these articles in their entirety. Ward
- School of Dance owns the rights to all choreography taught at the studio.
- Students/parents/guardians do not have the right to post any personal information pertaining to any other patrons or staff.
- Parents will not use social media to reach out to teachers to report absences.
- Please see our Disclaimer for Medical & Photo Release (previous sections) for more information.

DISCIPLINE POLICY
Dance is a sport that helps promote physical fitness, mental wellbeing and is a creative outlet for children and adults alike. Teachers at our studio do their utmost to provide inclusive classrooms that meet the needs of all of their students. All students are responsible for their own behaviour and will be held accountable according to the following standards:
- No physical or verbal aggression of any kind will be tolerated towards teachers, assistants or classmates.
- Students will politely be asked to stop. If the behavior continues, students will be asked to leave the classroom and a parent/guardian will be contacted.
- No disruptive behaviour will be tolerated. Students will politely be asked to stop. If the behavior continues, students will be asked to leave the classroom and a parent/guardian will be contacted.

FULL YEAR CLASSES
ATTENDANCE for Full Year Classes:
- Class attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class.
- Dancers are expected to attend all regular scheduled classes.
- If dancers need to leave early from a class, the parent will inform desk staff and the desk staff will retrieve the student for the parent.
November - March: festival dancers are being taught choreography for festival numbers. March - May: non-festival (preschool, pre-primary, primary) dancers are being taught choreography for the year-end recital. When dancers miss a class, this can leave them feeling frustrated and “a step behind” their classmates. It can also impact the choreography from the teacher’s perspective.
- If a festival dancer has more than 3 unexcused classes or days (whichever is greater) between their enrolment and December break and/or 3 unexcused classes or days (whichever is greater) between January and May, the readiness of that student to participate in festivals will be at the studio owners’ discretion.
- If a dancer is sick, they must be excused by their parent/guardian via the Student Absence Form. Reaching out via social media outlets will not be considered an excused absence.
- If a dancer is injured, they are expected to attend class to observe. The student will be expected to dance unless the parent has contacted the studio, as per the above bullet point.
- If a student is ill but capable of sitting and watching class, they are expected to attend and it is appreciated if they wear a mask.
Students who miss class are able to attend a different but comparable class to ensure the same hours of instruction. As class sizes are limited, parents must complete a Student Absence Form and an alternative class time will be emailed to them. While students are encouraged to make up all of their missed classes, attending make up classes will negate up to 3 unexcused absences from regularly scheduled classes. Please ask at the front desk for make-up class times.

PAYMENT & CANCELLATION POLICY for Full Year Classes
- Each dancer must have credit card information on file.
- All outstanding fees must be paid before a dancer can be registered for the upcoming season.
- Late fee payments will be charged to the above mentioned credit card.
- Updated account information is available on personal online accounts.
- Each client is responsible for checking and maintaining their online account.
- Clients will not be notified when outstanding fees are charged to the credit card on file.
- All cancellations should be received in written form and mailed/emailed to the studio.

Registration Fees for Full Year Classes
- Registration fees must be paid before students can be registered in a class.
- Registration fees (the payment for processing of student information and student placement) are non-refundable irrespective of whether or not the student participates in classes.

Monthly Payments for Full Year Classes
- Fees are due on the first day of the month and are non-refundable.
- Monthly payments become outstanding on the 15th of the current month.
- Cancellation notices received 30 days prior to the termination of services will have no penalty.
- Cancellations received less than 30 days prior to the termination of services will be charged the subsequent month’s fees. This includes cancellations for clients choosing not to participate in online classes during a potential mandated studio closure.
- Should a mandated studio closure occur classes will continue online as live Zoom classes. Class schedules & teachers will be maintained.
- Online monthly fees will be discounted at a rate of 25%.
- If classes go online before the 15th of the month, clients will be given a 25% discount for monthly class fees for that month.
- If classes go online after the 15th of the month, clients will not be given a discount for monthly class fees for that month.

Costume Fee(s) for Full Year Preschool & Primary Dancers
- Costume fees will be due November 1st.
- Late fee payments will be charged to the above mentioned credit card.
- Each class a student is registered for will require a costume fee with the exception of Acrobatic Arts, Dance Conditioning, Hip Hop Technique and Technique classes.
- Students registered in multiple disciplines, may be categorized in multiple fee levels.
- Students who provide written notice of class cancellation on or by November 1st will not be charged and/or will have their costume fee returned to them. For class cancellations received after November 1st the costume fee will not be refunded but the client may pick up the costume upon its arrival at the studio.
- Should mandated closures occur, we will still provide performance opportunities in costume be they online recitals or modified in-person recitals.

