IMPORTANT!!
IF YOU HAVE ANY SYMPTOMS, DO NOT ATTEND CLASSES UNTIL YOU HAVE BEEN SYMPTOM FREE FOR 14 DAYS OR YOU HAVE COMPLETED A COVID-19 TEST & IT HAS BEEN NEGATIVE (Proof required).
Make up classes are provided for all classes missed. If you need to take time off due to symptoms or an outbreak, rest assured when you return we will provide make up classes for the sessions you missed.
Please login to your portal and click ‘attendance’ to report your absence, so we can organise your make up classes.
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What happens to my tuition and classes if there is a lockdown?
IN THE EVENT OF A STATE MANDATED LOCKDOWN 14 DAYS OR LESS:
To ensure all students continue to progress safely, tuition will continue and we will reschedule or provide make up classes for any missed classes.
IF A STATE MANDATED LOCKDOWN EXCEEDS 14 DAYS:
- Where outdoor training is permitted, classes will be transferred to an outdoor program in CircArts carpark
- Where outdoor training is not permitted, you will be given a choice of:
1. Support CircArts, keep your current membership level, attend online classes AND accumulate make up classes to be used later
2. Keep your strength up and enrol in an online only membership
3. Pause your membership for the duration of the lockdown period
- Aerial classes will be substituted for strength and flexibility while aerial classes are unable to run.
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COVID UPDATES
UPDATE: CIRCUIT BREAKER LOCKDOWN JUNE 2021
All classes have been rescheduled. We look forward to seeing you back in the studio on 11 June! Keep an eye on your emails for info!
MASKS Compulsory for all students aged 12+
QR CODE CHECKIN COMPULSORY FOR EVERYONE (if you cannot do a qr code checkin, please pop your details on the attendance register at the front desk)
UPDATE: SNAP LOCKDOWN FEBRUARY 2021
All classes have been rescheduled. We look forward to seeing you back in the studio next week!
UPDATE: OUTDOOR CLASS WEATHER TERMS, October:
We will endeavor to run classes provided it is safe to do so. In the event that there is a sudden change in weather during classes (ie sudden downpour of rain), students will be given shelter indoors at the studio.
If classes are cancelled for any reason, you will be notified via text & email. Please ensure your phone number is up to date on your account.
If the class is able to be facilitated online (ie handstand or stretch), a private zoom link will be sent to you and the class will run online instead. If the class cannot be run effectively online (ie aerial), we will provide you with a make up class or credit.
UPDATE 5th of October 2020: OPEN - Outdoor Classes!
UPDATE - CircArts is currently closed due to STAGE 3 restrictions in Victoria.
UPDATE - MASKS COMPULSORY for students over 12 years of age, from August 3rd 2020 per DHHS Victoria recommendations.
All students over 12yrs of age must bring their own face mask to training. This requirement has been stipulated by the DHHS Victoria.
Students under 12 years of age are strongly recommended to bring a mask also.
Masks do not need to be worn while doing strenuous activity.
Please bring a bag or container to store your mask in when not in use.
Further information will be provided as it becomes available.
UPDATE - Beginning Monday 20th of July:
1. We kindly request that students over 3yrs of age, bring their own face mask to training. This is not compulsory, however it is strongly recommended for students who wish to learn partner acrobatic skills.
We will not be wearing these masks for the full duration of class, only where we need to be in close proximity.
Our team will be wearing masks too, where and when it is feasible or they are in close proximity ie while spotting students.
By bringing a mask with you to training, you will help with the following:
- Reducing risk of transmission when coaches need to assist/spot students with skills. (All coaches are sanitising hands before and after physically assisting (spotting) students with any skills.)
- Reducing risk of transmission to and between eachother, particularly in the event people are in close proximity for any reason (ie partner acrobatics, if applicable)
I understand this is a lot to ask, however we have chosen to make this request for the protection and comfort of our members and team.
Many of our members and some of our team have felt or are feeling anxiety because of COVID-19. For some it has been debilitating.
We want to stand in solidarity together as a community and show our support so everyone feels comfortable doing whatever they feel they need to do, to train safely here.
If you are not comfortable bringing a mask with you, we understand. It is important to us that everyone feels comfortable.
*Friday partner acrobatic specialty students, masks are now compulsory for you, due to the nature of the specialty.
2. Reception will be operating on a virtual basis or via appointment only. Please do not enter reception, unless you absolutely have to.
