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Arts in Action
Frequently
Asked Questions
How do I register my child
for the Summer program?
Registration is complete when we have all of the following:
1) payment by phone, mail, in person or online
2) completed emergency form. Click
here to download (PDF)
You may remit payment on-line, in person,
by phone, or by mailing a check with a completed emergency
form. Registrations are made on a first-come, first-serve basis
and no spaces are held without full payment.
What’s your fax number?
617-630-0081, attn: Kate Wisnioski
Can you hold a spot for
my child until I commit to our summer schedule?
We cannot hold spaces without payment. Full payment is due with
application when registering for less than four weeks.
What should my student bring to the New
Art Center when they arrive?
Students should bring their own lunch, a water bottle, a morning snack, and a smile.
Children may bring a smock, but they are encouraged to dress in
clothes that can get messy. If your child is staying for the extended-day
activities, then they should bring an additional snack. Please be sure that all food you send with your child does not need heating or refrigeration.
My child has food allergies.
How can I be sure he/she will be safe at lunch time?
Please indicate your child’s food allergies on the application
form so that faculty and staff are aware of them. The NAC Vacation
Programs have strict “no sharing food” policy. If
your child’s allergies are airborne or otherwise severe,
we can have a separate lunch table or in some cases—with
enough advance notice—we can send notes home to parents
about restricted lunch ingredients for other children’s
lunches. Please be sure to bring any and all emergency medications
at the start of the week in a labeled bag with the medication
form.
Can I register my child
for the Summer program if he/she will be starting Kindergarten
in the fall?
No. At this time, the youngest students admitted into the program
are those who have completed a full year of kindergarten.
Please? He/She is very
advanced.
No, unfortunately this is a strict policy. If it becomes apparent
that a child was registered with false grade information, then
you will be contacted to pick up your child and no refund will
be made available.
My child does not have much experience with artwork, is that okay?
Absolutely! The program is arranged so that children of all levels
can get the most out of the activities.
What is a typical day like
for the young artists?
Students are dropped off between 9:00 and 9:20 a.m. and enjoy
relaxed morning play with their group and counselor before morning
announcements. On Mondays, we play teambuilding games to start
the week off; for the rest of the week, students go right to their
first class after announcements. Young artists attend five 55-minute classes daily: Drawing, where they learn techniques
with graphite, charcoal, colored pencils, oil pastels, and some
printmaking; Painting, where they work with tempera and watercolor
paints, and water soluble inks; Ceramics, where they use handbuilding
techniques using terracotta and self-hardening clays, and experiment
with glazing; 3-D / Sculpture, where they build three-dimensional
creations using recycled materials, paper maché, and plaster;
and Activities, where they enjoy organized games and work on a
group project. Children have a 20-minute morning snack and a 50-minute lunch in the middle of
the day which includes recess.
Will my child be grouped with other children
his/her same age?
Yes. Children are grouped according to the grade they are entering.
There is a space on the application form to indicate requests
for specific friends your child would like to be grouped with.
However, we generally do not group children together who are more
than one grade level apart (even siblings).
How many children are in each group
and what is the staff to student ratio?
We find it best to have a maximum of 13 children in each group.
Each group has a high school or college age counselor that stays
with them throughout the day. In classrooms, children will always
have an adult faculty member present, and in some cases both their
counselor and a studio assistant as well. During lunch and recess
times, all counselors, interns and 1-2 staff members will supervise
the children.
Will my child be grouped with other children
from his/her same school?
We do what we can to be sure children have familiar faces in their
groups, but encourage students to enjoy the opportunity to meet
children their age who attend other schools. If there is a specific
individual that your child would like to be grouped with, please
indicate this on the application form. We cannot make last-minute
group switches on the first day of the session.
My twins don’t want to be in the same
group, even though they are in the same grade.
Please just indicate these types of grouping preferences on the
application form and requests will be granted to the best of our
ability.
My child is shy/nervous
about starting. May I stay during his/her class?
Generally, no. In order for all the children in the program to
feel comfortable, we find it best to have them all start fresh
together without parents in the classrooms. If you or your child
are nervous about starting the program, then we encourage you
to come with your child at the start of drop-off time (9:00) to
meet their counselor and participate in morning play. However,
after morning announcements (9:20) is the best time for parents
to make a clean break for the day. Children will then play name
games and other activities to meet the other children in their
group before beginning their first class.
Is the New Art Center building
air-conditioned during the Summer?
No, there are no air-conditioners in the classrooms, but each
classroom is equipped with fans and water spray bottles. We encourage
students to bring water bottles with them to the program and they
are always welcome to refill them at our drinking water fountain.
Can our babysitter pick up my child at
the end of the day?
Yes. Please indicate all authorized pick-up persons on the emergency
form. If any of the information changes or someone new will be
picking up your child, we will need that information in writing
in advance.
Will I get to see my child’s artwork
on display?
Yes! During the summer, we have an exhibition on Friday afternoons at
3:00 where each student will display one piece of artwork. Check
the weekly newsletter to see which class’s artwork your
child’s group will be presenting. Please bring a box or
shopping bags to collect your child’s artwork on Friday
afternoon.
What if I can’t make
it to the exhibition at 3:00 on Friday?
No problem. We explain to the children that not all parents can
be here for the presentation of the artwork, and that some will
be there at the normal 3:30 pick-up time (or 5:30 extended-day
time). However, we suggest that you also let your child know if
you will not be there, as there is generally a large turnout of
parents at the presentations.
My child will have to miss one day of the
program. What happens then?
We can certainly work around this. Teachers will work to the best
of their ability to adapt the project if time is an issue in finishing
it. A couple of special instances for planning ahead: since Monday
mornings have a designated time for name games and teambuilding
exercises, it’s not an ideal day to miss for shy ones. Also,
if your child has to miss a Friday, then please be sure he/she
tells the teachers, so work can go home as is on Thursdays. Please
note that no partial or pro-rated refunds are made for missed
days of the program.
Will my child leave the
building during the day?
Post-lunch recess takes place outdoors so that the children can
stretch out and play. During weeks where every child’s parent
has signed the field trip release on the application form, we
will have recess play at the Washington Park green, which is adjacent
to the New Art Center property. Sometimes the drawing or activity
classes take place outside the building as well (only on New Art
Center property; or the Washington Park green, when all permission
forms have been received)
What if a student becomes
hurt or injured during the program?
No matter how many precautions are taken, accidents can happen.
First Aid kits are located inside classrooms, and NAC Staff will
assist in cleaning and bandaging a minor cut, scrape or wound.
In the event of a more serious injury, trained staff members can
administer first aid treatment and will notify parents; if a true
emergency arises, parents will be notified immediately (please
make sure to fill out the contact information section of the
emergency form completely) and the child will be transported
to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital.
Do you offer Financial
Aid?
Yes. Please contact Stacy Pyron to receive an application.
What is the cancellation / refund policy?
Full refund requests will be granted prior to May 1, 2008 less
a $25 administrative fee. After May 1, tuition will not be refunded
unless the week is filled to capacity and a child on the waiting
list can fill the spot of the child withdrawing. In this case
only, a full refund less a $25 administrative fee will be granted.
Can I switch the week I
enrolled my child in to another week?
In some cases. These requests will be considered, based on enrollments.
If you have other questions please call Kate Wisnioski at
617-964-3424.
February and April
Vacation Program Page
Summer Arts In Action Program
Page
Teen Summer Program
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