Employee Handbook

2021-2022

CALENDAR September 7, 2021– June 4, 2022 September 6, 2021 September 7, 2021 September 20, 2021 October 9, 2021 October 11, 2021 October 12, 2021 October 23, 2021 October 23 - 24, 2021 October 29 -31, 2021 November 1-4, 2021 November 15 - 20, 2021 November 24 – 27, 2021 December 18, 2021 December 20 – Jan 2, 2022 January 17, 2022 January 21, 2022 January 22, 2022 January 24, 2022 February 4-6, 2022 February 21, 2022 March 7, 2022 April 11 - 17, 2022 April 26, 2022 April 26- May 1, 2022 May 1, 2022 May 1, 2022 May 21-22, 2022 May 30, 2022 May 31- June 3, 2022 June 4, 2022 June 5, 2022 June 20, 2022

Labor Day: No classes Semester I begins: First day of classes Registration for Winter Rising Stars Recital begins Last day to register for RS Winter Recital (Late fee after this date) Columbus Day: No classes Registration for Ballet & Contemporary Spring Recitals begins RS Final Winter Registration Date (No costume orders after this date) Loudoun Contemporary Dance Co. Fall Concert ASH Convention for LCDC LCPS Student Holiday; Classes will be held Parent Observation Week, all departments Thanksgiving Break: No Classes Last day to register for Spring Ballet & Contemporary Recitals Winter Break: No Classes. Classes resume 1/3/22 Martin Luther King Day: Holiday - No classes RS Winter Recital Rehearsals (Tentative Date) RS Winter Performance (Tentative Date) Spring Semester Begins NYCDA in PIT for LCDC Presidents Day: Holiday - No classes LCPS Student Holiday; Classes will be held Spring Break Pointe Letters Mailed Semester II: RS Parent Observation Week Only Contemporary Performing Companies Auditions (Tentative Date) LBPAC Auditions (Tentative Date) LCDC Spring Concert Memorial Day: No classes Spring Recital Rehearsals (Tentative Dates) RS & Contemporary Spring Performance (Tentative Date) Ballet Spring Performance (Tentative Date) Summer Session Begins

STUDENT ATTENDANCE Attendance for every student must be taken for every class. 1. Teachers: Use roll book located in each studio to take attendance w/in the first 10 minutes of class a. Notify desk staff if a student attends class that is not on your class roll. b. If a student is absent more than 3 classes in a row, please notify desk staff so that we can contact them. 2. Desk Staff: Check students in as best as possible as they enter the lobby. a. After 10 minutes of class start, take desk attendance book in each studio and cross reference attendance. b. Recorded attendance by class in Jack Rabbit. 3. Students should not be allowed to attend class if they are more than 15 minutes late. a. If dancers are more than 15 minutes late, the desk staff should check in with the teacher to see if they will allow them in.

MAKE-UP CLASSES 1. Dancers may make up in a class of their level or lower. 2. Dancers cannot make up in a class higher than their level. 3. Dancers must use a similar class for makeup: Please use makeup class lists for the season located at the front desk. 4. Dancers must check in at the front desk for a make-up class and sign in. 5. Desk staff will leave a note for the teacher in the studio for each dancer attending class as a make-up. 6. Make-up classes are only allowed based on class size availability. L 7. Dancers that have taken and in-eligible make up will be charged the drop in rate. 8. Dancers may make-up missed classes in the first semester from September 8 through January 23. 9. Dancers may make-up missed classes in the second semester from January 25 through June 11 10. Winter and Spring Break are not included in tuition, there for are not eligible for make-up classes. 11. The following holidays are eligible for make-up classes: a. Labor Day, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving break, MKL Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Snow Days

TRIAL CLASSES 1. Students must pre-register fr a trial class by calling the LSB desk, emailing info@lsofballet or on-line. 2. Desk Staff will fill out a trial class form with pertinent information. Please obtain all information on form before student attends class. 3. Trial classes are billed at the drop in rate. The registration fee only takes effect of they enroll. 4. Desk staff will email the teacher and notify them of the new student taking the trial class. Lorem 5. Desk staff will leave the trail form in the attendance book, ipsum 6. After class, the teacher should fill out the form and return to desk staff. 7. The desk staff and or teacher will follow up with the student and parent for placement. 8. Desk staff should follow up on all trail classes.