This is to minimise the need for anyone that is not a student or CircArts team member to come into reception at all, and reduce the number of people entering and exiting our venue to further reduce the risk of transmission and protect our valued members and team.
We kindly ask that if you have any quick questions, you please call or text us on 0420 211 844.
If the question is not urgent, or requires a detailed response, please email: geelong@circarts.com.au and we will email or call you.
If you absolutely need to speak with us in person, physically at the studio, please arrange an appointment. This can be done over the phone via txt or via email.
We are also happy to facilitate appointments via Zoom!
What is CircArts doing to be COVID-safe?
1. All CircArts staff have completed COVID-19 infection control training (all CircArts staff also have current first aid and CPR training).
2. All CircArts staff have also completed CircArts extensive venue and circus training specific COVID safety training with our COVID safety coordinator in accordance with our COVID Safety plan.
3. CircArts team are rostered daily to clean equipment during and between classes, so our coaches can focus on what they do best - teaching awesome circus skills!
4. Temperature checking of every person upon entering the building, students, staff, family etc. Anyone with a temperature exceeding 37.5 degrees will not be permitted access and will be sent home.
5. Our COVID Safety Coordinator is ensuring we stay up to date with and adhere to the latest requirements from the Department of Health, to keep ourselves and our members COVID safe! If you have any questions requiring our COVID safe policies, we are available to answer queries specifically related to our COVID-19 policies via email to geelong@circarts.com.au
6. Make up classes are available per our usual policy. Please log your absence online through your login under ‘attendance’ to be eligible for a make up class. If you are exhibiting symptoms, do not return to class for 14 days after symptoms subside or your COVID test returns negative.
7. Additional rigging points installed to ensure aerial classes can run while maintaining physical distancing (indoor classes)
8. Additional aerial equipment purchased so no sharing of aerial equipment is required.
9. Installation of paper towel dispensers in the bathrooms
10. Installation of hand dryers in the bathrooms
11. Students encouraged to maintain physical distancing in class.
12. Anyone exhibiting symptoms will not be permitted entry to the facility. Anyone who has symptoms during class, will be given a mask, quarantined and sent home and the Department of health will be notified by our Covid Safety Coordinator.
13. Hand sanitising stations have been placed at entry, reception and in each training area. Handwashing is required before and after each class, and if students exit the training area for any reason ie to get a drink.
14. Adaptation of lesson plans to reduce contact during classes and maintain physical distancing, staggering skill progressions to allow the body time to adapt safely to full training capacity and minimise risk of injury.
15. Sanitisation of all equipment between classes and groups. Limited sharing of equipment in classes.
16. Frequent sanitisation of all frequently touched surfaces, ie door handles, light switches etc
17. Appropriate signage and procedures as required by the Department of Health, including limiting the number of students in each class.
18. Get in, train, get out and booking only policy. No lingering before or after class
19. Classes will be staggered to minimise number of people on the premises, and to allow ample time for cleaning and changeover between classes.
20. Restricting patrons in the venue to essential patrons only, students and CircArts staff only (carers permitted in specific circumstances only and must be booked in due to venue capacity limits).
21. Venue 'orientation sessions' at the studio, to ensure all members are aware of, understand and comfortable with the COVID safety procedures.
NOTE: The space is cleaned between groups.
Students under the age of 18 may be allowed to share aerial equipment in some instances, although all efforts will be made to minimise this.
Students will be allowed to continue partner acrobatic training, at the coaches discretion. Skills will be altered to reduce unnecessary contact.
Semester 2/ Adults Term 4 2020
In the light of recent developments with mandated lockdowns across Melbourne metro, I thought I would take a moment to let you know how CircArts will be handling tuition payments going forward.
What will happen with tuition payments in the event of further state mandated lockdowns?
If there are further state mandated lockdowns which affect CircArts Geelong, your membership will be transferred automatically to a weekly online class membership at a lower weekly rate.
Make up classes will be provided upon reopening for those that choose to enrol and pay for another term of classes.
How will enrolment look?
1. All members will be required to enrol in and commit to their enrolment for their Semester enrolment period as normal.
2. All members will be required to commit to a direct debit payment plan for all tuition payments or pay in full upfront.
A few weeks tuition in advance will be required upfront as a deposit for the semester, this will come off tuition at the end of your membership period with us.
We will debit your nominated card weekly until you cancel your membership.
Note: We automatically reenrol you each semester and each year, so you only need to notify us if you decide you will not be returning.
