HELEN O’GRADY DRAMA ACADEMY WA TERMS & POLICIES
Congratulations! You have joined thousands of parents worldwide whose children are benefiting from our acclaimed programme. As you may be aware, Helen O’Grady started the Academy here in Perth in 1979 – over 45 years ago! Our prime aim is to give children ongoing confidence, self-esteem and skill in verbal communication.
WHAT TO BRING TO CLASS
• Students should wear comfortable clothing to enable them to move freely during activities. Footwear should be soft-soled, however, in most classes, shoes and socks can be removed on arrival. Parents & Guardians are responsible for ensuring that students are dressed in appropriate clothing.
• Students should bring a labelled drink bottle (water only please).
SAFETY
Safety of our students and their families is of paramount importance to us, so please note the following:
Before Class
• Teachers are unable to supervise children outside of the classroom. Therefore, when bringing children to class, parents/guardians are responsible for the safe conduct of students in the entry and waiting areas of classrooms. Please ensure students have adult supervision until the teacher asks them to enter the class – this applies to all age groups.
• For students in Lower Primary classes, please note that our teachers need some preparation time before the start of their first class of the day and will open the doors five minutes before class starts.
• Students are to leave their bags, shoes, etc., neatly arranged at the designated area at their class, for easy collection at the end of the lesson. Students must not bring toys or any additional items to the session unless instructed by our teachers.
• Parents are not encouraged to attend the activity within the classroom, as experience has shown us that this inhibits the participation of the students! We will invite you to attend prepared presentations throughout the year.
Class Behaviour
• Students are expected to show respect, to act in a manner that will keep themselves safe and to report inappropriate behaviour. Our classes can involve physical movement within the class space. Students are expected to behave in a way that ensure the safety of themselves and others and to follow the teacher’s instructions accordingly to avoid injury. Physical behaviour that may lead to harm or injury is prohibited, e.g., touching, moving or using equipment incorrectly, without permission, entering out of bounds areas, physical contact between students, etc.
Our Class Rules In Brief:
As by its very nature, drama can be a vigorous and sometimes noisy activity, it is necessary for us to have a few class rules to make sure that the lesson is enjoyed by everyone:
• Students are expected to show respect, to act in a manner that will keep themselves and others safe and to report inappropriate behaviour.
• Children are asked to avoid physical contact with others during the lesson – unless the activity specified by the teacher instructs them to engage with a partner etc.
• Our classes can involve physical movement within the class space. From a safety point of view, although students may move at a fast pace on occasions, they must refrain from running or doing any gymnastic type movement in the drama class situation!
• We encourage active listening while the teacher is giving instructions, or other students are sharing ideas during class discussions.
• All teachers use a tambour as a teaching tool. When the tambour sounds, students must stop, look and listen.
• Fixtures or furniture within the hall are out of bounds and students must not touch or move anything unless instructed by their teacher.
• Most importantly, we must smile and have lots of fun!
Please be advised that disruptive behaviour by any individual student diminishes the value and enjoyment of the lesson for all other class members. Parents of any student who causes concern in this way will be advised by our teacher or Principal. For the following two lessons, the parents, class teacher and student will work together on behaviour modification. Ongoing attendance will be based on the outcome. We advise you of this policy now, as our aim is to ensure that every child receives the best possible lesson each week!
After Class
• Parents/guardians are asked to be waiting outside the classroom for the end of their child’s lesson. If parents/guardians haven’t yet arrived to collect them, students must remain in the classroom until they are collected. Please remind your children of this important rule each week – this applies to all age groups.
• Our teachers often have other commitments after class. Therefore, it would be appreciated if children could be collected promptly after class each week.
• If someone other than a child’s parent/guardian is collecting them at the end of class, the class teacher must be informed, in writing. To make this easy, each teacher has a “Signing Book”. Parents or guardians must use the Signing Book at the star of the lesson to let the teacher know if someone different will be collecting their child that day. We understand that it is not always possible to do this as some parents share lifts. In this case, please inform us once, in writing or by email, the names of adults who will be collecting your child from class and their contact numbers. If any children have permission to ride or walk home without parent supervision, please inform us, in writing or by email, so that our teachers can also store this information in the Signing Book.
FOOD ALLERGY ALERT
Most parents will be aware that some children suffer from allergies to some food products. Therefore, children may not bring any food into lessons, or venues. Also, if children have any food containing peanuts for afternoon tea, we ask that they wash their hands thoroughly before coming to class.
