A Message from Alice
White, Wasatch Arts Center Studio Owner
Re: Studio Safety
Dear Current and
Potential WAC Families,
As we prepare to return
to the studio on Tuesday, September 8th, the health and safety of our students,
staff and extended WAC family members remains our highest priority! We have
been thoughtful in our preparation to use the guidelines of our local and state
government to put plans and systems in place to minimize risk, keep our WAC
family safe and healthy and keep our studio operational during this continued
COVID-19 circumstance.
The Utah Department of
Health advised that single reports of COVID exposure does not require studio
closure, nor is it recommended. Under these conditions’ businesses (dance
studios) are encouraged to continue conducting business responsibly by doing
the following:
- If a dancer or staff member
tests positive for COVID-19, or was in contact with someone who has, they
must notify studio administration and report an exposure risk.
- If WAC receives a report of
exposure risk, we will 1st contact the Utah Department of Health to report
and 2nd notify the parents of dancers who were in class and potentially
exposed (while keeping individual names confidential during reporting).
- WAC will conduct an
exposure-risk level cleaning at the studio ASAP.
- The individual who tested
positive for COVID-19 or was in contact with someone who has, will be
asked to self-quarantine for two weeks and attend dance classes through
live Zoom from home.
- WAC can monitor employee
self-quarantine but not students. As such, parents of dancers potentially
exposed should monitor their child closely over the next several days -
weeks and pay careful attention to the possible development of COVID-19
symptoms.
- Parents of dancers potentially
exposed will have the choice for their child to continue taking class at
the studio or temporarily participate through live Zoom in the safety of
their home.
- If WAC were to receive cluster
reports of exposure risk, we would work directly with the Utah Department
of Health and take the necessary steps to maximize the health and safety
of our WAC family members
Knowing COVID rules
and regulations can change daily or even drastically, WAC is prepared to pivot
our decision making, planning and execution at any given time. For now, I hope
this letter will offer proof of our thoughtful consideration during this
pandemic and provide the confidence needed to trust our organization during
continued times of uncertainty. We will
continue to provide excellent service while maintaining a comfortable and safe
experience for all WAC dancers and families.
Our teachers and staff
are excited to welcome you back to the studio in September!
Alice White
WAC COVID-19 POLICIES FOR A SAFE REOPENING
Welcome to Wasatch
Arts Center 2020-2021 Dance Season!
The following information has been provided to
ensure parents and dancers have a happy, healthy and safe return to WAC classes
this fall! Please make sure to review these policies prior to your first class.
General
safety policies
- Frequent hand hygiene
- Enhanced cleaning
procedures
- Minimizing mixing and
mingling via physical distancing practices
- Curricular and facility
adjustments
- Gradual re-opening and
continuous parent communications
- Parents are asked to not
send their children to class if they, or a member of their household, have
a fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or respiratory symptoms.
- Parents are asked to not
send their children to class if they, or a member of their household, have
tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 14 days.
FREQUENT
HAND HYGIENE
- Employees are required to
wash and sanitize their hands before and in between every class that they
teach
- Hand sanitizing stations
are available at the entrance of our studio and inside every studio.
- Upon arrival and in
between every class they take, students are asked wash and sanitize their
hands.
ENHANCED
CLEANING PROCEDURES
- We have increased our
cleaning frequencies and sanitation procedures in high traffic areas and
high touch surfaces of the studio such as doors, viewing windows, barres,
floors, counters, stereos, and bathrooms.
MINIMIZED
MIXING AND MINGLING
- We have made facility and
organizational changes to reduce mixing and mingling in support of
physical distancing recommendations. However, we understand that unlike
older children and adults, young children cannot be expected to maintain
social distancing at all times.
FACILITY
& CURRICULAR ADJUSTMENTS
- Dancers are required to
bring personal water bottles labeled with their names. Drinking fountains
will not be available.
- Dancers will limit the
belongings they bring to the studio.
- Class sizes have been modified
to reflect no more than 10 preschool dancers and 14 grade level dancers in
a room.
- Classrooms will end
five minutes early to allow proper sanitation between classes
GRADUAL
RE-OPENING & CONTINUOUS PARENT COMMUNICATION
- WAC will adhere to
continuous parent communication by using "green, yellow and red"
to communicate Utah risk levels and dance class status.
- Green indicates it is
safe to attend face-to-face classes, all studio activities will return to
normal and parents are allowed in the lobby.
- Yellow indicates a cautionary
change to service delivery, some studio activities will not be allowed,
i.e., extra visitors in the lobby
- Red indicates clients
should stay home and attend class online.
We will offer all classes on Zoom at their regular scheduled times.
ARRIVAL
& DEPARTURE
- Only parents of dancers
age 7 and under will be allowed in our studio lobby to help little dancers
get ready for class and use the restroom facilities.
- Siblings and visitors of
dancers will not be allowed to wait or congregate in the lobby during
class operations.
MASKS
- WAC dancers and teachers are
given the option to wear their mask during class or remove it during
strenuous physical activity