Memberships for current semesters cannot be cancelled as classes run based on the number of students enrolled to attend.
To cancel your membership, notify us in writing via email that you will not be returning for the following semester, before the end of the semester you are enrolled in.
3. In the event of a state mandated lockdown 2 weeks or less, classes will be rescheduled and tuition will be payable.
In the event of a lockdown exceeding 2 weeks, if outdoor classes cannot be provided, you will have the option of switching to online classes or pausing your membership for the lockdown duration.
4. If you miss classes for any reason tuition will be payable and our usual make up class policy will apply.
- Make up classes are provided for all physical classes that have been paid for and missed.
- Make up classes can only be used while you are an enrolled paying member.
- Make up classes cannot be used to reduce semester tuition payments for any reason.
- Make up classes can only be used against equivalent classes, holiday programs and CircArts in house workshops with CircArts core trainers.
- Make up classes do not expire unless you cancel your membership and do not re enrol within 12 months.
What happens with the classes I paid for but missed during lockdown?
It is our intention to ensure all students have the opportunity to make up all classes missed, whether they participated in online classes or not. This is because we firmly believe in ensuring all members have equal access and opportunity to train.
Some of these will take place with holiday programs or workshops, others will take place as spaces become available in classes and as venue capacity restrictions are eased.
If you are note ready to attend classes yet, rest assured, your make up classes will not expire, they are valid while you continue to be an enrolled paying student at CircArts.
If you pause your membership and have paid in full for the training period, your make up classes are put on hold and will be there for you to enjoy when you reinstate your membership.
Make up classes are not transferable and cannot be used as a credit against tuition fees.
All make up classes must be used in addition to an enrolled class, meaning while you are an enrolled paying student, you can use your make up classes in addition to your regular sessions, or attend selected holiday programs and workshops free of charge as make ups.
This is because we need to make sure things are sustainable so we can keep the doors open for students to continue enjoying classes for years to come.
If we pro rata tuition for classes going forward, frankly we will not have the income or space in class to generate income, so we will not be able to survive financially.
Thankyou for your understanding.
1. Be A CircArts Ally. You pay for your tuition period. This can be done upfront or via direct debit payment plan.
By choosing this option, you will be supporting us and ‘keeping the lights’ on which will ensure we can continue to provide training and support to students through this tough time.
If you choose this option, any physical classes paid for during our period of closure (14 weeks and 4 days for kids, 6 weeks for adults) will be added to your account as make up classes and can be used to attend extra classes, for the duration of your time enrolled at CircArts.
Make up classes do not expire while you are enrolled paying member. If you cancel your membership and reinstate it within 12 months, your make up classes will also be honoured, giving you time to pursue other interests, or deal with life events, then come back and enjoy your training.
It will also entitle you to attend holiday programs etc as these can be used as make up classes.
In addition to this this option entitles you to attend free bonus workshops that we are putting on as a thank you to our members who have chosen this option.
2. We apply a credit/pause your tuition for our period of closure (14 weeks and 4 days for kids, 17 March to 28 June, or 6 weeks for adults) to your Semester 2/Adults Term 4 tuition.
Semester 2 is 23 weeks, the difference of 8 weeks will be payable in full.
Adults Term 4 is 8 weeks. The difference of 2 weeks will be payable in full.
This will mean you will not have any make up classes (other than those accumulated prior to March 17th), and you will forfeit the right to attend free of charge, the extra bonus workshops which we are providing as a Thankyou to those who continued to support us during the time of closure.
NOTE: Due to venue capacity restrictions, we will first have to prioritise spaces in class to members who choose option 2 (below), or new members who are paying Semester 2 tuition in full.
This is because we need to be able to cover our overheads and this is very difficult while we are only allowed to have 20 students in the training area due to venue capacity restrictions. We usually have 40+ per hour in the first 2-3 hours!
This may mean we need to enrol you on on a different day/time, as we can only enrol you into class if there is a space available, or that we may need to delay your enrolment date until venue capacity restrictions ease a little, if all classes are at capacity.
3. Cancellation of enrolment.
Cancellation: If you choose this option, we can refund you for the weeks where we were closed, if you do not intend to claim the classes at the studio within 12 months (14weeks & 4 days for kids, 6 weeks for adults) and do not wish to donate the tuition to other CircArts students.
You will need to provide a bank account to receive your refund.
OR
Deferral: You can choose to keep your classes on your account as make up classes, which you will be able to use if you reinstate your account within 12 months. If you do not reinstate your membership within 12 months, you will lose these make up classes.
