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POLICIES &WAIVERS

WELCOME TO BLACKROCK 

BlackRock Center for the Arts is dedicated to providing exceptional arts education opportunities to children and adults of all ages and abilities. Through virtual, in-person, and outreach opportunities, BlackRock offers creative and inspiring programs in arts enriched literacy, dance and fitness, music, theatre, and visual arts.

 

CONTACT

Reva Thompson 

Education Manager 

educationdept@blackrockcenter.org

STUDENT INFORMATION FORM

By enrolling in a course or private lesson at BlackRock, students are agreeing to complete the Student Information Form. This form must be completed prior to the class start date. Your registration is not finalized until this form is complete. It can be can be found on our website, or by using the following link: (Updated WI24) Student Information Form

EDUCATION PARTNERS

BlackRock has joined forces with some of the area’s premier arts organizations to bring you exciting new classes each season. These organizations are bringing their expertise, outstanding instructors, and amazing resources to BlackRock to provide you with a unique, enriching and fun class experience. Our partners include:  

 

Imagination Stage 

ArtStream 

Main Street Connect 

Tunes4Tots 
Montgomery County Public Schools 
Love Source Yoga 

Creative Outlets Arts Center  

CityDance 

GottaSwing  

KuchÍPudÍ Dance Academy

 

EDUCATION POLICIES

Sonie Mathew Scholarship Fund 

BlackRock’s scholarship fund serves students of every age in every discipline in honor and remembrance of beloved Teaching Artist, Sonie Mathew. The fund was created to ensure that all students, of any age in any discipline have the opportunity to pursue their passion and interests and explore the arts. Recipients of the scholarship will experience the benefits of a performing arts education, lessons that could be applicable throughout life. 

  

While funds remain, Scholarship Applications will be viewed, assessed, and awarded on a rolling basis once received. This scholarship opportunity serves 75% of tuition fee. Students may apply and be awarded for one class and/or workshop series, one per family member. Households with multiple siblings or applicants must submit a form for each student. Only completed applications will be considered. Once a scholarship is awarded, that scholarship cannot be used for any other person, even if they are in the same family. 

 

If you have any questions about the scholarship application, award, or program please contact Education Manager, Reva Thompson at educationdept@blackrockcenter.org

Scholarship applications must be submitted 5 business days prior to the course start date to be considered. 

  

* Proof of government assistance for the student must accompany your application submission in order for your scholarship to be approved. NO REFUNDS OR CREDITS will be provided for scholarships after registration is completed. Documentation may be submitted through the application form for Gmail account users, emailed directly to educationdept@blackrockcenter.org including the student's first and last name.

Video & Photography Policy 

BlackRock reserves the right to use photographs and video taken in class and/or their work for the purpose of instruction, and/or advertising and promotion of BlackRock and its programs, including social media. Participants will not receive compensation of any kind for use of these images. Participants release and hold harmless BlackRock Center for the Arts, its officers, and employees from any claims. If you do not agree, you must indicate on the Student Information Form upon registration. 

Payment and Refund Policy

Student requests refund after the first two weeks of course
No refunds will be given.
Student requests refund within the first two weeks of course
50% tuition refund or 100% class credit will be given.
Student requests refund within 2 weeks before course start date
Full refund less $50 processing fee, or 100% credit will be given.
Student requests refund 2 weeks or more prior to course start date
Full refund less $25 processing fee, or 100% credit will be given.
BlackRock cancels a course
Full refund will be given.

Payment and Refund Policy (continued)

A make-up session will be offered in the event an instructor needs to cancel a class. Credit may be applied toward any class for any member of the family - virtual or in-person. A payment plan may be applied.  

Payment Information 

Payment must be made at the time of registration by cash, check or credit card. Checks and money orders should be made payable to BlackRock Center for the Arts and must include name, address, home and work telephone numbers, and participant’s full name. There is a $35 charge for returned checks. VISA, MasterCard, AmEx and Discover payments are accepted. Spaces will not be held without payment. 