STUDENT PERFORMANCE & BEHAVIOR Any staff member that has concerns of any kind regarding a student should be directed immediately to Cherie via email at [email protected]. If it is an emergency, please call Cherie’s cell at 540-379-7966. If there is an incident of any sort (verbal, physical, injury, etc.), immediately have another staff member assist you and secure the situation. Do not ever try and deal with an incident alone. Once the situation is under control, fill out an incident report before you leave that day and follow up with an email and/or phone call to Cherie. Leave the filled out report with the front desk staff.

CANCELLATION OF CLASSES 1. All classes will require a minimum of four enrolled dancers (not including scholarship students) in order for a class to run. 2. We will make snow day decisions and announce by noon for class cancellations. 3. Teachers should not cancel a class without prior permission.

STUDENT AREA POLICY 1. Students should not wait in the hall between studio A, B & C. They should wait in the studio lobby only. 2. Student area is for students only. No parents, friends or siblings are allowed. 3. Dancers should not leave dance bags in the student area or lobby. They should take them to into the studio with them. 4. Dancers should not block the office entrance. 5. No food or drinks are allowed in the student area. 6. Noise should be kept at a minimum. 7. Student area and bathrooms are not allowed for “hanging out”. This is a transition space only. 8. All dancers 11 years and older should always wait in the lobby between classes, not the student area.

ETHICS & CONDUCT

1. Professionalism a. All staff members must maintain a commitment to professional ethics. b. Communicate effectively and respectfully, and take responsibility for and participate in the professional growth that results in enhanced dancer accomplishment. c. Build on students’ strengths while developing all areas of competence needed for appropriate progression. d. Teachers and staff members are to create and maintain a safe and positive environment. e. Communicate clear expectations about behavior to students, parents and implement disciplinary procedures with fairness and consistency in conjunction with the Loudoun School of Ballet’s policies and guidelines. f. Encourage students to develop self-discipline and conflict resolution skills. g. Engage dancers’ attention and recapture or refocus as necessary. h. All employees or contractors may be subject to drug and or alcohol testing. 2. Pedagogy a. Treat students with respect. b. Communicate personal enthusiasm for the art. c. Corrections should be given in a professional manner, tone and verbiage. d. Model caring, fairness, a sense of humor, courtesy, respect, and active listening. e. Public discussion of other staff members or dancers to students, colleagues and/or family members of LSB is prohibited. f. Demonstrate concern for dancers’ emotional and physical well-being. g. Encourage dancers to respect themselves and others. h. Communicate clear expectations for appropriate interactions among dancers. i. Encourage dancers to take pride in their work. j. Enhance dancers’ feelings of self-worth. k. Treat dancers fairly and equitably. l. All physical corrections should and are to be professionally technique driven.

ETHICS & CONDUCT (Continued)

3. Environment a. Teachers & staff are to use resources, routines, and procedures to provide a respectful, positive, safe, dancer-centered environment that is conducive to dancer development. b. Teachers & staff are to create and maintain a safe and positive environment. c. Teachers & staff are to manage studio/stage times and procedures to maximize class and rehearsal productivity to ensure continuous dancer engagement. d. Teachers & staff are to develop and maintain rapport with dancers. e. Teachers & staff are to conduct themselves for all dancers and peers in a respectful, supportive environment that encourages artistic interaction, active engagement in class/performance expression, and self-motivation. f. Teachers & staff are to collaborate with owner and colleagues to develop consistent policies and procedures that create a professional atmosphere and culture conducive to dancer development.

HARASSMENT & SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICY Harassment and or Sexual harassment is unlawful and an unacceptable form of behavior and will not be tolerated at or in any of CMCE, LLC/ Loudoun School of Ballet (LSB) classed, events or activities. LSB is committed to preventing harassment & sexual harassment in its classes, events and activities. What is Harrassment/Sexual Harassment? Any form of unwanted sexual attention, whether verbal or physical, is considered harassment, particularly in a relationship of unequal power. Criminal charges encompass a variety of the most serious areas, such as assault, battery, and rape. In addition, sex between a minor (under eighteen years old) and an adult is always illegal, whether or not the minor consents. Dancers need to understand that sexual harassment has very little to do with sex. Instead, the perpetrator often uses it to express hostility or anger, or as a way to show power or compensate for a deficiency in power. Many of us are confused about what actually constitutes sexual harassment; perhaps the following sample of behaviors will be helpful. Harassment can assume several forms, Here are some of the forms it can take: 1. Anyone who makes sexually explicit comments to a Dancer while at LSB class, auditions, rehearsals and or performances. 2. A person propositions a Dancer. 3. Anyone subjects Dancer(s) to unwanted touching, obscene pictures, and/or verbal sexual abuse. 4. A Dancer is depicted in sexually explicit drawings or comments in writing or on any social media. 5. Anyone touches a Dancer in inappropriate ways that are unrelated to correcting, or makes suggestive comments. 6. A group of Dancers stands in the hallways and makes sexual comments and propositions other Dancers as they pass. 7. Anyone forcibly hugs, grabs, or kisses other Dancer(s). 8. Repeated and insistent requests for a date are made in the face of a clear signal of a lack of interest.

