FAYM Policies

Registration in any FAYM class implies that you have read, understand, and agree to abide by all policies and procedures outlined below. You may skip to certain sections using the links below, but please read this page in its entirety.

Student Expectations and Behavior

It is expected that each student will come to weekly classes regularly with as few absences as possible. It is also expected that students will come to class prepared. This means:

Being on time 
Having your instrument in good working order
Remembering to bring your book and/or other music 
Having your parts learned (practice!)
Having all necessary supplies (extra reeds, pencils, music stand, etc.)

Not following these expectations is unprofessional and unfair to the students who are coming to classes prepared and ready to learn. Students who miss more than 2 classes in a row, consistently come unprepared, do not respect the directions of the instructor, or consistently come to class late may be dropped from the class roster without refund.

Respect for Teachers and Students

Because this may be the first classroom experience for some of our homeschooled students, parents should teach their children what constitutes proper classroom behavior and respect for the teacher. It is expected that parents will respect the choices and efforts made by the teachers/directors/hall monitors/helpers. This includes curriculum or music choices, instructions or directions, and lesson plans. Parents should also encourage their children to respect the instructions given by the classroom teachers.

Parents and students are also expected to show respect to all other students in the class. Students should act encouragingly to all other students in the class, regardless of their level of ability. We can all help and learn from each other!

Parents who wish to talk to teachers are encouraged to contact the teacher by email. If a face to face meeting is desired, parents should email the teacher to set up a date/time to talk. Teachers are not always available in between classes to address concerns with parents.

Attendance

It is expected that FAYM students will keep absences to a minimum. Please understand that our classes require steady attendance and consistent practice in order to make progress and keep up with the rest of the class.

If a student has to miss a class, the family should contact their FAYM teacher to notify him/her of the absence. Excessive absences can cause a student to be dropped from the roster. If a student misses too many classes right before a performance, the student may be dropped from the performance.

Illnesses

If you or your child has any symptom of any illness, the child should not come to class and risk infecting others. FAYM teachers will be monitoring all students throughout the semester. If it is found that a student who is visibly ill has been sent to class, that student will be removed from the classroom immediately and sent home.

Payments

Due Dates

All payments are due by the first of the month. This means the payment needs to be in our hands by the first! Thank you for planning ahead and getting payments in on time.

Refunds

Refunds are not given for any reason once the semester starts. There will be no refunds given if you pay for the entire semester up front and then drop a class before the semester is over.

The only exception to this policy is during the registration period. If a family signs up and pays for a class, and then has to change the class because of scheduling, or drop the class because the student did not test in to the expected level; and if the semester has not started yet, then payment for the class will be refunded.

Registration fees are never refunded because of the many, many hours of work and planning that the FAYM teachers put in to registering and auditioning and lesson planning for students.

If you are making monthly payments and drop a class, once you notify FAYM that you are dropping, you will be removed from the roster and won't be charged for any remaining months of the semester. Tuition is not pro-rated if you drop partly through a month.

Online Parent Portal

All families are required to sign up for an online Parent Portal account. This account will allow you to register for classes, see your weekly class schedule, check your payments and charges, and make payments online. Payments can be submitted with a credit card or echeck from your bank. Families may access this parent portal on a computer, or through the free app on your smartphone or tablet.

Use of New Life in Christ Church

Food in Class

Food is not allowed in any classroom at any time. If students spend many hours at FAYM and need a snack or a meal, all food must be consumed in the designated area.

Because of several severe allergies, no nuts, tree nuts, peanuts, or peanut butter is allowed at FAYM at any time.

No gum is ever allowed anywhere in the building at any time.

Water bottles are the only liquid allowed in classrooms, but students must keep the lids/caps/tops secure.

Waiting Area - Lounge

Unfortuntately, we do not have adequate resources for a lounge or “waiting room” for families to use.

Unused Classrooms

The daily schedule for each classroom will be posted on the classroom doors. When a classroom is not in use, parents may be able to make use of the empty classrooms as waiting rooms or quiet study rooms, but only when reserved in advance and approved by the director. Please email FAYMdirector@gmail.com to inquire about empty rooms.

Classroom Responsibilities - Set Up and Tear Down

Please assist your teacher by helping to set up or tear down/clean up your own classroom each day. Make note of the room schedule on the door. If you are the last class of the day, every student is responsible for cleaning the room and resetting chairs and desks before leaving.

Outside

The following outside policy will be strictly enforced for student safety and liability.

Students are not allowed outside to play or sit without an adult present (an adult is a guardian at least 21 years old). When the weather is pleasant, students can take advantage of the picnic tables to eat, read, or play games, but only with adult supervision (an adult is a guardian at least 21 years old). An adult guardian (at least 21 years of age) has to agree to accompany all students outside, or no students will be allowed outside.

Please do not play in the baseball areas without permission from New Life Church.

Children may go to the playground ONLY if an adult is with them. Unattended children may not go to the playground.

Parking

Parking is available in front of the church ONLY. Please do NOT park or drive on either side of the building, or behind the building. This policy must be strictly enforced to ensure the safety of the children who are walking between cars and the building.

Church staff have designated parking spots on the sides of the building. We are to leave those spots open for them.

If it is raining, please give your child an umbrella to walk to the building. Do NOT drive on the side of the building, because there is not enough room to turn around safely.

Drop Off and Pick Up

Students can not be left at FAYM beyond their regular class times. Early drop off and late pick up are not allowed. Families who regularly abuse this policy will be dropped from the FAYM student roster.

Students should be dropped off with enough time to get their instruments and music stands assembled before the start of class (about 10-15 minutes).  

Other Policies

Inclement Weather

In the case of inclement weather, FAYM classes may be canceled for that day. The decision to cancel classes will be made early in the morning, usually by 8AM. Families will be notified by email, and a notice will be posted on the FAYM website. Because FAYM rents the church building and several other groups use that building throughout the week, a makeup class cannot be offered. FAYM will not give refunds if inclement weather causes us to cancel classes.

Practicing

The number one way you can get the most out of your tuition payments is to PRACTICE your instrument or class assignment regularly. When students practice, classes progress at a faster rate, rehearsals run more smoothly, and the director can spend more time on ensemble playing and less time on helping individual players. Think about what would happen if you practiced your math or spelling skills only once a week! Your musical skills need frequent attention also. Try to make practice a part of your daily schedule. The amount of time that you practice each day is not nearly as important as the frequency - which means you'll learn the most by practicing often (every day).

It's a circle: if you practice, you'll get better. When you get better, your music will be easier. When it is easier, it is more fun to play! When it is more fun, you'll want to play/practice more. When you practice more, you'll get even better. See?

Communication

It is important that parents feel comfortable addressing any concerns to the teachers or director. FAYM welcomes your questions, comments, and concerns in order to continue developing a great program for all families. If parents have comments or concerns about any part of FAYM, they should email their concerns, or contact a teacher or the director to set up a time to discuss. The teachers and director aren't always available to talk in between classes. Parents should not assume that they can have an important conversation with a teacher as they pick up their child after a class. Some teachers have break times in between their classes, but parents should still contact the teacher ahead of time to make sure the teacher is available for a meeting.

Parent Volunteers and Hall Monitors

In order to fulfill our agreement with New Life Church, FAYM must provide hall monitors any time a FAYM class is in session. The hall monitors also help check, clean, and reset classrooms at the end of the day. FAYM will ask parents to volunteer to work hall monitor positions in exchange for tuition. This is a voluntary position, and nobody is required to work in order to participate in FAYM.