NFC Dance COVID Policy

NFC COVID-19 POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

In accordance with the rules and regulations set out by our Provincial and Local Public Health Officials, as well as Newcastle Memorial Arena, Newcastle Family Connection (NFC) has constructed the following policies and procedures.

In order to continue to provide families with recreational dance programs, all members of NFC including board members, staff, students, and their families are required to follow them.

**Please note: NFC reserves the right to change or update these policies as directed by the Provincial/Local Public Health Officials in order to provide a safe and stress-free environment to run the programs.

Prevention

All individuals must maintain a physical distance of at least two meters (approximately 6 feet) or more between persons including teachers, students, and their family members, volunteers, and any possessions. Class times have been staggered and an increase of time between as been allotted to allow for cleaning time and to reduce the number of students entering and exiting the building at one time. 

The use of hand sanitizer upon arrival, before and after any breaks, and at the beginning and end of each class is required.  Hand Sanitizer will be provided in the arena at the building exits and in the classroom. If any persons have a medical reason, they cannot use the hand sanitizer such as an allergy, they are required to arrive with a substitute for proper hand sanitation.

All individuals will avoid touching their faces including their eyes, nose, and mouth.

Individuals should avoid high-touch areas where possible, or ensure hands are washed or sanitized after. This includes the washroom facilities which are only to be used for emergencies. Hands are to be washed after and hand sanitizer reapplied before re-entering the class.

Individuals will be encouraged to follow respiratory etiquette (e.g. coughing, sneezing into a bent elbow, promptly disposing of used tissues in the trash, sanitizing hands after etc.)

All persons are asked not to attend the studio or classes if they are exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms or are under self-isolation or quarantine. A COVID-19 screening questionnaire will be provided on our website.

Screening Procedures

All individuals including teachers, students, volunteers and arena staff will be screened prior to entrance into the arena. Persons will maintain their distance during the screening process and a properly worn mask (covering both nose and mouth) must be on at all times. Entry will be denied to any person who has any of the symptoms. Please see our website for a copy of the COVID-19 screening questions.

Sanitization of Studio 

Frequently touched surfaces (doorknobs, light switches, toilet handles, sinks, barres, props, etc) will be disinfected between each class.

Floors will be washed between each class.

Only disinfectants that have a Drug Identification Number (DIN) will be used. Staff will wear appropriate PPE while cleaning and sanitizing.

Disposable towels and spray cleaners, or disposable wipes, will be made available to regularly clean and disinfect commonly used surfaces.

Washroom Policy

We strongly encourage students to use the bathroom prior to entering the studio. Washrooms are for urgent use only and disinfected regularly. Students will sanitize their hands before and after use.

Entrance and Exit

To reduce cross-over and maintain appropriate physical distance before and after their scheduled class time, only registered students may enter the building, and only when advised by NFC staff. Please wait outside the west door until invited to enter.

Parents are not permitted into the arena. Our Movement to Music class will have a 1:2 ratio and our Creative classes will have a 1:3 ratio. Parents may wait outside in their vehicles where/when possible. Teachers will always have each child’s emergency numbers.

Teachers will allow students to enter 10 mins prior to class start times. Entrance and exit times will be staggered in order to limit the number of students in the common space at the same time and adhere to physical distancing requirements. A student volunteer will be upstairs to supervise students Gr. 3 and under as they arrive while the teacher completes the questionnaire with parents.

Doors will be locked at the start of class time and remain locked until classes end. At this time we cannot accommodate individuals arriving late.

Protective Covering

All persons entering the building (ages 2 and older) must properly wear a mask (masks cover both nose and mouth). PROPERLY WORN MASKS ARE MANDATORY FOR ALL STUDENTS GRADE 3 AND UP.  We strongly encourage all students to wear a mask. Masks must be worn properly, covering both the nose and the mouth. NFC staff and volunteers will be provide with both masks and face shields.

Social Distancing

Accurate capacity has been established using current guidelines of 2 meters distancing to ensure the best experience for all our dancers. Personal dance squares are tapped on the floor and all dancers are required to stay within their space during the class.

Furniture and décor have been removed from the waiting room area.

 All outdoor shoes and clothing will be placed in marked areas. Volunteers and staff will assist students as needed. ONLY BRING THE BARE MINIMUM TO CLASS WITH YOU EACH EVENING. (no stuffed animals, books, or toys). Props have been removed from our program at this time.

Space markers will be placed in common areas, lobbies, and classrooms to ensure two-meter physical distancing requirements are adhered to at all times. Only one parent/guardian of children in Movement to Music are permitted to wait in the upstairs lobby (distanced from others) but are still encouraged to wait outside or in their vehicles where/when possible. Parents must adhere to all the dance and arena policies regarding prevention, wearing proper masks (covering the nose and mouth) at all times and maintaining social distance. Any children not participating in the current class are not permitted in the building at this time, including siblings.

