STUDENT BEHAVIOR & EXPECTATIONS:

Come to class prepared to learn. Do not enter a studio without being invited by an instructor. Barres are not to be pulled or sat on. Mirrors are not to be touched. Students must ask permission before leaving the classroom and raise a hand to ask questions pertaining to what they are learning during class.

Students may not sit during class. This causes the muscles to cool down and may result in injury by resuming exercise when cold.

Students are asked to devote their concentration to their personal performance; talking is not permitted during any class or rehearsal.

Food and beverages may be consumed in the lobby only. No gum, candy, cough drops, etc. in class. Only bottles of water are permitted in the studios. Cell phones are not permitted in the studios.

Students are expected to maintain suitable composure for their age. If a student continually disrupts class, Merit may call for parental involvement. Merit will not tolerate emotional outbursts or swearing in the studio. If there is a problem, make an appointment with the Director to resolve any conflict that may arise.

ARRIVAL/TARDINESS:

Students should always wear street clothes (shorts, skirt, pants, etc) over their dance attire when arriving and leaving the building. They must also wear some form of street shoes. Students should NEVER wear their dance shoes outside of the building as they will pick up debris, which ruins their shoes and the studio floors.

Dancers should arrive no less than ten minutes before their class to have enough time to dress, prepare their hair and stretch. Merit understands that sometimes it is necessary to drop students off well before the start of the their class due to family schedules. If a student causes disruption in the lobby and must be spoken to by a staff member more than once, early drop off by that family will no longer be allowed.

Class will start at the designated time. Students who arrive late are frequently out of step for half of the class. Habitual tardiness is discouraged as it is disruptive to the class and the teacher. If a student is more than 15 minutes late, he/she will be asked to observe the remainder of the class. Students who are late, nevertheless, are encouraged to come and observe class, since much can be learned by observation. This is for the physical safety of the students. Students may not enter class late or leave class early without the teacher's permission. If you are having difficulty getting your child to class on time, please notify Merit and another class will be suggested for you.

PICKING UP YOUR STUDENT:

It is very important students are picked up in a timely manner. Students must be picked up within 15 minutes after their last class or at class end if it is the last class of the day. We care deeply about our students but our limited staff cannot be responsible for childcare duties that take them beyond their job descriptions and normal working hours. If you are running late, please call the office. Should there be repeated tardiness (more than 1 occurrence) from the same family, Merit will charge the family $15 for every 15 minutes or portion thereafter, in order to retain personnel past the regularly scheduled hours.

INJURY PROCEDURE:

Should a student injure themselves in class they are to notify their teacher immediately so the proper procedures may be followed. Depending on the severity of the injury, faculty may encourage them to be seen by a doctor before continuing class or rehearsal. In the event of injury, students are encouraged to attend and observe class. If a student sits out of class twice due to the same injury, a doctor's note is required to resume participation in class.

CLASS OBSERVATION:

Merit has a strict policy of not allowing class observation for students age 5+ Students do not give their full attention to their instructor when there is an audience to distract them. Some children behave differently when their parents are watching, others simply want to wave or keep their eye on their parent for approval or input. For you to receive full value for your dancer's class time, they need absolute concentration. The fewer distractions available to them, the more progress the teachers can make in each class. Every effort will be made for you to be aware of your student's progress and class activities, the last 5-10 minuets of class will be open to parent viewing. If you have concerns about this policy, or ideas for non-disruptive viewing, please contact an administrator.

WAITING AREAS DURING CLASS TIME:

We provide seating in the lobby as a courtesy to the families of our students to wait while their student is in class. We require that the furniture and anything else in our lobby is treated with respect. Parents who stay at Merit during their child's class must wait in the lobby and meet their children there after class. Students may wait for class to begin in the lobby.. Students, parents, siblings, and all guests are to be quiet when waiting for their class to begin, showing respect to those classes already in session. If you have brought other children with you while waiting to pick up a child, please be sure you are supervising them. We strive to make this a safe and comfortable environment for you and your children. With this in mind, we ask:

• Be considerate of those around you. At no time should someone be throwing objects, running, climbing on furniture, or roughhousing in the lobby and dressing room areas.

• Be sure all children clean up snacks and behave appropriately at all times

Students are expected to attend the classes for which they are registered. Official attendance is taken by instructors at the beginning of class. Should a student need to miss class, please report your absence ahead of time using the parent portal, so his/her absence can be considered excused.

