The Academy Times
FALL 2020
All events are at the Academy except as noted
From the Director

Dear Academy Families –
As we all try to look ahead to fall, it is challenging to make choices and decisions about what is best during the relentless continuation of the pandemic. Fortunately our community has, for the most part, been cautious and careful from the early days last March. We feel we can provide safe programming choices for our families - and we thank all of you for your support during these past months. With all this in mind the Academy of Movement and Music has moved forward with respect for the choices of our families.
We are offering both in-person very small, reduced-in-size classes, with simultaneous zooming that allows us to provide these small classes. Some students need to do some in-person and some zoom classes to keep progressing within the requirements for each level of dance. The zoom classes also allow those families who feel they need to remain at home to choose a program that will reach out to keep their child involved in dance. We are also respecting the needs of some of our staff to remain at home and to zoom from their homes.
We have been working very hard to make the Academy a very safe place:
  • Careful sanitizing, not only daily, but between every class,
  • Rooms are well ventilated with ceiling fans, A/C units and open windows,
  • Masks are required for students, staff and anyone entering the building,
  • Temperatures of students taken as they enter the building - a student with a temperature above 99.5 will not be allowed to take class,
  • Staggered arrivals and dismissals to avoid crowding and maintain distancing,
  • Relaxed dress code so students can arrive and easily remove outerwear over bike shorts/leggings and a tee-shirt to eliminate changing in the bathroom -and also to make bathroom use quicker,
  • Hand-sanitizer and wipes in each classroom,
  • Added to the number of barres we have so distancing is very easy,
  • Installed desk shields in the front office and in the front foyer.
To facilitate and enhance zooming, we have provided each classroom with large monitors and cameras that have a wider view than most laptops can provide. Since parents cannot come into the building, except for office appointments, we can at least invite parents to watch in-person classes via zoom.
With all this in mind, we are also very aware that the virus is everywhere in our country, and we know that our Governor and the Village of Oak Park can move us back to Phase 3. Should this happen, our entire staff is prepared to continue - without a pause - the full dance schedule via zoom. We have learned a lot since March and will try to enrich the experience of learning the joy of dance virtually.
The office has been very busy with on-line registrations; we hope you will join us with whatever way you feel is best for your family.
Thank you for being a part of the Academy family!
Stephanie – and all the teachers and staff!
First Week of Classes photos by Mike Dutka
New Faculty

All of the new faces this fall are really not NEW – but have had lives here at the Academy prior to this fall. We are so glad so have a whole new generation of young teachers joining us to teach our youngest dancers. Sofie Besser and Tatiana Castaneda grew up here from age 3; Isabella Ginter came to us for high school and has returned now to teach. Sally Donaubauer just started with us this summer, but has many wonderful skills to bring to her teaching – and Sarita Smith-Childs has moved from being a beloved summer teacher to being her with us for the academic year. 
Sarita Smith Childs
Tatiana Castaneda ~ see her bio here.













Isabella Ginter ~ see her bio here.
Sofie Besser ~ see her bio here.
Sally Donaubauer ~ see her bio here.
Summer Happenings at the Academy
The building was buzzing this summer with staff and volunteers working and organizing (with proper distancing of course)! See here for more info about our Summer Happenings.

We want to thank: Rachel Gorgol,
Isabella Ginter and her sister Laila Lucy Wright, Laini Gorgol, Barb Sader (Laini's grandmother!), Alex and Maya Dysico, Drew Lewis, Gina and Gino Sigismondi and Mike Dutka for all their hard work this summer!
Many, many thanks to the families that responded to our SOS for monitors for the studios; we had four monitors donated – from the James Botana family, the McDonnell family, the McGavock family and the Berg/Faulkner family! We are so very grateful – being able to wall-mount these larger monitors will give every studio in the school monitors that fit into the smaller spaces.

With many thanks to our dancers, our teachers and our staff for making it possible for the Academy to continue its legacy of education children in the arts – may we all keep making art, music and dancing throughout the fall!! 
Business News
Office Hours:
Monday - Thursday 8:15 AM - 6:30 PM
Friday 8:15 AM - 6:15 PM
Saturday 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Reminder:
Monthly payments are due on the 1st of the month. To avoid a late fee, why not use AUTOMATIC BILLING to your credit or debit card. A call to the office can set this up, 708-848-2329.

Session II: September 28 - November 7
Session III: November 9 - December 19 
Winter Music: November 9 - February 13, 2021
Payment for each session is due by the last class of the previous session. Session payments can also be billed automatically to your credit card. 
   
Who's Who in the Front Office:
Administrator
Kari Farkvam - Mon. 8:00 am-5:30 pm,
Tues./Weds./Thurs. 8:00 am-4:30 pm
Fri. 8:00 am-3:30 pm
Business Manager
Rachel Gorgol - Mon. thru Fri. 8:30 am-3:00 pm
         
Reception/Registration
Brigid Anderson - Mon./Thurs. 8:15 am -1:30 pm
Teresa Deziel - Thursday 3:30-7:00 pm
Friday 1:00-6:30 pm
   
The Office is open Saturday 8:30 am - 12:00 pm
Meet Our Traffic and Security Person
Mary Eggelston works here
Monday thru Friday evenings and
on Saturday mornings. 
Read more about Mary here.
Academy Emails & Info
Please be sure to add academyofmovementandmusic@gmail.com to your safe list and check
your email regularly for Academy correspondence
Instagram
Follow us on Instagram @academyofmovementandmusic.
Student Message Board
Parents ~
We have a Student Message Board above the drinking fountain next to the front door. If you call to leave a message for your dance/music student, we will post it on the board. Please alert your child to make a practice of checking the message board before they leave the building or try to call you.
Please Note:
The Academy is NOT closed for
Indigenous People's Day or Veteran's Day.

Nov. 23-27 - No Preschool A.R.T.S.
Nov. 23, 24, 25, 28 - Dance Classes are
in Session
Nov. 26, 27 - Academy Closed
Nov. 28 - Dance Classes are in Session
Lock Up Bicycles Alert
Lock bikes up carefully, use extra strong locks; there have been bicycle thefts in the community. 
Academy of Movement & Music
605 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL 60302
708-848-2329
academyof movementandmusic@gmail.com