HARASSMENT & SEXUAL HARASSMENT (Continued) Parents and administrators should be aware that children who do not understand the concept of consent might blame themselves for submitting to the harasser or for becoming aroused. Guilt is also an issue for adult victims who experience "frozen fright," a reaction of pure terror that temporarily disables them at the moment when they might be expected to ask for help. Finally, it is almost universal that sexual harassment will cause victims to experience feelings of shame and humiliation. Victims must remember that it is their sexual harassers--not themselves--who are wrong. Self-blame only makes matters worse. Dancers should know that the issue of consent is relevant only after the age of eighteen and only if the sexual activity is not experienced as a personal violation; if sex is welcomed at all times; and if both partners are free to stop the behavior without feeling pressured. It is always unethical for faculty members and Dancers to have a sexual relationship.

FRAMEWORK FOR BULLYING PREVENTION Contents are taken directly from, and are based on The Loudoun County Public School’s Framework for Bullying Prevention Policies

1. All students have the right to attend LSB where their individual differences are respected and where they are free of fear of harassment and bullying. a. LSB actively upholds and supports efforts to prevent harassment and bullying. b. The responsibility for combating bullying rests with the entire LSB community. Teachers & staff members are the acknowledged leaders in this effort; however, responsibility for effective anti-bullying programs must be the responsibility of the total school community. The administrators, teachers, directors, students, and parents must be united in their knowledge, approach, and response to this effort. 2. The bullying prevention framework used at LSB consists of three main components: a. Provide students with the skills to respond appropriately to peer mistreatment or bullying; b. Build resiliency skills in all students as prevention for bullying behaviors or victimization and; c. Teach the entire school community a consistent bystander and adult response to peer mistreatment and bullying to effectively interrupt behavior that is disrespectful /hurtful to others. 3. Through the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) action plan, LSB identifies its specific needs and implements strategies that are comprehensive and school-wide in an effort to protect its students and prevent bullying. Goals of the strategies include: a. increasing respect for differences in individuals and their beliefs, b. reducing bullying behaviors among students, c. preventing the development of new problems and d. creating better peer interactions within the studio. 4. The program includes, but is not limited to: a. assessing bullying within the school. b. assessing and gaining the staffs’ commitment to addressing bullying, c. implementing actions/programs that address the school’s needs, d. collecting data to track the effectiveness of school efforts and e. insuring that program is ongoing and sustainable for the long-term.

FRAMEWORK FOR BULLYING PREVENTION (Continued)

5. Purpose The purpose of this document is to set expectations, suggest strategies, and identify resources in order for LSB to develop approaches to prevent bullying. This document focuses on prevention so, all students are respected and open to learning. Components of PBIS which address bullying prevention specifically are Bully Prevention in Positive Behavior Support (Stop, Walk and Talk) at the elementary level and Bullying and Harassment Prevention in Positive Behavior Support: Expect Respect at the secondary (middle and high school) level. 6. Definition of Bullying “Bullying” means any aggressive and unwanted behavior that is intended to harm, intimidate, or humiliate the victim; involves a real or perceived power imbalance between the aggressor or aggressors and victim; and is repeated over time or causes severe emotional trauma. “Bullying” includes cyberbullying. “Bullying” does not include ordinary teasing, horseplay, argument, or peer conflict. (Code of Virginia § 22.1-276.01) 7. Bullying behavior is a subtype of the broader concept of peer aggression and victimization; bullying prevention approaches must focus more broadly on reducing all forms of aggressions and victimization, regardless of the intent, frequency, and power differential. 8. Guiding Principles of Bullying Prevention a. A school climate characterized by acceptance, positive interest, respect, and involvement with adults is important to promote an environment which supports learning and the development of the whole child. b. Bullying prevention efforts must be continual over time, multi-faceted, collaborative among all staff, and comprehensive. c. Effective bullying prevention is based on an authoritative, not authoritarian, model for the relationship between adults and children, where teachers are expected to demonstrate responsibility for the students’ total environment, not just their learning. d. Developing simple, clear, and firm rules about bullying can help to ensure that students are aware of adults’ expectations that they can refrain from bullying and help students who are bullied. e. All students must be taught expected behavior. f. Specific instruction and pre-correction to prevent bullying behavior from being rewarded by victims and bystanders must be essential elements in bullying prevention. g. Monitoring and acknowledgement of students for engaging in appropriate behavior is critical to the success of bullying prevention. h. If a student does not meet expectations that have been established, consequences must be applied consistently and appropriately.