Absences will permit the student to attend a make-up class in the same or lower level. Making up missed classes is an option, not a requirement. In the interest of our students and families, make-up classes allow students to keep pace with the momentum of Merit curriculum, safely build physical strength and maximize the value of their tuition.

Tuition will not be reimbursed for any absence or cancellation.

Once you have submitted your absence, you will be emailed to schedule a makeup class. A missed class may be made up within 30 days of the absence.

Please note:

• Missed classes for any reason are not eligible for refunds.

• Excessive unexcused absences that are not made up may, at the discretion of the instructor and the Director result in a student repeating a level

• A missed class may be made up within 30 days of the absence.

In today's world of informality and less-than-perfect manners, dance class provides an oasis of courtesy and dignity. A good working relationship based on mutual respect between students and instructors, as well as among students, is necessary for the well-being and progress of the students. Students, parents, and guests are to be considerate and respectful at all times. The following values should serve as guidelines for proper behavior of not only students, but parents and other guests. Courtesy and good manners are expected and encouraged.

•Quality: We set the highest standards of pedagogy, performance, safety, and service to each other.

•Alignment: We are an organized and innovative business that sets and implements shared goals and expectations for ourselves and our students.

•Professionalism: We represent Merit professionally with our actions, appearance, and dress.

•Fundamentals: We are fundamentally strong in classical training, which allows for innovation and creativity in instruction and performance.

•Investment: We invest our time and resources to achieve our goals through cultivating our personal best

PARENT CONDUCT:

Please be a good role model! Negative or inappropriate language and/or behavior will not be tolerated and may result in dismissal of both parent and/or student. Please communicate concerns sooner rather than later by contacting the studio to make an appointment. Faculty is not to be interrupted before, during, or between classes. Every effort will be made to address your concerns in a timely manner.

STUDENT CONDUCT:

Part of the tradition of the performing arts is the etiquette passed down between generations and Merit expects its students to be a part of this tradition; the primary value being respect for the study of the arts, the studio, teachers, and fellow students, and displaying a professional attitude every time they enter the building. Older students are role models and must represent the highest standards of morals and ethics. They are to set a good example for the younger students. Any violation of etiquette will be addressed by the Director to the parents of the student. Repeated or extreme violations could result in expulsion with no refund of tuition

Respect for Others:

Students are expected to respect other's space, property, rights, well-being and dignity. Students will be straightforward and honest, having integrity in their dealings with each other, other dancers, their teachers and other adults. Competition, though encouraged within the classroom, should not be felt in the halls and dressing rooms. Each student should help and encourage all of the others to do their best and set a good example for others. Students are to be respectful and considerate of other groups using Merit's studio and performance venues.

Respect for Authority:

Students must listen to and follow instructions given by faculty and staff.

Respect for Self:

Students are expected to care well for themselves and to refrain from any activity that could threaten their physical, emotional, or mental health.

student conduct

SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY:

Social media is any form of an online publication or presence that allows interactive communication. This include social networks, blogs, and photo sharing platforms, websites, forums, and wikis. Examples of social media include, but are not limited to, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat.

A digital footprint is the reputation you leave online. Your online actions leave a permanent record and remain online, even if you click "delete." Be thoughtful about what you share and consider how it would appear to family, friends, colleges, and future employers. Because many colleges and employers search social media before making admissions and hiring decisions, you might want to use social media as a tool to demonstrate your interests in positive ways. For instance, social media allows you to show who you are as a student and a dancer by sharing what you think about and what matters to you.

Student and Parent Use of Social Media:

• You do not have permission to reveal any information that compromises Merit. This includes the sharing of personal information about the staff, students and/or their families or any proprietary and/or confidential information is strictly prohibited.

• Students and parents should neither claim nor imply that they are speaking on behalf of Merit.

• Use discretion when posting pictures, including those of other students at Merit. Obey copyright laws.

• Students and parents may not use social media sites to publish disparaging or harassing remarks about Merit community members, including, but not limited to, faculty, staff, and students.

• Never post anything that could compromise self-esteem of students attending Merit.

• Respect the law, including those laws governing defamation, discrimination, harassment, copyright and fair use. Parents and students should never post negative comments about other schools, teachers, or events ,including competitions, conventions, and performances.

Students will be subject to discipline for:

• The use of and/or reference to vulgar, sexually explicit, or discriminatory language, actions, and/or gestures.

•The use of disrespectful or inflammatory remarks or gestures directed at the Merit organization, staff, faculty, students, parents, or any other associated person(s).

