2013-2014 HANDBOOK

Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 2:30pm - 6:30pm 101 Miley Drive Starkville, MS 39759

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find us

662.323.0504 [email protected] • www.acpastarkville.com

ACPA GENERAL RULES, REMINDERS AND FAQS COMMUNICATION ACPA’s primary form of communication is through EMAIL. This is how we deliver updates, reminders and monthly statements.  Please be sure we have a working email address for you that you check regularly. ACPA releases updates via Facebook, (Acpa Starkville and Academy of Competitive and Performing Arts), Twitter (acpastarkville) and the website (www.acpastarkville.com).

There is a $30.00 fee for returned checks. Automatic bank drafts are drafted on the 15th of each month. If the 15th falls on a weekend or holiday, payment is drafted on the first following business day. August and December are half months for tuition, as students receive two weeks of instruction instead of four. Tuition will be divided in half in August and December. All other month’s tuition is to be paid in full. Scheduled closing are built into the schedule, with 36 total class meetings.

SCHEDULES, OPENINGS AND CLOSINGS

If you are not paying your tuition, your child will lose their spot in his/her class(es). Students will also not be allowed to participate in events, receive costumes, etc. until all tuition and fees have been paid in full. No exceptions!

ACPA’s fall/spring schedule begins in August and ends in May, with summer classes (June/July) being registered for separately.

Monthly tuition is due in full whether your child has attended class or not. Tuition charges are not discontinued until the proper withdrawal paperwork has been received.

If the Starkville school systems close due to weather, ACPA will automatically close as well.  We will provide a scheduled makeup day if we cancel due to weather.

Please note your child’s name on all payments to ensure proper credit.

ACPA’s scheduled openings, closings and events are listed in this handbook and on the online calendar (www.acpastarkville.com). These will be the only scheduled closings for the year.

PAYMENT DETAILS ACPA accepts cash, checks, all credit and debit cards, Paypal payments, and automatic bank drafts. ACPA is PCI compliant to help keep your personal information secure. Registration fees are valid for one year of classes, and are due annually. Registration fees are non-refundable.       ACPA releases monthly statements via email on the first of each month. You will only receive a monthly statement via email from ACPA if you do not have a zero balance. A $10.00 late fee will automatically be added to your monthly statement if ACPA has not received your tuition payment by the 10th of the month.

Payments may be dropped off in the grey lock-box outside of the business office if an office staff member is not available to accept your payment.

CLASS ENROLLMENT/WITHDRAWAL Registration forms must be completed in full for your child to take classes at ACPA. When you register for a class, that is the ONLY class you are authorized to come to.  Even if a teacher suggests or authorizes your child switching to a different time/day you MUST let ACPA know. We are very serious about our enrollment limits in each class, and have no way to accurately keep enrollment down without all ACPA members adhering to this rule. ACPA DOES NOT OFFER MAKEUP CLASSES.  If we are open for classes, you will not receive a makeup class or a refund on your tuition if you miss a class.  It does not matter if you forgot to come to class, went out of town, didn’t want to come, had a soccer game, had a sore throat etc.   ACPA will consider makeups in the case of immediate family member death or illness (with a doctor’s note). These requests can be authorized by Ashley only.

Classes have age limits for a reason. You child is only allowed to take classes within their age bracket. If you wish to withdraw your child from classes, you must do so before the 15th of the month PRIOR to the month you wish to withdraw.  For example, if you wish to withdraw for February, you must do so by January 15th.   If you do not do this, you will be responsible for paying February’s tuition in full. Teachers are not authorized to execute withdrawal from classes. Withdrawal is not processed until the ACPA office has received a signed withdrawal form. Withdrawal forms are available in the ACPA office or online at www.acpastarkville.com.

PARKING LOT AND BUILDING CODE OF CONDUCT You are not allowed to leave children unattended in the lobby/upstairs etc. You will be charged a babysitting fee of $25.00 per hour if children are left unattended when they are not taking class. Please respect all parking signs outside of the building (staff and handicap parking, not blocking the outside awning, etc.). Please be careful when driving in the parking lot, as children are present. No yelling, running, flipping, climbing on furniture, roughhousing, etc. is allowed in the ACPA waiting areas. Waiting areas are not play areas. Damage to ACPA property due to improper behavior will result in repair charges to be paid in full by the damaging party. Children are not allowed to wait outside to be picked up. Parents must come in to the building to pick their child up. Please assist in keeping ACPA clean by disposing of any trash, placing magazines back where they belong, etc. Please send students with Band-Aids, medication, etc. in case of injury or emergency. ACPA does have first aid-items in limited supply. Items left at ACPA will be placed in the lost and found box outside of the ACPA office. All unclaimed items left at ACPA will be donated each year at the end of July.

