Safer Studio™ ​Opening Status Traffic Light System

It is safe to attend face-to-face classes while following our Safer Studios Guidelines.

 Cautionary change to service delivery.

Families should stay home and attend class online.

Our commitment through COVID-19

The Pegasus team has been in constant communication as we try to determine best practices and we want to ensure you know that we are working on plans, back up plans, and back up, back up plans. But, all this news has brought us back to a very important question. How do we navigate this situation while following our philosophies and our hearts when it comes to working with our exceptional families? We have looked back at our core values and we want you to know that we are making all decisions with the following ideals in mind. 

• We want to acknowledge and respect that Pegasus is part of how you have chosen to raise your children. We want to continue to honour that choice and continue to be a positive and safe place for your family during this uncertain time. 
• We want to move forward with the understanding that we have a significant role to play in the health and safety of our dancers and youth, physically and emotionally.  
• We want to make choices based on kindness and respect for the various situations all of our families might find themselves in. 
• We want to continue to look for ways to provide excellent service and support for you and your family that are safe for everyone.
• We want to make decisions from mindful and informed places. ​

PDS Safer Studio™​ Guidelines 
​Updated September 10, 2021

PDS is a Safer Studio ™ 
PDS follows the More Than Just Great Dancing ® and the Safe Studios Ontario Guidelines which prioritize a hierarchy of safety and wellness measures.  We continue to offer a safe environment for our students and families. We have put plans and precautions in place to support our ability to hold in-person classes with modifications if we go into a ‘red’ stage again. 

• In person classes with class size &/or social distancing in effect depending on Ontario Health guidelines are our first priority.
• Learn-at-home with our new Tech-Enhanced classes via zoom, if you are not comfortable or if we are in a ‘red’ stage, snow days or any other circumstance.

• Frequent hand hygiene
• Enhanced cleaning procedures
• Minimizing mixing and mingling via social distancing practices
• Curricular and facility adjustments
• Continuous Parent communications
  
• Regular air quality checks and increased ventilation
  

Wellness Checks for Staff, Students, and Visitors

• PDS is a Youth Protection Advocates in Dance ® Certified Studio. Additionally, all teachers and staff members will receive regular and continuing safety training as it relates to preventing community spread of COVID-19.
• All staff must be double vaccinated or show proof of negative PCR test before entering the building.  Staff will also complete the wellness check before entering the building.
  
• All students and parents (visitors) will complete a wellness check each day and this will be confirmed upon arrival at the studio.
• Parents are asked to not send their children to class if they, or a member of their household, have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 14 days and to remain home until a negative test or confirmation from their doctor that it is safe to return to class. 
• Parents are encouraged to seek medical support and/or COVID-19 testing if their child or a member of their household shows symptoms and to remain home until they receive a negative test or the confirmation from their doctor that it is safe to return to class. 
  
• In order to assist with contract tracing if the need arises, we ask parents to use the Jackrabbit Parent Portal to report absences and to include a note if the absence is related to COVID-19 symptoms. ​

​Frequent Hand Hygiene

• Faculty will wash hands and/or sanitize before and after each class.
• Hand sanitizing stations will be available by entrance and exits of the building and classrooms. Students will be encouraged to wash hands and/or sanitize before and after class.
• Hand washing posters are posted within bathrooms and classrooms.

Enhanced Cleaning Procedures

• We have increased our cleaning frequencies and sanitation procedures in high traffic areas and high touch surfaces of the studio such as doors, viewing windows, barres, floors, counters, stereos and bathrooms.
  
• We are monitoring the air quality in all of our spaces daily and will filter the air accordingly based on the results.
  

Minimized Mixing and Mingling

• We have made facility, scheduling, and curricular changes to reduce mixing and mingling in support of social distancing recommendations. However, we understand that unlike older children and adults, young children cannot be expected to maintain social distancing at all times.
  

Facility & Curricular Adjustments

• All lobby waiting areas, change room, staff rooms etc will be closed unless specified. 
• Please bring clearly labeled water bottles. Drinking fountains will not be available.
• Dancers will bring all dance bags into the studio for changing shoes. Change Rooms are closed.
• No food will be allowed in the studio.
• Class sizes have been modified to reflect current Provincial recommendations.
• Classrooms will refrain from high fives, fist bumps, stickers, stamps and ballerina hugs.
• Dancers will stay in their designated “square” during class time unless they are moving across the floor.
• Before moving to another part of the classroom, dancers will wait for instruction. We will coach dancers on how we move across the floor safely.
• Dancers must bring all belongings (including outside shoes in a bag) into the classroom and place in a designated spot, which you will be advised.

 Parent Communication

• We are offering smaller class sizes and Tech-enhanced options.
• Please visit our website and join our Pegasus Dance Studios Families private facebook group where you will find a stop and go light icon that clearly indicates the status of classes: Green indicates it is safe to attend face-to-face classes. Yellow indicates a cautionary change to service delivery. Red indicates clients should stay home and attend class online.

Arrival and Departure

• Enter the building from the back door  (down the driveway) and exit through the front door.
• All outdoor shoes in a bag you have brought, placed in your dance bag to be taken into the studio with you.
• At this time we ask that all children seven years of age and older be dropped off at the door or sidewalk for them to enter the building on their own.  Parents of children under age 6 are able to wait inside if necessary for child comfort.
• Please limit the parent drop off to one person whenever possible. Sibling visitors cannot be accommodated in the building at this time.
• Please follow all arrows, for one way traffic in the building and safe distancing
• Please wash or sanitize hands on entering the building and before leaving the building
• Please exit using the front doors, where parents should be waiting (social distanced).

Bathroom Use

• We encourage all students to use the bathroom at home before coming to class.
• Bathrooms will be limited for emergencies and will be cleaned frequently
• If you need to go during class please follow the signs for proper hand washing and ensure there are not more than 2 people in the washroom at a time

Masks

• We are following the City of Toronto COVID 19: Mandatory Mask or Face Covering Bylaw 541-2020

• Beginning July 7, 2020, all staff, visitors and customers are required to wear a mask or face covering upon entering and remaining within Pegasus Dance Studios. The mask or face covering must cover the nose, mouth and chin. Temporary removal of the mask is permitted where necessary for the purposes of receiving services, or while actively engaging in an athletic or fitness activity. The following persons are exempted from requiring a mask or face covering and will not be required to provide proof of such exemption:  Children under two years of age.  Persons with an underlying medical condition which inhibits their ability to wear a mask or face covering.  Persons who are unable to place, remove, or use a mask or face covering without assistance.  Employees and operators of the Establishment, in a designed area not for public access, or within or behind a physical barrier.  Persons who are reasonably accommodated by not wearing a mask or face covering under the Ontario Human Rights Code.
• We encourage dancers to wear a mask as much as possible during their dance classes. Teachers will be aware of the restrictions this places on students and will adjust their classes accordingly.
• For more information on the Mandatory Mask Bylaw please visit: https://www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/covid-19-what-you-should-do/covid-19-orders-directives-by-laws/mandatory-mask-or-face-covering-bylaw/​

Ontario Dance & Performing Arts Workplace Guidelines
The Pegasus Team along with over 500 other dance studio owners in Ontario have signed the Ontario Dance & Performing Arts Workplace Guidelines for COVDID-19. These guidelines have been submitted to the Ontario government for approval as part of our re-opening plan. We have attached the document for you to read below. 

Ontario Dance & Performing Arts Workplace Guidelines

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Safety Practices Walk Through

Our amazing Performance Teams created a dancing walk through of our studio and the safety practices we are using to keep everyone safe when we are able to have in person programming. Check it out! ​