CLASSROOM CONDUCT 1. Proper teaching attire is required. 2. All staff members should dress professionally according to their job description. 3. Teachers and staff should arrive promptly and in a timely manner for their shift/class. 4. If you are running late, please call the front desk at 703-771-3200 5. If a repair needs to be made in a studio or at the facility of any sorts, please let the desk staff know right away and they will notify Mike & Cherie 6. Please do not touch the thermostats. They are pre-set and should not be adjusted. If the heat or A/C does needs to be adjusted, please ask the desk staff. The desk staff should then check/notify Cherie or Mike.

SUBSTITUTES 1. You are responsible for finding your own substitute when you need coverage. Please contact regular LSB faculty members to find a sub. If an LSB teacher is not available, please inquire with Cherie. A contact list of staff is located at the back of the LSB handbook. You must notify Cherie and the front desk of your sub schedule. 2. Email notification must be sent to Cherie & Amy within one week of the planned absence. Please include date(s) of absence and who will be covering for you. 3. Extensive absences and tardiness will be handled on an individual case. More than five days per calendar year is considered excessive. Not including or limited to sickness, medical, emergency, and religious holidays.

BUILDING USAGE 1. Parking Per our rental agreement with the Toll House Shopping Center, the staff is required to park in the back of the building. One exception......For the safety of our staff, if you are leaving late at night, please park in front of the building under a light post which is located away from the building or in the center of the parking lot. Do not park in front of the building at any time. 2. Cleanliness Studio Cleanliness: All faculty are to assist in keeping the facility clean by picking up after themselves. a. Cleaning wipes have been installed in all the studios. Teachers should wipe down the barres, stereo equipment, and general areas after each shift. i. Dispensers do not contain hand wipes. They are for cleaning and staff purposes only. Not for student use. b, Studio thermostats are pre-set and should not be adjusted. If you need to adjust them, make sure they are set to 68 degrees in the winter and at 72 in the summer. You must notify the desk staff if you have adjusted the thermostat. c. Pick up all leftover belongs and put in the lost and found bin located in the lobby. d. Do not store your personal items, shoes, music, charges, or anything else at the studio. e. Keep feet off all walls, door jams, and furniture. f. Make sure you turn off all music equipment and lights after your classes. g. Desk staff should follow the cleaning “to do” items daily. 3. Nightly Closing a. Never lock up alone. b. Check all doors to be sure they are shut and locked. c. If you are the last teacher in a studio for the night, it is your job to make sure those doors are locked, lights are shut off, and everything is turned off. d. Set alarm e. Exit and lock door 4. Studio use for solos and private lessons a. If an LSB staff member is choreographing a solo or giving a private lesson, that instructor must be with the dancer at all rehearsals/lessons, unless another LSB staff member is substituting. b. Studio rental by an outside choreographer must be approved is subject to a studio rental fee. c. If a JCO company dancer sets their own choreography and is rehearsing on their own, studio rental is $15 per hour, and an LSB staff member and parent must be on the premises at all times during regular business hours. Parents are not allowed in the studios during rental time unless an LSB staff member is present. Parents must sign a waiver/rental agreement.

