MISSED CLASS MAKE-UP POLICY

         There will be no refunds given for classes missed.  However, any missed class can be made up at any time during the quarter in which it was missed or during any later quarter in which the student is enrolled.          

         This is a very liberal make-up policy designed to give maximum flexibility to parents and students.

RE-REGISTERING AND DROPPING OUT

         Students do not have to re-register each quarter, but are asked to let me know ahead of time if they will not be taking classes the following quarter.  If I am not told otherwise, I will hold the student’s place in the same class he or she attended the previous quarter.

         My classes are usually at or near capacity, so it is very important for scheduling purposes that I know as soon as possible when openings will be available.  For this reason it is important that I be notified if you or your child will not be attending classes during the up-coming quarter.        

HOME PRACTICE POLICY

         At some point in their development, students will be given the go-ahead for home practice.  This will occur when I feel they have become sufficiently self-regulated and self-critical in their work habits to profit from it or if parents are willing to carefully monitor their work.  Because each student's situation is unique, there is no fixed policy for home study.  It is recommended, however, that students study at home.  Parents need not require their children to do so, but can impose such requirements if it is their parental policy. 

         The most important factor in home practice is not the amount of time spent, but the regularity of the practice sessions.   Even 5 or 10 minutes a day can yield remarkable results.

FOLLOWING STUDENT PROGRESS

         Near the front of each art book is a curriculum summary guide listing, in order, all the worksheets and projects on that level.  Each time a worksheet is mastered or a project successfully completed, the student is to make a check mark in the blank directly across from it.   By referring to this sheet, one can tell at a glance how far the student has progressed toward satisfying that level's requirements.   If you would like a more detailed assessment, give me a call any time or see me after class.

QUARTERLY NEWSLETTERS

         Newsletters for each quarter are handed out to students in class the week before the quarter begins.  Each newsletter contains a list of all the class dates for the up-coming quarter and items of interest to parents and students, including news of student art awards and achievements, art competitions, field trips, etc. 

         Because many younger students put the newsletters in their workbooks and forget about them, parents may have to look through their art materials to find them.

     NOTE:  If you or your child have received any recognition for an art-related accomplishment or any activity of interest suitable for publication, please let me know.

WEBSITE

Visit the Gordon School of Art website at www.newmasters.com

         You will find the latest version of the newsletter, a Gallery page with examples of student work, a page with information on my background, a few examples of my work and information on the program’s history and philosophy.

GENERAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

-Food, chewing gum, and beverages (other than water) are not allowed in the studio. 

-It is advisable, for purposes of maximizing student concentration, that siblings and close friends sit at separate tables in the classroom. 

-Young Masters students who wish to temporarily leave the studio during class should talk to me first.

IF A STUDENT STRUGGLES OR LOSES INTEREST

There will be times when students in this program will struggle with some aspect of it. All such problems are correctable. Often, the cause of such problems is instructional.  A student may be over-challenged or under-challenged, or may be struggling because a process has not been properly explained.  With most students I can sense the problems and work to correct them.  Some students are not so easy for me to "read", however, and in failing to recognize the problem, I may fail to make the proper teaching adjustments to correct them.  In these cases I need student feedback. 

         Please feel free to call me at home or stop in the studio after classes if you have any questions or concerns.