TOILETS
Please encourage your children to go to the toilet before class. If children need to visit the toilet during lesson time, they are sent in a pair, which means that two children are missing part of the activity.
REGISTRATION & PAYMENT OF FEES
We usually follow the school term system, of four, ten-week terms per year. The fee per ten-week term is all inclusive. Where two or more children in the same family attend, a family discount applies. If our WA school term varies from this usual ten weeks, parents will be advised of the pro rata, adjusted fees.
To help reduce administration time and to make it as simple as possible, all fees must be paid, in full, before your child’s first class.
If this is not possible, please contact the office before the start of classes so a special arrangement can be discussed. NB: A late administration fee of $20 may apply to overdue payments.
REFUND/CREDIT POLICY
In order to keep the fee affordable for all families, and the programme viable, we are unable to offer refunds, credits or trial classes.
PRIVACY POLICIES
Image Capture
Our teachers and Principals occasionally take digital photos of children during class to be used in publicity and promotional material and for our social media and website. No names are used without permission. Enrolled families are instructed to indicate their awareness of this policy by ticking the box applicable on the enrolment form.
As our curriculum is copyrighted, although we are happy for you to do so, any video created or filmed by parents at any of our performances or viewing sessions, using any curriculum from the Helen O’Grady Drama Academy WA must only be shared with family or friends and must have the following disclaimer clearly displayed at the beginning of any video footage:
“The following material has been recreated with the express permission of the Helen O’Grady Drama Academy. This material is protected by copyright and must not be replicated without permission or by people not associated with or enrolled in the Academy at the time of publication”.
All videos, documents, photographs (electronic or otherwise) and information provided by Helen O’Grady Drama Academy WA for any classes are the intellectual property of Helen O’Grady Drama Academy WA. They shall be used by the student for the sole purpose of participating in the drama program and shall not be used and/or distributed to any third party in any form for any other purpose without our prior written consent.
Contacts
Emergency contact numbers must be accessible during the activity time. Any change must be notified in writing prior to the next attendance.
Medical Conditions
Information is to be provided on conditions which may affect a student’s capacity to participate safely in the drama activity. Any change in condition must be reported to the Principal to ensure appropriate support.
Registration
Upon registration, you agree to your Helen O’Grady Drama Academy Branch Principal collecting your given information for lawful business purposes as required for the safety and well-being of our students, and billing and invoicing purposes.
FORCE MAJEURE EVENT
Helen O’Grady Drama Academy WA will not be liable or responsible for any failure to perform, or delay in performance of, any of our obligations that is caused by events outside our reasonable control (Force Majeure Event). A Force Majeure Event includes any act, event, non-happening, omission, accident or change in law beyond our reasonable control. Our performance is deemed to be suspended for the period that the Force Majeure Event continues, and we will have an extension of time for performance for the duration of that period. We will use our reasonable endeavours to bring the Force Majeure Event to a close or to find a solution by which our obligations may be performed despite the Force Majeure Event.
INSURANCE POLICY
Helen O’Grady Drama Academy WA has Public Liability Insurance (Sports). Our insurance policy requires all enrolments to accept the Terms & Conditions (above) and the waiver of liability within the public liability insurance policy from XL Insurance Company SE (below). Enrolments cannot be accepted if these conditions are not met.
“It is hereby agreed and understood that all participants sign a waiver of liability prior to taking part in the activities being organised by the Insured (O’Grady Drama) to confirm that:
(a) they have been given a safety briefing / briefed on the risks involved.
(b) that they accept that these activities are dangerous and can result in Death and/or Injury; and
(c) that they accept the risks involved and are responsible for their own actions and/or involvement.
In respect of persons under 16 years of age, a counter signature by the parent or guardian is mandatory.
Documentary evidence of such are to be kept on file by the Insured (O’Grady Drama) and made available to the Insurer at any time on reasonable notice of the Insurer.”
Ticking the box to say that you accept the Terms & Conditions on behalf of your participant(s) in our drama classes, will also be considered an acceptance of the waiver of liability in the above conditions of participation.
Helen O’Grady WA has the right to revise and amend the above terms, conditions and policies from time to time.
Please feel free to contact Executive Principal, Helen Davey to discuss any aspect of these Terms & Policies: Helen.Davey@helenogrady.net.au
