covid19-stigma-guide

Resource: World Health Organization (WHO)

Safe Travel and Quarantine Protocol Document

VAB Protocols for Post-Secondary Education

Covid-19 Handbook (Updated April 2021)

VAB Quarantine Plan

VAB Quarantine Plan Example

VAB Plans and Management of Cases and Contacts

VAB Plan for Outbreak Response and Recovery

VAB PTP & BP Absence Guide

VAB General Program Covid Absence Guide

Waiver-Quarantine

Covid-19 Testing, Care, Contact Tracing Info

Island Health: https://www.islandhealth.ca/learn-about-health/covid-19

B.C Centre for Disease Control: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19

B.C Covid-19 Self Assessment Tool: https://bc.thrive.health/covid19/en

World Health Organization (WHO): https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus#tab=tab_1

JUNE 15th, 2020

Not only is the Victoria Ballet Academy known internationally for our dance instruction and training programs, but we have worked hard during this time to ensure that our staff and dancers are safe, healthy and ready to return.  With that, please note that while we will be taking all necessary precautions required, a student’s return at his or her own risk and VAB is not responsible if a student contracts COVID-19 while traveling to and from Victoria, while traveling to and from the studios within Victoria, or while training at the studios.

Upon the direction of the Ministries of Health and Education, the BC Centre for Disease Control and public health officials, here are some of the first changes we’ve made to keep us all healthy:

Cleaning and disinfecting – in addition to the two sinks for proper handwashing, we have installed no-touch sanitizer pumps at the entrance to every space.  Our building will be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized twice each day with high touch surfaces and floors cleaned after every class.  High touch areas will be sanitized as per BC-CDC guidelines with an accelerated hydrogen peroxide spray.

Masks and “things” – Staff will wear masks or be behind a protective barrier; students must wear masks everywhere but the studios.  Please ensure that you have a plastic ziplock style bag to store it in safely.  There will be individual assigned cubbies for each dancer to place street shoes in upon entry, but please ensure that you are in your full dance wear as there is nowhere to change clothes.

Daily health check – dancers and families can help us by taking their temperature before coming to class.  DO NOT come to class if you have a fever, cough, shortness of breath, head or body ache, nausea, diarrhea or any other signs of Covid-19.  Please notify the academy and call 811 to notify public health.  All dancers and staff will go through a quick health screen upon entering, including a temperature check. 

Studios and physical space – we have been busy marking up the floors, installing barriers, posting very clear instructions and even knocking down some walls!  At all times, dancers will be two metres apart, including in the studio spaces.  We have widened the main hallway so that there is a clear flow in and out of the studios.  We have removed all but individually marked cubbies from the lounge so that there is no congestion, and we have changed basic routines for staff and dancers.  Classes have been broken into separate groups with separate entry and exit times to lessen traffic flow and increase safety.

Pick up and drop off only – if you are dropping a dancer off for class, we ask that you leave them at the front of the building at the open gate.  As you wait to pick-up, please stay clear of the security gate.  More information about specific entry and class times will be coming by email.  Please be prompt in picking up and dropping off your dancer to avoid unnecessary congestion.  As students will be unable to wait inside, and we are unable to supervise outside, please note class end-times.

Additional signage and visual prompts – we have worked hard to provide health and safety information as clearly as possible so that all dancers can read and see all available precautions in every space.  Students will be heavily monitored and prompted by staff to avoid confusion.

You will receive a more detailed schedule, including building and class entry times as well as updated safety information by email prior to classes starting, so stay tuned for more!

Entering and exiting the building – dancers will now enter the studio through the ground-level side door inside the security gate (DO NOT PROCEED UP THE STAIRS).  You’ll see lines on the sidewalk indicating where to line up.  As you come in the school door, you will have a quick health check, take your temperature, sanitize your hands and head upstairs to your labeled cubby in the lounge. 

When your class is finished, you will leave through the upstairs (usual) door and out the security gate.  Stop lines will be marked so that you stay two metres away from other dancers at all times.  If you have a parent or a friend who normally drops you off and picks you up, you can meet them on Johnson Street to the left of the security gate.