BUILDING USAGE (Continued) L 4. Studio use for solos and private lessons (continued) d. Studio rental for LSB students is $25/hour and must be scheduled through the LSB desk. or e. YAGP studio rental information will be sent out with YAGP invite information. e f. All studio rental and usage requests for any reason must go through the LSB desk staff. g. After approval, staff members must reserve studio space in the online calendar with 12-hour advance notice. Please email Cherie and Amy once dates have been added to the online calendar. Link: https://teamup.com/ksugh88cyq594azypu h. Any student using a studio without permission and a prior rental agreement/reservation will lose the privilege of performing any solos. j. Studio rentals for outside clientele are $45/hour 5. Students should not be using studios to “hang out” in or to practice on their own. If students are in a studio, a staff member must be supervising them at all times. If you see students unsupervised in a studio, please ask them to leave and notify the desk staff. PRIVATE LESSONS 1. Private lessons are available to dancers enrolled in regular LSB classes. Private lessons must be pre-approved and scheduled with the office manager. a. All private lessons will be scheduled through the LSB desk. b. All private lessons will be $80/hour, payable to LSB. Teachers will be paid $60 per hour for private lessons. c. Private lessons “on the side” using the LSB facility will not be allowed. d. No group lessons are allowed. Only one on one private lessons will be permitted. PAYROLL 1. Payroll will be submitted semi-monthly on the 15th and the last day of the month. 2. Staff and faculty should record only actual hours worked in their Jack Rabbit staff portal daily. 3. If you are subbing for someone, please mark who you are subbing for in the notes section. a. JR will flag any time that you are not scheduled for.

NON-COMPETE CLAUSE It is considered a conflict of interest for any LSB teacher/faculty to be employed or performs duties as an independent contractor by any other dance studio (or similar) to teach dance within a 25-mile radius. It is understood by both parties that if a teacher chooses to secure additional employment or contract work regarding dance instructional services, it will be given outside of this described radius. On occasion, exceptions to this rule may apply. Any exception to this would have to be agreed upon in writing by both parties as an amendment to their employment. In addition, any LSB current or past staff/faculty may not solicit any past or current LSB students for any reason.

COVID-19 PROTOCOLS The novel Coronavirus, COVID-19, has been declared a worldwide pandemic by the World Health Organization. COVID-19 is extremely contagious and is believed to spread mainly from person-to-person contact. As a result, federal, state, and local governments and federal and state health agencies recommend social distancing and have, in many locations, prohibited the congregation of groups of over 250 people. LSB has put preventative measures in place to reduce the spread of COVID-19; however, LSB cannot guarantee that you will not become exposed or infected with COVID-19. LSB will follow all local, state, and federal government COVID-19 guidelines and as an employee or independent contractor, you are aware of and assume the risks associated with COVID-19 . In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at LSB, the LSB Staff/Faculty will be required to assist with COVID-19 protocols as listed in our COVID-19 policy (attached as Exhibit A) which include but are not limited to: a. wiping down of the barres, benches, and high-touch studio areas after every class. b. desk staff will follow additional COVID-19 cleaning daily “to do” tasks c. physical distancing from students d. enforce that dancers are socially distanced when in the facility e. Dancers and staff the are unvaccinated must wear a mask at all times while in the facility. f. Unvaccinated dancers may remove their mask only when actively dancing. If you have been exposed to COIVD-19 or have fallen ill, please follow the guidelines as charted in the attachment marked Exhibit B.

LSB CONTACT INFORMATION All LSB staff should communicate to students and staff using and LSB email. If you do not have one, a new one will be assigned to you. Please check your LSB email on a regular basis. The LSB general email is [email protected]. LSB staff phone numbers are confidential and should not be shared with anyone. Cherie Maroni, Owner/Director: Mike Maroni, Owner: Judey Cawley, Office Manager: Amy Riehl, Daytime Desk Mgr: Rebecca Hitrik, Evening Desk Staff: Maureen Miller, Ballet Dept Dir. Lisa Startsman. Asst. Ballet Dept. Dir. Andria Jennens, Ballet Dept. Faculty Candra Eglin, Contemporary Dept. Dir Megan Cree, Contemp. Dept. Faculty Kelvin Marmol, Contermp Dept Faculty (Tap) Madelene Whitfield, Contemp, Dept. Faculty (Lyrical) Danielle Sirinsky, Rising Stars Department Dir. Lauren Eckart, Rising Stars Faculty Emily Maroni, Ballet & Contemp Faculty Conner Maroni, Desk Staff

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540-379-7966 703-606-0244 703-926-1337 703-408-0846 703-623-8649 703-409-8071 571-233-1141 703-819-1373 703-728-0536 703-475-6510 571-432-6106 703-304-2348 773-315-5000 571-214-6142 703-297-7624 703-297-7390