•The use of anything deemed negative or hateful to another individual or organization.

• Anything deemed as cyberbullying.

Merit reserves the right to dismiss students based on the above and any other actions considered unacceptable on all social media platforms in accordance with Merit's mission and values.

NON-DISCRIMINATION & NON_HARRASSMENT POLICY:

Merit believes in the power of the arts to connect all people and as such is dedicated to the equitable, dignified, and respectful treatment of all people in an environment free from harassment or discrimination. Merit prohibits harassment of any kind to or by any persons including, but not exclusive to, teachers, staff, students, parents, and persons doing business within the building. This prohibition includes harassment for any unlawful or discriminatory reason such as race, gender, national origin, disability, age or religion. This policy also prohibits actions which, while not serious enough to constitute harassment in a legal sense, are nevertheless commonly understood to be abusive and disrespectful to others. Slurs, jokes, comments or rumors which are derogatory of a person's race, ethnic background, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, economic status or age are inappropriate for any Merit related event or activity. This policy extends beyond verbal harassment to include any form of online or digital harassment or bullying. Bullying also includes, but is not limited to, acts of intimidation or threatening behavior. Each person is responsible for exercising good judgment to avoid engaging in conduct which may be in violation of this policy.

A person who believes themselves to be the victim of discrimination or harassment should report the incident to the Director. If a student only feels safe informing a parent, the parent should notify the Director immediately. The matter will be dealt with confidentially with disclosure only to the extent necessary for fair resolution and only to those requiring immediate knowledge. Failure to comply with this policy will result in disciplinary action, which include removal from the program.

TUITION & DISCOUNTS:

Tuition will be due on the 25th each preceding month. There will be a 2 day grace period. A $25 late fee will be added to all unpaid accounts on the 27th of each month. All families must keep an active card on file. If you choose to pay with a check, the check must be received by the studio on or before 8:00 AM the 27th of each month or a late fee will be added.  Each family will receive 1 excused late fee. Note will be made on the day of communication and the late fee will be taken off. If an account is delinquent more than 15 days with no communication, the family will be subject to removal from the program.

Tuition is non refundable. If class is cancelled by Merit Arts Company - We will hold a makeup class. If a student misses class due to travel, illness, family event etc they may drop into any class of their choice in their age division.

All families will be required to pay a $50 registration fee. If the class includes a recital performance an additional $75 per costume will be added to the account. Registration includes X1 complimentary Master Class Wristband Per Student enrolled. These are transferable and can be used by any student meeting proper age requirements. If you wish to transfer your complimentary class to another student please reach out to the studio in advance.

Students of Merit Arts Company may have the opportunity to be photographed or video taped during classes and at various events. With permission from parents these photos or video may be included for Merit Arts Company publications or advertisements, including on our website and various social media sites. To ensure privacy, specific names of children will not be included. No financial compensation shall be given for use of any photographs or video.

I acknowledge that Merit Arts Company may choose not to use my photo or video at this time, but may do so at its own discretion at a later date. Merit Arts Company reserves the right to discontinue use of photos or video without notice.

I have read this release and I understand its contents. I consent to and authorize the use by Merit Arts Company , or anyone authorized by Merit Arts Company , of any and all photographs or video which have been taken of my child/children.

*By agreeing to this document you are waiving certain legal rights, including the right to sue. You have the right to consult legal counsel.

There are significant elements of risk in any dance and performing arts activity ("Activity"). Merit Arts Company ("Merit") has taken reasonable steps to provide you with appropriate equipment and/or skilled instructors so you can enjoy an Activity at which you may or may not be skilled; however, we wish to remind you the Activity has foreseeable and unforeseeable risks and certain risks cannot be eliminated without destroying the unique character of the physical Activity. The same elements that contribute to the character of the Activity can be causes of serious injury to persons, death, and/or loss of or damage to equipment and can occur by accident, through negligence, or even intentionally. It is important for you to know in advance what to expect and to be informed of the inherent risks.