Substitute Instructors 

BlackRock reserves the right to substitute faculty when necessary. Refunds will not be issued due to a change in faculty. 

Credit for Education

Credit applied from education may not be applied for BlackRock special events or performances. All credit that was granted due to Covid closures expires June 30, 2022. All other account credit expires within 365 days of issue.  

Private Lesson Education Policy

No refunds will be provided for missed private lessons in-person or virtually. If a student needs to reschedule a lesson, the request must be sent to the Teaching Artist directly with more than 24 hours advance notice. Should inclement weather prohibit a private lesson at BlackRock, a virtual lesson will be arranged at the scheduled time. Should BlackRock need to cancel a private lesson, the session will be rescheduled. 

For missed lessons, a one hour group class will be offered every 8 weeks for all students who need a make up. 

Education Discounts

Senior - 10% 

Military - 10% 

 

Please contact educationdept@blackrockcenter.org for more details. 

 

Registration Information 

Register online or contact us for assistance Monday through Friday from 10 AM - 6 PM: 

  1. Online: https://www.blackrockcenter.org/education/ 

  2. Address: 12901 Town Commons Drive, Germantown, MD 20874 

  3. Phone: 240-912-1061 

  4. Email: educationdept@blackrockcenter.org 

 

Auditing a Course (Trial Lesson) 

If you have questions about a single trial lesson before enrolling in a course, please reach out to the education manager, Reva Thompson at educationdept@blackrockcenter.org. Please note: trial lessons are not available for courses that are 4 weeks or less. Some classes have a highly limited number of spots available. We encourage you to make the request as soon as possible.

Virtual Learning  

Some courses will be virtual, and Teaching Artists will be using Zoom to deliver this online arts education programming. We would like to remind parents and guardians that students will be on a live video conference that may be recorded. Please read through the following guidelines so we can maintain a safe experience for all students.  

  1. You will be sent a link to join the Zoom class. You will NOT need to set up a Zoom account or input any information except for the student’s first name and last initial. Please go to www.zoom.us for more information about the system. 

  2. The class session will be live and interactive. Please make sure your student is in a quiet place where you can monitor the class session. Please remember that everything within the camera viewing area will be visible to the teacher and other students. 

  3. Sounds and voices can be captured by your computer’s microphone and heard by others in the Zoom session. Teachers will mute students for portions of the session but may unmute students during discussions or to hear questions. 

  4. Other students may hear and see anything within the audio and camera viewing areas. Please make all household members aware of this and consider turning the computer monitor toward a wall to help control the area. 

Please review our Student Code of Conduct and discuss responsible and appropriate behavioral expectations so that everyone can have a safe and fun learning experience. 

Student Code of Conduct 

  • Sharing Zoom meeting links and passwords is strictly prohibited. 

  • Personally recording any BlackRock class session is prohibited. 

  • Only registered students are permitted to watch/participate in the sessions. 

  • Monitor any background activity in the student’s camera viewing field that may become visible to the teacher and other students. 

  • Student user names should not be inappropriate, offensive, or vulgar in nature and must include clearly identifiable information about the registered student, such as first and/or last name. 

  • Background images may be used, if desired, but cannot be inappropriate, offensive, or vulgar in nature and must not pose as a distraction to others in class. Teachers reserve the right to disable a participant’s video, if deemed necessary. 

  • Zoom chats unrelated to the lesson are distracting to both the teacher and class, therefore use the Zoom chat feature only for texts relating to the lesson. Teachers reserve the right to disable all chat functionality, if deemed necessary. 

All students must abide by the Student Code of Conduct as outline above. Should a student not be in compliance with the Student Code of Conduct, BlackRock instructors should report the issues to the parent or guardian, appropriate facility, if applicable, and an Incident Report should be completed. Failure to follow these rules may result in denial of class participation without refund. 