OR
Donation: You can choose to donate the 14 weeks tuition to our CircArts Angel Fund Account, which is a new initiative we have created to support students experiencing financial hardship to continue training.
At the date of writing, our incredible member base has supported 11 students and counting, to continue training with 50% - Full Tuition sponsorship.
Students who are supported to continue training through the Angel Fund, are encouraged to ‘Pay it Forward’ in the community when they are able.
Angel Fund Account details: Please be careful when transferring as this is not the account regular tuition is transferred to!
CircArts Pty Ltd
BSB: 062 692
ACCOUNT: 39586893
REFERENCE: Angel Hardship
Letter to members from CircArts
COVID-Safety Coordinator
Dear CircArtists and Families,
Thank you for all your understanding and patience during this challenging time. As we return to some sense of normalcy, there will be some changes to how we operate in the space. I have outlined the changes below using the guidelines stipulated by the Victorian Government.
Generally:
● Please report any illness/cold symptoms BEFORE arriving on the premises. We encourage you are swabbed for COVID-19 if you’re experiencing any cold or flu-like symptoms and are only permitted to return to training if you’re negative. If swab returns as positive you must quarantine for 14 days and notify both the Department of Health and CircArts so that we can act appropriately.
● Students are not permitted to be on the premises while unwell, and will not be able to return to CircArts for 14 days or until the COVID swab returns negative.
● Any classes missed due to illness/quarantine will be able to be rescheduled or “made-up” using our usual system. Please contact reception for any rescheduling via email.
● You must book your place prior to attending class . No booking. No class. No exceptions. We are required to keep strict attendance records for contact tracing should this be required.
● If you cannot attend, please unbook at your earliest convenience by logging your absence in your online portal. This will allow us to allocate your spot to someone else.
To advise us of your absence, please log in to your online portal at circarts.com.au then click ‘attendance’ and follow the prompts to report your absence.
● The use of change rooms is to be avoided unless absolutely necessary. We ask that, where possible, you arrive dressed & ready to train. Bathrooms are available for use.
● Footwear must be worn to and from CircArts. If you turn up in bare feet you will not be permitted entry.
● As much as it saddens us, there can unfortunately be no hugs, high fives or other physical contact between Members for now.
Before classes:
● You will be required to arrive to CircArts on time for each class due to venue capacity restrictions. This ensures enough time for hand washing, temperature checking and other hygiene practices to ensure COVID safety is maintained. Students will be required to wash their hands when entering the space, and again when leaving.
● Students will be required to wait with their parent or on their own in the carpark as marked by cones (1.5m apart). Parents will not be permitted inside the building except under specific circumstances. There is a maximum of 4 people allowed inside the reception area, and one person per bathroom at each time, and maximum of 20 allowed in the training space.
● Students will not be permitted to store belongings in the reception area. Shoes must be removed before entering the training space as usual. Jumpers, water bottles and shoes will all be stored in individual cubby-holes to allow minimise contact.
● Students will be required to bring their own drink bottles and only staff will be permitted in the kitchen.
During classes:
● Physical distancing must be maintained at all times for those 18 years and over.
There will be signage around the space as well as markings on the floor to help, but please remember to adhere to the four-square metre/person rule.
● Students not adhering to physical distancing requirements will be sent home.
After class:
● Each class will finish 5 minutes early to wipe down any equipment used and allow students time to exit the building while maintaining physical distancing. Students will be encouraged to help where appropriate.
● All equipment will be sanitised after use including; mats, aerials, and manipulation equipment. Students will be encouraged to assist coaches with this where appropriate.
● Students will be required to wash their hands on exiting the training area.
● Students will be escorted to collect their belongings and then will wait inside until their parents arrive at the markers in the carpark. Students over 16 years will be permitted to exit
unescorted.
● Once your class has finished, we ask that you leave promptly. As much as we would like to, current restrictions unfortunately prevent us from lingering or sitting in the foyer after classes.
A few final notes...
● Negative attitudes towards any CircArts team member or other CircArtists will not be tolerated. The current restrictions are outside of our control - we are all doing our best to make the most of the current situation.
● Please be considerate & respectful of your fellow CircArtists.
If you have any questions please let me know. I look forward to seeing you all again and working through this difficult time together.
Kind regards,
COVID-19 Safety Coordinator
CircArts Geelong
geelong@circarts.com.au