INSIDE OF CLASSROOM CODE OF CONDUCT Hair should be pulled up and away from the face during class. Only registered students are allowed in to the dance studios or gym. No parents, siblings, friends, etc. allowed under any circumstance. No food, drinks, or gum are allowed in the studios/gym. Only water is allowed. Please take your child to the restroom before class begins. Students are not to enter the studios/gym until their class is called by the teacher. Please instruct your child to bring all belongings into the studio/gym during their class. Students should NOT leave any items in the dressing rooms, waiting areas, bathrooms, etc. ACPA is not responsible for lost or stolen items. Parents are not required to stay at ACPA while their child takes a class. If you choose to leave while your child is in class, please remain accessible by phone in case of emergency. Students are expected to treat all fellow students, instructors and staff members with respect at all times. Students are expected to follow all instructions given by their teachers. Our staff gives our students 110% and expects the same from our students. Any bad or disrespectful attitudes to a fellow student, instructor, or staff member will be reported to the owner. Rule breaking and/or disrespect will result in a conference between the owner, instructor, student and parent(s). Disrespect from a student or parent may result in dismissal from ACPA.

RECREATIONAL DANCE PROGRAM INFORMATION

MUSIC

Please place your dancer’s name inside of or on the bottom of his/her shoes. ACPA is not responsible for lost shoes.

ACPA proudly offers instruction in acoustic and electric guitar, bass, drums, piano, D.J. mixing, and voice. For more information, please contact the ACPA office.

Each dancer will be asked to purchase a costume and corresponding attire/accessories for the annual dance recital. Dance students are required to have the proper shoes for the class they are taking, as proper technique cannot be learned without the correct shoes. Ballet shoes are required for ballet; jazz shoes for jazz; tap shoes for tap, and tennis shoes for hip-hop. Ballet shoes may be worn for jazz class, but jazz shoe purchase is suggested for students over the age of seven.

Dance attire should be fitted, not baggy. Leotards, tank tops, and dance shorts/capris/pants are acceptable class attire. Tights are suggested for all classes during the winter months. Socks above the ankle are suggested during the summer months for tap and tennis shoes, while ballet and jazz shoes may be worn without socks. In performances, all dancers perform as one. No non-issued jewelry is permitted. No visible piercings or tattoos, hair of unnatural color, or nail polish is allowed on stage.

RECREATIONAL CHEERLEADING/GYMNASTICS PROGRAM INFORMATION Hot tots, preschool, and recreational gymnastics students are not permitted to wear shoes during class. Cheerleading and tumbling students may wear their cheerleading or tennis shoes during class. Gymnastics attire should be fitted, not baggy. Leotards, tank tops, and gymnastics shorts are acceptable class attire.

EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND RENTALS ACPA proudly hosts birthday parties Monday through Friday before 3:30pm during the fall/spring semester, Saturdays from 10:00am to 8:00pm year around, and Sundays from 12:00pm-8:00pm year around. Birthday parties range from $150.00 to $200.00 depending on the package you choose. ACPA proudly offers ‘Kid’s Night Out’ every Friday night from 7:00pm-11:00pm (unless otherwise specified on ACPA’s online calendar and Facebook). Admission is $15.00 per child and includes admission and one slice of pizza. ACPA proudly offers ‘Open Gym’ every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday morning from 10:00am-11:00am (unless otherwise specified on ACPA’s online calendar and Facebook). The cost of open gym is $5.00 per child. ACPA proudly offers gymnastics, tumbling, cheerleading, dance and music private lessons. ACPA proudly offers dance studio and gym rentals. ACPA proudly offers summer camp from 7:30am-5:30pm in June and July. For more information on extra curricular activities, please contact the ACPA office.

COMPETITIVE PROGRAM DETAILS Along with our recreational program, ACPA also has a competitive cheerleading squad, dance company and gymnastics team. For more information about our competitive teams and tryout details, please contact the ACPA office.

ACPA MASTER SCHEDULE CALENDAR Aug 19 Monday

All recreational classes begin

Sep 2 Monday

ACPA closed for Labor Day

Sep 27-29 Fri-Sat-Sun

SEC Gymnastics Meet at ACPA

Nov 25 Monday

Scheduled makeup day for Labor Day classes

Nov 26-Dec 1 Tue-Sun

ACPA closed for Thanksgiving

Dec 6-8 Fri-Sat-Sun

Tis’ the Split Season Compulsory State Meet at ACPA

Dec 13 Friday

The Nutcracker dress rehearsal

Dec 14-15 Sat-Sun

The Nutcracker at McComas Hall (Company Dancers only)

Dec 16-Jan 5 Mon-Sun

ACPA closed for Christmas and New Years

Feb 28-Mar 2 Fri-Sat-Sun

Starkvegas Nights Gymnastics Meet at ACPA

Mar 10-14 Mon-Fri

ACPA closed for Spring Break

April 26 Saturday

Dance Recital picture day

May 18 Sunday

Dance Recital dress rehearsal at McComas Hall

May 19-23 Mon-Fri

Recreational Gymnastics Program Show Week at ACPA

May 24-25 Sat-Sun

Dance recital at McComas Hall

(Company Dancers only)

at ACPA