In consideration of Merit’s services with relation to the Activity, I voluntarily agree to release, indemnify and forever discharge and hold harmless Merit, and its agents, members, managers, owners, officers, directors, employees, volunteers, participants, and all other persons or entities acting in any other capacity with relation to the Activity (hereafter collectively referred to as the "Merit Indemnified Parties") from any and all claims, demands, or causes of action, which are in any way connected with my participation in the Activity or my use of Merit’s equipment or facilities, including any such claims which allege negligent acts or omissions of any Gravity Indemnified Party, on behalf of myself, my children, my heirs, my assigns, my personal representative and my estate as follows:

Partial Listing of Risks: I acknowledge the inherent known and unanticipated risks of the Activity, including those which could occur on the dance floor or damage to any equipment, accidental physical or emotional injury, illness, or in extreme cases, permanent trauma or death. I realize these risks cannot be eliminated without jeopardizing the essential qualities of the Activity. The risks may include but are not limited to: falling to the ground, falling on others, being fallen on by others; injuries resulting from the negligence of other dancers, visitors, participants, officers, directors, employees, volunteers, agents, or other persons who may be present; and/or my own negligence and/or training; negligence of designers; injuries occurring in the practice rooms but also the hallway, office, locker room, restrooms, parking lot or property surrounding the performing arts studio. I agree there are possible accidents which I cannot foresee, and Merit cannot foresee. I agree to pay attention to the condition of my body, the persons around me, the equipment I use and to advise staff if I inflict or notice any damage.

Express Assumption of Risks: I am aware that the Activity may entail risks of injury or even death to any participant. I understand the description above of these inherent risks is not complete and that other unknown or unanticipated inherent risks may result in injury or death. I knowingly and willingly agree to assume and accept full responsibility for the inherent risks identified herein and those inherent risks not specifically identified. My participation in the Activity is purely voluntary, no one is forcing me to participate, and I elect to participate in spite of and with full knowledge of the inherent risks. I expressly agree, accept and assume all of the risks which exist in the Activity. I hereby voluntarily release, remise and forever discharge and covenant not to sue the Merit Indemnified Parties, from all liability for any such personal injury that I may incur, and any and all claims, demands or causes of action, which are in any way connected with my participation in the Activity or my use of Velocity's equipment and/or facilities.

I agree that my instructor may physically touch me in a manner that assists me in the Activity. Merit has a very "hands on" professional approach by physically maneuvering me into proper dance technique and position. I agree this physical touch is for my protection against injury. I agree that if an employee/instructor makes a specific request or gives an instruction to me, I will comply. I accept that if I choose to ignore or disobey instructions given to me that, for my own safety and the safety of others, I may be permanently removed from the facility and/or program. I agree that Merit employees seek to create a safe environment by giving adequate warnings and/or instructions. I agree that Merit employees may not be aware of a participant's health, fitness or abilities; that they might misjudge specific situations, elements of the facilities or its equipment; that they may give inadequate warnings or instruction; or that the equipment being used might malfunction and I accept the risks of each of the foregoing.

Indemnity-Attorney's Fees-Jurisdiction-Venue: In the event any claim, demand or cause of action is made against a Merit Indemnified Party by the undersigned or by any minor over whom I have supervisory responsibility (whether or not the undersigned is physically present at the time of the occurrence of any injury, damage or loss), I agree to indemnify, hold harmless, and defend the said Merit Indemnified Parties, including the payment of reasonable attorney's fees, for any claim arising in whole or in part from alleged negligent action or inaction on the part of any Merit Indemnified Party. Should any Velocity Indemnified Party, or anyone acting on their behalf, be required to incur attorney's fees and costs to enforce this Agreement, I agree to indemnify and hold harmless that party for all such fees and costs.

In the event that I file a lawsuit against Merit or any other Merit Indemnified Party, I agree to do so solely in the state of Wyoming, and I further agree that the substantive law of that state shall apply in the action without regard to the conflict law rules of that state. I agree that if any portion of this agreement is found to be void or unenforceable, the remaining portions shall remain in full force and effect. By signing this document, I acknowledge that if anyone is hurt or property is damaged during my participation in this Activity, I may be found by a court of law to have waived my right to maintain a lawsuit against Merit or any other Merit Indemnified Party on the basis of any claim from which I have released them herein.

Capabilities-Health-Instruction: I certify that I have no medical, emotional and/or physical conditions which could interfere with my safety in this Activity, I have adequate insurance to cover any injury or damage I may cause or suffer while participating, or else I agree to bear the costs of such injury or damage myself. I certify that I am fully capable of participating in this Activity. Therefore, I assume and accept full responsibility for myself, including all minor children in my care, custody and control, for bodily injury, death or loss of personal property and expenses as a result of those inherent risks and dangers identified herein and those inherent risks and dangers not specifically identified, and as a result of my negligence in participating in this Activity. In the event of any injury or illness, I hereby authorize any medical treatment deemed necessary.