We recognize that joining any co-op involves a financial commitment as well as a time commitment. We would like to give you some information to help you count the cost before making a decision on whether or not to join our co-op. If you have any further questions please contact a board member. We want you to be as informed as possible!
Your role as a parent: The only way we are able to keep our costs low is to use each parent according to their abilities. We do not require that you teach a class, however, if you have any abilities in choir, band, strings, theory, drama or dance we will use you as much as you are willing! If you don’t have any specific abilities regarding performing arts we still have numerous positions for helpers, nursery workers and different coordination positions. Each parent is expected to be at the co-op the entire time their children are there and we will assign you a position for each hour you are there. If you are not going to be teaching a class you will find out what duties you’ll have at the mandatory parent’s meeting before the semester begins.
Financial: Each semester there is a flat family fee of $120.00. The family fee is the same regardless of the size of your family. Each class in the morning is $12 per class per child. Each drama class is $24. This is because the drama classes are two hours long instead of just an hour. Theory class is mandatory through the Level 3 theory book. Books for the theory classes are $9 each. A nursery and study hall are provided each hour although there is no fee for either one. We have several fundraising opportunities throughout the year and in most instances, half of the money you raise is deducted from the next semester’s tuition.
Time: We meet for 15 Fridays each semester. We know that things happen and stuff comes up, but we do ask that you are there on Fridays as much as you possibly can be. We have such a limited time to meet together that your child will miss quite a bit every day they are not at the co-op. Four absences in a class will result in your child not being able to perform at the concert.
There will be a mandatory parent’s meeting before each semester begins. As the name suggests, the meeting is mandatory! If for some reason you will not be able to attend you will need to contact a board member to let them know. We also have an opening meeting each Friday that begins at 8:30. It is imperative that you are there for the morning meetings. This is the time we go over all pertinent information and important announcements that need to be made.
All of our students except the youngest performers have a practice log they will be expected to fill out each week. Individual teachers will determine how much practice needs to be completed, but the average is 30 minutes, 5 days a week, not including practice on Fridays at co-op. None of our students can gain the proficiency they need without practicing at home. The practice log gives accountability for each student, as well as the parents. Insufficient practice for 4 weeks will lead to the student being moved to study hall for the remainder of the semester and they will not be able to perform at the concert. We don’t do this to be tyrannical, but to ensure that all students can move forward at the same pace.
We hope this information was helpful. If you have any other questions please feel free to contact the following board members:
Jeannette Duke, President 409-762-5193
Darlene Smith, Dance and Drama Liaison 409-762-6310
Leslie Hurd, Secretary 281-337-5077
Anita Christmas, Treasurer 713-456-9760
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