This week, we have been bombarded with families wanting to register. This blog post will share how our semesters run and how registration works.
Soar is divided into three departments: dance/tumbling, music, and art. These departments are broken up different ways:
-There is a 5 week summer session that includes each of the departments. This is the perfect way to try something without a long commitment. Summer runs the last week of June through July. We do not offer any type of make up lesson during the summer. We also do not discount tuition if a student will be out for a class. Please consider these things when enrolling.
-In music and art, it is divided into two semesters - fall (mid-August through beginning of December) and spring (January through May).
-In dance, our regular year classes run from mid-August to the end of May. We stop enrollment by the beginning of October to ensure we can get the students' costumes and that they will be well prepared for recital.
A few things to consider when enrolling:
- We do not offer refunds. Please take your time to make sure what you are enrolling for will fit your schedule. This means that if your child enrolls in a summer class but then chooses not to attend, you will not be refunded.
- Please plan what you are enrolling in because it affects our staff and other students. We usually have several students that end up on waiting lists. If you drop your spot after our enrollment closes, those on waiting lists cannot get a spot that semester. This also leaves openings in our teachers' schedules.
- Many people choose to enroll in a summer class to see how a student likes it before enrolling for a longer time period. Even though this works for many, please remember that classes fill up quickly and you may not get the time slot you want.
- Those auditioning for our dance competition team and hip hop crews (June 17th), only schedule a registration appointment if you are taking summer classes or are also enrolling in music and art in the fall. Even if your student does not make the team, we guarantee them a recreational dance spot.
How registration works:
1. In March, our summer and fall classes will be announced. Our current students will submit a paper that tells us if they are returning for summer and/or fall.
2. During Easter break, our staff calls the current families that have submitted the form to set up a registration appointment. Registration appointments are scheduled based off of how long a family has been at Soar. For example, families that have been with us since Soar started seven years ago will get first choice. IF A RETURNING FAMILY DOES NOT RETURN THEIR FORM OR SET UP THEIR REGISTRATION APPOINTMENT, THEY WILL USUALLY BE SOME OF OUR LAST TO REGISTER.
3. Registration appointments are done with our office staff. It is a 20 minute meeting where parents pick their student's classes. We also give you our policy and communications booklet. A payment form is made so families know what money is due and when. Please plan on paying those which apply: the registration fee, fall art material fee, music curriculum fee, and/or summer tuition.
4. In April, we will begin collecting names and numbers of new families that would like a registration appointment. We will call them during the Easter break to set up their registration appointment. The first day a new family can register is May 1st.
5. It is usually not until mid-May that people can just walk in and register.
My biggest point I want to make clear is that our studio fills up fast!!! We have many people say they "can't get in Soar." Yes, you can, but you have to do it when we are registering and do it quickly.
Please know that we run things this way for efficiency and to make sure we are organized. We do not offer online registration because it would be extremely difficult to get our 270 current enrollments registered this way with our multiple departments. Please stay up to date by asking to be added to our email list. You can do this by emailing our office manager at shannon@soarcreativearts.com. You can also go to our Contact page on this website. By filling this out, brochures will be mailed to you when they are ready at the end of March. Please let us know if we can answer any other questions by calling or emailing us. We are planning big things for our 8th year!!!
