RE - COVID-19
Greetings Dance Family,
As a valued member of our dance family, we wanted to reach out regarding the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and its impact on our community and families.
We Are opening July 6, 2020.
We would like to reassure you that we are adhering to the Michigan Department of Health & Human Resources, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines as the health and wellbeing of our students, their families, and our staff are our top priority. We will continue to monitor and implement the local, state, and federal recommendations as they’re announced.
We take pride in our facility and how it operates and would like to highlight the policies we have in place at the studio to help our dance families stay healthy and safe.
Prevention Steps in the Studio:
• Sanitizer: We have sanitizer in each studio and the student lounge, as well as at the front desk and we encourage you to utilize it frequently.
• Handwashing: We encourage frequent handwashing (for at least 20 seconds before rinsing).
• Discouraging close contact: We have adjusted certain aspects of our classes to ensure dancers are not in too close of proximity. We will not be doing any partner work, giving hugs or hi-fives and are asking dancers to skip those interactions as well.
• Surface Cleaning: Every half hour we are wiping down frequently touched surfaces in the student lounge and office.
• We are taking every precaution and sanitizing the studio before and after every class by disinfecting mats, barres, door handles, light switches, spots, mopping floors, cleaning mirrors and we have eliminated using any dance props.
• Deep Cleaning: Each week we are deep cleaning the studio.
• Sneezes and Coughs: As always, we encourage dancers to cough and sneeze into their arms, not in their hands. However, if a child is coughing or sneezing in class, our teachers will disinfect their hands in the classroom and send the child to the front desk to be escorted to the bathroom to wash their hands. IF ANYONE IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD IS SICK, PLEASE DO NOT BRING YOUR CHILD TO DANCE.
• Staff: Only staff feeling well (without symptoms) will be in the studio.
• We will sign dancers in electronically at the front desk. We will be removing all paperwork and sign in sheets from the desk and posting it on the walls where there is no need to touch those items.
How you can help:
🚫 Don’t bring toys or gadgets from home.
🚫 Don’t send your child to the studio sick or if a family member is sick.
• Anyone missing a class during this time will be granted a make-up session.
🚫 Don’t break any formal quarantine/government restrictions.
‼ Encourage your child to cough and sneeze into their arm not in their hand.
‼ Alert us if your child does have COVID-19 and have been to the studio within the last 14 days so we can contact their peers‼
As COVID-19 continues to be part of our daily conversations, we know that children will be talking about it too. Two pediatrician approved resources you can use to help them understand what is happening are BRAIN POP and NPR. Please review the materials before sharing with your children to ensure they are age-appropriate. Brain Pop and NPR are just two of the many resources out there.
In the coming days and weeks, we will continue to monitor the situation and pass along any pertinent information we gather.
Additionally, we have been informed that at this time competitions and conventions have begun to cancel. It is not likely that we will participate in any events during the months of March or April. All are offering refunds/account credits to be used at future events. We will update you with more information as we receive it.
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FYI -- Myself and our dance community recently held discussions with external sources, doctors and advisers. One in particular was hosted by a director in California, Julie Kay Stallcup, with Dr. Mark Gerard, Board Certified in Internal Medicine, to properly educate us about COVID-19. Dr. Gerard has been in practice for over 25 years and is on staff at St. Joseph's Hospital in Burbank, CA. We sincerely thank Julie Kay and Dr. Gerard for hosting this conversation and for relaying this message to the dance community.
Below is what they have recommended:
• Anyone showing symptoms of COVID-19 or Flu please do not attend class.
• Symptoms include, but are not limited to cough, runny nose, fever (99.9 and above) and rash. Should anyone come to class with these symptoms they will be asked to go home.
• Close all water fountains or water dispensers down and have them bring their own water bottle with their full name on it.
• Dancers must wash their hands before and after class.
• Suspend using all dance props until the virus is under control.
• If a child sneezes in class, use hand sanitizer on their hands and then send them out to wash their hands.
• Parents, limit your time in the lobby. Drop off/pick up your children if you can. Leave siblings at home, or stay with them in the car when possible.
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Unfortunately, this is a tough and EVER CHANGING situation for everyone. However, please know that the well being of our students and families is a top priority! Please keep in mind that we are here to address any concerns or issues, and are happy to hear from you on additional ways we can keep our community healthy!
Sincerely,
STARS Elite Training Center 💙