What to wear – Please wear a mask until you are in the studio and ready to begin class.  Bring a ziplock style bag to safely store it while you dance.  Please come dressed in your dancewear so that you only have to put your shoes on.  Thank you for leaving extras such as street clothes, bags and backpacks, etc., at home.  Each student will have a personalized cubby to store shoes and coats only.  Cubbies are located in the dance lounge and are clearly marked with your name on it.

Sanitize, sanitize, sanitize – There are hand sanitizer stations located as you enter, outside of each studio, at cubbies and at the exit door.  As always, there are two sinks, each located in the bathrooms and we encourage you to wash your hands for 20 seconds as often as you can.  We ask that you sanitize your hands as you enter and exit a new space and as you leave the school.

Water and snacks – For health reasons, we no longer have a water cooler.  That means that you need to bring as much water with you as you think you will need for your whole class.  Again, for health reasons, there will be no snacks or food allowed nor sold.  Remember to eat before or after class.  Once again, if you have a lot of water you want to keep with you, you may store it in your cubby.

Cubbies, washrooms and lounge space – As mentioned above, we ask that you bring ONLY what you need for your class and come prepared in your dancewear.  There are storage cubbies in the lounge marked with your name.  Washrooms can only accommodate one dancer at a time, so please plan accordingly.  There is no space to sit and talk inside the school, so social time must take place outside of class time.

VAB is not responsible if a student contracts COVID-19 while training at the studios or travelling to and from the studios.

Kim Strom

M. Ed., CEC

MAY 28, 2020:

Dear dancers, parents and caregivers,

Like you, we know the importance of physical activity, social connections and the continued opportunities to build professional skills for all of you.  As we move forward in providing on-site classes for all of our dancers, we want to make you aware of how we plan to mitigate health and safety concerns related to Covid-19.  This is the first of many updates and information sheets we will send as we continue to respond to new information from the Ministries of Health and Education, and from the BC Centre for Disease Control and Dr. Bonnie Henry.

Here are some of the first changes we’ve made so that you stay safe and healthy:

Coming and Going: Entry and exit – as we reopen for summer, you will notice the traffic flow has changed. We will have one door for entering the studio spaces, and a second door to exit. We will be using the outer courtyard space to keep traffic moving quickly and safely to limit contact and ensure appropriate social distancing.

Pick Up and Drop Off: As we will be using the courtyard to keep dancers moving, pick up and drop off will take place outside the locked gate. For those of you who cycle, bike parking will be on the street, rather than in the courtyard.

Cleaning and Sanitizing: We are following the BC-CDC guidelines for the cleaning of schools and childcare spaces. This includes ensuring that alcohol hand sanitizers are available and accessible at multiple points, that dancers are asked to routinely practice 20 seconds of handwashing, and that high touch surfaces are wiped down at the beginning of each class.  Likewise, studio floors will be disinfected before every class.

Studio Spaces: There will be much more space around dancers in the studio!  We ask for your support in maintaining the six-foot distance between you and your fellow dancers as we all do our best to ensure safe and practical physical distances. Likewise, hallway flow and all common spaces will be clearly marked to ensure that we all maintain the safest distance possible.

Water: Of course, you need lots of fluid!  All dancers will need to bring their own daily water supply to limit any contact of personal water bottles near sinks and water stations.

Changing, Lockers and Washroom Space: We know this will be different, but for safety, there will be limits to the number of dancers using the washrooms and student storage space at any given time. Please come in your dancewear to be as prepared as possible to limit the number of trips and length of time it may take to manage your personal belongings and dance “stuff”!

There is no doubt that your days and classes will look different as we all move forward, but we are committed to ensuring your safety, good health and professional excellence.  We will continue to keep you posted with information as it changes, and by the end of June, we will send out dancer and parent handbooks specific to your level of dance in our ongoing efforts related to Covid-19.

We look forward to welcoming all of you back in the studio in July! Until then, keep well.

Kim Strom

M. Ed., CEC