Parents/guardians are advised to wait outside with students until the designated drop off time (no more than 10 minutes before class start time) and to meet their child near the door after class at the designated time. Pick up will be at the North side of the building. Children’s safe exiting of the building to a parent will be monitored by staff. Late arrivals will only be permitted when it is safe to do so.

Management of Children with Symptoms of COVID-19

If a child begins to experience symptoms of COVID-19 while in the facility:

•      They will be immediately separated from others in a supervised area, away from other persons inside the facility, until they can go home. Whoever is supervising the child will maintain physical distance of at least 2 meters.

•      Hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette will be practiced while the child is in our care.

•      Environmental cleaning of any space the child was in contact with will be conducted once the child has been picked up.

•      If a student, staff or family member tests positive, NFC and the local health unit are to be notified and their directions will be followed.

•      Children or staff who have been exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19 will be required to stay home and self-isolate for 14 days.

In the event of a required closure due to an Emergency Declaration or other required closure(s), NFC will cancel any remaining dance classes. A credit will be applied to the account for the difference, families have the option of withdrawing the credit in the form of a refund. NFC reserves the right to change or update these policies as directed by the Provincial/Local Public Health Officials.

Contact Tracking and Tracing

NFC will communicate frequently with employees, volunteers, and students with clear signage and other notices as provided by local public health units or the Government of Ontario.

NFC will accurately track all absences as they occur. Records will be kept to assist in tracking in the event that absence is due to symptoms or a diagnosis consistent with COVID-19.

NFC will maintain accurate and up to date contact information for all staff, contractors, students and visitors. The information will include, as appropriate: Name, phone number, and parent contact information.

NFC will be providing the information of attendees to the Newcastle Memorial Arena to help them with contact tracing.

NFC will provide records as required for the purpose of conducting contact-tracing during the COVID-19 pandemic to Provincial/Local Public Health officials.

Guidelines for a Safe NFC Dance Season

In light of COVID-19 and the changes that have come to every day life, the NFC board members have made changes to our programming to be better prepared for the 2020/2021 dance season. We ask that everyone remember that this is new for us all! We are a not-for-profit organization and are run entirely by the volunteer board members. We have spent hours to create a guideline to allow us to operate and allow you to participate in the amazing programs offered by this dance studio. We have researched the Provincial and Local Heath regulations and have received the policies from Newcastle Memorial Arena where we currently rent our space.

But we also are parents of students and understand doing so while social distancing is a new experience for everyone. We thank you for your understanding and cooperation during this time. Without you we cannot continue to run so we want to thank you for your grace and assistance. Things will look a little different this season but NFC still hopes to provide their families and participants with a fun recreational dance program.  We will continue to do everything we can to mitigate risk and prevent exposure among the dancers, faculty, staff, and families.

We are practicing social distancing, wearing face coverings, disinfecting barres, floors, and any other surfaces the dancers might touch between every class. We have created social/physical distance boxes or “Dancing Squares”, using colourful tape to help guide students and to practice our rights and lefts.

We are using a government-approved cleaner throughout the studio to ensure that dancers, faculty, staff, and families are kept safe. With your help, we can all continue to enjoy our wonderful program.

We have outlined below what you can expect upon entering, participating and exiting the dance studio. But as always, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out to us by email nfcdance@hotmail.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nfdance

       Please ensure you use the washroom at home before you come to the studio. Washrooms are for urgent use only. A volunteer will be assisting in classes for grades 3 and under and in lieu of our usual buddy system, will accompany any child to the bathroom.

       Please bring enough water from home to last the class. We are not able to allow children to share or refill their water bottles. Your water bottle is permitted, but please leave all personal belongings at home.

       Please wait outside the arena socially distanced 2 meters (6 feet) apart with a mask on, no more than 10 mins before your class time. A staff member will give access to the building to class participants only upon completion of the questionnaire.

       All persons entering the building must wear a mask (covering both nose and mouth), sanitize their hands and complete a questionnaire.

       Parents/guardians are not permitted to enter or wait in the building at this time. Only one parent/guardian of children in Movement to Music are permitted to wait in the upstairs lobby (distanced from others) but are still encouraged to wait outside or in their vehicles where/when possible. Parents must adhere to all the dance and arena policies regarding prevention, wearing proper masks (covering the nose and mouth) at all times and maintaining social distance. Any children not participating in the current class are not permitted in the building at this time, including siblings.

       Newcastle Memorial Arena has requested we limit the amount of persons to a minimum but parents are still encouraged to wait outside or in their vehicles where/when possible.

       Doors will be locked once class has begun. Late arrivals will not be accommodated.

       Students will arrive ready to dance. Students must place all personal items (shoes, outdoor clothes) in the bucket or bag brought from home and place it in the designated area. Do not bring anything extra to class – toys, stuffies, homework, etc.

       Students may then proceed to their designated “Dancing Square”.

Students will exit through designated exits and must have a parent/guardian waiting for them ON TIME promptly when class is over. Late pick up cannot be accommodated as we have a strict schedule to adhere to.