 

BlackRock encourages everyone to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases like COVID-19: 

  • Stay home if you feel unwell, except to get medical care. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention. Call your health care provider in advance to allow them to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also protect you and help prevent spread of viruses and other infections. 

  • Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. 

  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. 

  • Avoid close contact with anyone who is sick, coughing or sneezing. 

  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. 

  • Follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Dispose of the used tissue immediately. 

Student Expectations for Excellence  

As a professional arts center, BlackRock is committed to providing quality programming for all who wish to participate and does not discriminate on the basis of color, race, ethnic or national group, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. BlackRock requires all students and visitors to treat others in a respectful manner and reserve the right to take appropriate action in support of this policy. BlackRock also reserves the right to ask any student to leave or withdraw if he or she is disruptive to the class or interferes with the safety of others. In this case, there will be no refund. BlackRock has a “Zero Tolerance” policy in regard to physical or verbal abuse, theft, vandalism and the use of any and all illegal substances. 

Supervision

An adult should supervise children (students and siblings) when he/she is not in class. Neither the instructor nor any staff is responsible for students prior to or after class times in which the child is enrolled. Students will not be allowed in any classroom or performance space without an instructor present. Children are not permitted in adult classes and adults are not permitted in children’s classes, even as observers, unless otherwise noted. Anyone behaving inappropriately in the facility will be asked to leave. 

 
Missed Sessions 

BlackRock offers make up classes when possible for classes cancelled by BlackRock or the instructor. Missed in-person sections may convene virtually. We do not offer make up classes for students who miss class due to personal circumstances. Classes missed by students cannot be prorated, rescheduled, or refunded. 

 

Late Pick-Up Fee

Parents may be charged a $10 late fee if a child is picked up more than 15 minutes after class/camp ends. An additional $1 per minute charge will accrue for any time thereafter. Students who are consistently picked up late may be charged the fee after five minutes past the ending time of the class or removed without refund. 

Liability

BlackRock is not liable for the loss of property or the loss of artwork belonging to the students. Due to limited storage, any artwork left after the session has ended may be discarded by the staff. Please do check with the front desk “Lost & Found” should the item have been returned. 

While BlackRock Center for the Arts and its instructors make every effort to provide a safe learning environment, there is always the risk of an accident. Students and their family will be responsible for any medical or other costs incurred resulting from illness and/or claims or damages arising out of personal injury of any kind. In the event of any medical emergency, BlackRock Center for the Arts is authorized to administer first aid and /or to seek emergency medical treatment. 

Inclement Weather 

BlackRock will close when the Montgomery County government is closed. BlackRock does not necessarily follow MCPS school closings or delays. When there is a report of potential inclement weather, BlackRock will make a decision by 12:00pm on weekdays and 7:30am on weekends whether or not we will be open for classes that day or whether sessions will meet virtually.  

 

Should conditions worsen, BlackRock reserves the right to change a decision from open to closed after these specific times. Information about closing will be provided on our website (www.blackrockcenter.org), social media, and via a voice message at 301.528.2260 x1032. Do not use Google Search as a means of determining the operating hours of BlackRock in cases of inclement weather. Class meetings canceled because of inclement weather will be made up when possible during the designated make-up week. Although BlackRock will make every effort to make-up all canceled classes during the winter session, we cannot guarantee class make-up sessions. In-person cancelled classes may be held virtually.  

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to enroll in a class to attend a trial lesson?  

No, you are not required to enroll first. You do need to confirm with the Education Manager first. You can do so by emailing educationdept@blackrockcenter.org or reaching out via phone (301.528.2260).

Is there required attire for ballet classes?  

For Ballet levels 2-6, students are asked to wear a leotard, tights, and ballet shoes. The color of the leotard depends on the level. If you have any specific questions , please feel free to reach out to Ms. Kimm

CONTACT

Reva Thompson 

Education Manager 

educationdept@blackrockcenter.org

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