Performance Fees for Full Year Novice – Advanced Dancers
- All students registering in festival classes have additional fees required for festival entries, costuming & stage rehearsal.
- Prices will vary depending on the number of classes, the number of festivals attending and the dance level of your child.
- Festival fee portions of performance fees are paid directly to festival organizers. If festivals are postponed or canceled, Ward School of Dance will act on behalf of its clients to work with festival organizers to collect full refunds. Where festival organizers will not refund money, Ward School of Dance will fight for full credits for its clients. We cannot guarantee the cooperation of festival organizers nor full refunds or credits. If funds are returned to Ward School of Dance, in full or in part, Ward School of Dance clients will receive refunds/account credits in the same amount. Graduating students or students who are not returning to Ward School of Dance for subsequent seasons and therefore not able to use festival credits will be reimbursed by Ward School of Dance and/or will have their festival credits purchased by another Ward School of Dance client.

Performance Fees for Full Year Adult Dancers
- Adult classes may or may not participate in festivals; the ultimate decision to be made by the instructor.
- Costuming may be purchased by the teacher or the students; the ultimate decision to be made by the instructor. Price will be determined based on the costume decided.

Options to Pay Performance Fees for Full Year Classes:
- Payment in full – due on or before November 1st
- Late fee payments (exceeding 30 days past due) will be charged to the above mentioned credit card.
- Dancers are expected to attend all festivals that their class is registered for. If a student is unable to attend a festival, written notice must be provided to the studio by November 1st.
- Students who provide written notice of class cancellation on or by November 1st will not be charged and/or will have their performance fees returned to them. For class cancellations received after November 1st the performance fees will not be refunded.

SESSIONAL CLASSES
ATTENDANCE for Sessional Classes:
- Class attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class.
- Dancers are expected to attend all regular scheduled classes.
- If dancers need to leave early from a class, the parent will inform desk staff and the desk staff will retrieve the student for the parent.
- Students who are ill will not be permitted to attend class.
- If a dancer is injured, they are expected to attend class to observe. The student will be expected to dance unless the parent has contacted the studio, as per the above bullet point.
- Students who miss class are able to attend a different but comparable class to ensure the same hours of instruction. As class sizes are limited, students must contact the office before attending a make up class.

PAYMENT & CANCELLATION POLICY for Sessional Classes:
- Each dancer must have credit card information on file.
- All outstanding fees must be paid before a dancer can be registered for the upcoming session.
- Late fee payments will be charged to the above mentioned credit card.
- Updated account information is available on personal online accounts.
- Each client is responsible for checking and maintaining their online account.
- Clients will not be notified when outstanding fees are charged to the credit card on file.
- All cancellations should be received in written form and mailed/emailed to the studio.
- Fees are due on the first day of the session and are non-refundable.
- Payments become outstanding after the first scheduled class of the session.
- Cancellation notices received up to 1 week prior to the commencement of services will have no penalty.
- Cancellations received within a week of the commencement of services will receive account credits for the full session.
- Cancellations received with less than 50% of scheduled classes remaining will not be refunded. This includes cancellations for clients choosing not to participate in online classes during a potential mandated studio closure.
- Cancellations received with more than 50% of scheduled classes remaining will receive a 50% account credit. This includes cancellations for clients choosing not to participate in online classes during a potential mandated studio closure.
- Should a mandated studio closure occur classes will continue online as live Zoom classes. Class schedules & teachers will be maintained.
- All remaining classes will be discounted at a rate of 25%.
- If classes go online with less than 50% of scheduled classes remaining, clients will not be given a discount.
- If classes go online with more than 50% of scheduled classes remaining, clients will be given a 25% discount on all remaining classes.

Student and parent/legal guardian understand and expressly assume all risks involved in connection with dance instruction, rehearsal and training at Ward School of Dance LTD. including but not limited to risk of bodily injury occurring as a result of contact with other students, instructors, walls, equipment, floors, structures, poles and other objects located in or near dance studios, or the students physical condition or physical limitations.

It is understood that dance instruction is a physical activity and art form. It may be necessary for instructors to place hands on the student for proper placement and correction of body alignment. Student and parent waive all claims arising out of dance instruction, rehearsal, training, and performances at Ward School of Dance Ltd. and or/other performance spaces and/or venues, whether caused by the negligence, breach of contract, or otherwise, and whether for bodily injury, property damage or loss or otherwise, which student may have against Ward School of Dance Ltd., its owners, officers, directors, shareholders, employees and agents, and their heirs, executors and administrators.

The parent/legal guardian of the student requests and authorizes that in his/her absence, the student may be admitted to any hospital or medical facility for diagnosis and treatment and authorizes physicians, or other such licensed professionals, to perform any diagnostic procedures, treatment procedures, operative procedures and x-ray treatment of the student. There is no guarantee as to the results of examination or treatment. Parent/legal guardian authorizes Ward School of Dance Ltd., its owners, members, Board of Directors, and all employees and agents of these parties to act for the student according to their best judgment in providing or arranging for emergency care in any emergency situation requiring medical attention.

The Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) regulates the way private sector organizations within Alberta collect and disclose personal information. Personal Information means information about an identifiable individual. This studio recognizes the importance of privacy and recognizes the sensitivity of personal information received by us in the course of our business practice.
We recognize our professional obligation to maintain the confidentiality of our clients information, and also our obligations concerning all individuals personal information which we collect, use or disclose in our practice. This policy has been developed with those obligations in mind.

Our Need for Personal Information
To be able to provide quality dance services to our clients, we need to collect all relevant facts and information that relate to our clients. We may also need business and credit information so we can ensure that we will be compensated for our services. This information will necessarily include personal information about our clients.

Collection, Use and Disclosure of Personal Information
Where practical, we will try to collect personal information directly from the person to whom the information pertains. Where necessary, we will collect personal information from other sources. We will collect only the personal information necessary for the purposes stated in the previous paragraph.
The Act provides that an individual is deemed to consent to the collection, use or disclosure of personal information about that individual for a particular purpose if the individual voluntarily provides the information for that purpose, and it is reasonable that a person would voluntarily provide that information.
By registering for classes at our studio, we consider that an individual consents to our collection, use or disclosure of the individual’s personal information as necessary to properly provide the services enrolled in.
It is our policy to collect personal information about individuals other than our clients in accordance with the provisions of the Act.
When we collect personal information about individuals directly from them, except when their consent to the collection is deemed, we will tell them the purpose for which the information is collected, and the name of a person who can answer questions about the collection.
The Act also permits us to collect, use or disclose personal information about an individual in some circumstances without the individual’s consent. Such circumstances include (but are not limited) to where:
- The collection, use or disclosure is clearly in the interests of the individual and consent cannot be obtained in a timely way;
- Collection, use or disclosure is reasonable for the purposes of an investigation or proceeding;
- The personal information is available to the public from a prescribed source; or
- The collection, use or disclosure is required or authorized by a statute or regulation of Alberta or Canada.
When we collect, use or disclose personal information, we will make reasonable efforts to ensure that it is accurate and complete. The Act also allows us, for legal or business purposes, to retain personal information for as long as is reasonable.

Security of Personal Information
We recognize our professional and legal obligations to protect the confidential information of our clients. We recognize as well our legal obligations to protect the personal information we have gathered about our clients. We have therefore made arrangements to secure against the unauthorized access, collection, use, disclosure, copying, modification, disposal or destruction of personal information.

Requests for Access to Personal Information
The law permits individuals to submit written requests to us to provide them with:
- Their personal information under our custody or control
- Information about the purposes for which their personal information under our custody or control has been and is being used by us; and
- The names of persons to whom and the circumstances in which their personal information has been and is being disclosed by us.
We will respond to requests in the time allowed by the Act and make a reasonable effort to assist applicants and to respond as accurately and completely as reasonably possible. All requests may be subject to any fees and disbursements the law permits us to charge.
An individuals ability to access his or her personal information under our control is not absolute. The law provides that we must not disclose personal information where:
- The disclosure could reasonably be expected to threaten the safety or physical or mental health of an individual other than the individual who made the request;
- The disclosure would reveal personal information about another individual; or
- The disclosure would reveal the identity of an individual who has in confidence provided us with an opinion about another individual and the individual providing the opinion does not consent to the disclosure of his or her identity.
The law further proves that we may choose not to disclose personal information where:
- The personal information is protected by any legal privilege;
- The disclosure of the information would reveal confidential commercial information and it is not unreasonable to withhold that information;
- The personal information was collected by us for an investigation or legal proceeding;
- The disclosure of the personal information might result in similar information no longer being provided to us when it is reasonable that it would be provided;
- The personal information was collected or created by a mediator or arbitrator in the conduct of a mediation or arbitration for which he or she was appointed to act
- Under an agreement; or
- Under an enactment; or
- By a court; or
- The personal information relates to or may be used in the exercise of prosecutorial discretion.
The Act indicates that it is not to be applied so as to affect any legal privilege. We will not disclose information that is privileged where the applicant is not the client in whom the privilege is vested.
Requests for Correction of Personal Information
The law permits individuals to submit written requests to us to correct errors or omissions in their personal information that is in our custody or control. We will:
- Correct the personal information and, if reasonable to do so, send correction notifications to any other organizations to whom we disclosed the incorrect information; or
- Decide not to correct the personal information but annotate the personal information that a correction was requested but not made.

Contacting or Communicating with Us
If you have any questions with respect to our policies concerning the handling of your personal information, or if you wish to request access to, or correction of, your personal information under our care and control, please contact Kirsten McOuat or Kirsten Williams at 780-962-3283 or info@wardschoolofdance.ca.

If you are dissatisfied with our handling of your personal information, we invite you to contact us in writing, setting out the reasons for your concerns. If you remain dissatisfied after we have reviewed and responded to your concern, you may wish to contact the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner at:
410, 9925 - 109 Street Edmonton, AB T5K 2J8 , Telephone: (780) 422-6860, Fax: (780) 422-568