North Vancouver School District
the natural place to learn©
Band and Strings 2023 - 2024 FAQ

REGISTRATION

 

Q: How do I register my child?

  • Register at School Cash Online.

  • The registration fee for January 16February 28, 2023 is $520.00. A monthly Instalment Plan is optional.

  • The late registration fee for March 10 to September 29, 2023 is $600.00  A monthly Instalment Plan is NOT available. 

** Note: Enrolment during Late Registration is based on class size as well as school site offerings (determined after registration as of February 28, 2023). 


Q: Why is registration no longer available at my child’s school during the late registration period?

  • The program may not be available because there were not enough registrants during the January 16 to February 28, 2023 registration period. Alternately, the program may already have the maximum number of students enrolled.


Q: I live in North Vancouver but my child is homeschooled/attends private school/attends an elementary school in a neighbouring district. Can we apply?

  • No, only students who attend NVSD schools that offer the program may register.


Q: My child will transfer and attend a different NVSD school which offers the program next September. How do I register? 


Q: Why does Band start in grade 5 when Strings starts in grade 4?

  • The North Vancouver School District restricts Band to grades 5 to 7 because by the time students are in this grade, most students have the breath support to be able to play band instruments. Younger than this, students can often get discouraged because they find it extremely difficult to make a sound.


Q: How can I double check that I registered successfully for 2023-2024? How can I get my receipt?


Q: Where can I get help if I am having problems registering and paying for Band or Strings using School Cash Online? 


Q: The program is not offered at my child’s school. Can’t they attend the nearest school which offers the program? 

  • No, the NVSD will not be offering programming to students who have requested taking classes at a neighbouring school for 2023-2024.

 

PAYMENT 

 

Q: How do instalments work?

  • Registration Period January 16 to February 28, 2023

Parents/Guardians may pay the $520.00 fee in full or set up instalments. Lower monthly payments can be achieved by setting up payments early and spreading them over more months. The first instalment will start at the beginning of the following month after payments are set up. The final instalment will occur September 1, 2023.

Example: If you register in January, your payments from February 1st to September 1st will be approximately $65.00 per month (8 instalments).

  • Late Registration Period March 10 to September 29, 2023

The instalment option is not available during the late registration period. The fee of $600.00 must be paid in full.

**Note: Enrolment during Late Registration is based on class size as well as school site offerings (determined after registration in March).


Q: I’m registering during the January 16 to February 28, 2023 registration period. Can I extend the instalments into the next school year?  

  • No, the final instalment will occur on September 1, 2023

 

Q: Why can’t I find the option to pay by instalments during the Late Registration period? 

  • There is no option to pay by instalments during the late registration period. 

 

Q: I’ve signed up to pay by instalments, but my checkout cart shows $0. 

  • It shows $0 because you are not paying anything on that date. Please continue to complete the checkout process. The first payment will come out on the 1st of the following month. 

 

Q: How long does it take for the payment to clear my account? 

  • Depending on your bank, it may take 3-5 days for the payment to clear. If you are paying by instalments, the first payment will come out on the first day of the following month.  

Q: How do I get my refund? 

  • Refunds are made in the manner received. For example if paid by credit card, that card will show the refund.  If paid by instalments, the instalments will be refunded separately.


Q: What happens if I applied to have my Band and Strings fee refunded, but the credit card I used has been cancelled? 

  • School Cash Online does not store credit card information, therefore the Finance Department is unable to process the refund onto your new card. Contact the Finance Department for further information. 

 

Q: Why is there a fee? 

  • The NVSD Band and Strings program has been delivered as a user-pay system for many years. As such, the fees collected cover everything that a school program needs to run successfully. Our staffing each year is based on enrolment, which funds salaries, facilities, and equipment. We receive no program funding from the Ministry of Education.

 

Q: Why is there no refund after September 29? 

  • Given that the Band and Strings program is based on a user pay model, all staffing and budgeting decisions for the school year are made during Spring of the previous school year, based on enrolment. As a result, the stated refund/withdrawal deadlines are not negotiable.

 

WITHDRAWALS 

 

Q: How do I withdraw my child? 

  • All requests for refunds must be done in writing by completing a withdrawal form and submitting it to your child’s school office. Please note that the withdrawal form must be received by your child’s office on or before the following deadlines.

Band and strings withdrawal form

 

Refund Schedule 

January 16 to June 15, 2023

Full Refund 

June 16 – September 29, 2023

Refund minus $75 processing fee 

October 1, 2023 onward

No refund 

 

 

SCHEDULING


Q: What if I register my child and it turns out the schedule doesn’t work for my family? 

  • The schedule for 2023 - 2024 will be posted on the website in early June 2023. If the schedule does not work for your family, you may receive a full refund if the withdrawal form is received by your child’s school on or before June 15, 2023. Please refer to the 2023 - 2024 Refund Schedule.  

 

Q: Are classes ever scheduled after school? 

  • No, there are no after school classes. Classes are held twice a week. Typically one class is scheduled before school, and one during.

 

Q: What happens when my child goes to Band or Strings class during school? Will they miss classwork? 

  • Classroom teachers are aware of the Band and Strings program and generally do not introduce new material during these times.

 

INSTRUMENTS also see Instrument Information webpage  


Q: My child withdrew. How do I return the instrument?

  • Please email instruments@sd44.ca.

  • Instruments can be returned to the Artist for Kids Administration office at 2121 Lonsdale Avenue. This office is part of the Education Cervices Centre but has a door that faces Lonsdale. You can return the instrument from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday. Once the instrument is returned, it will be serviced by instrument technicians at Long and McQuade.  

  • If there is any damage beyond normal wear and tear, you will be responsible for these additional repairs and will receive an invoice from the NVSD. 


Q:  If I return the instrument before the end of June, will I receive some of my instrument usage fee back? 

  • The instrument usage fee is a set cost for the 2023 - 2024 school year, regardless of the length of time the instrument is rented for within that year

  • The NVSD works hard to make our instrument fees as affordable as possible for families. The instrument usage fees cover the sanitization and maintenance of instruments.   


Q:  What is the instrument damage deposit? How is this different from the usage fee? 

  • The instrument usage fee is the cost of using an NVSD instrument.

  • The instrument damage deposit is refunded in the summer of 2023 if the instrument is returned on time and if there has been no student damage to the instrument.

  • If the instrument has been damaged from misuse, the repair cost will be subtracted from the damage deposit return. If the repairs are greater than the $100 damage deposit, you will receive an invoice for this amount. NVSD covers the cost of any repairs due to normal instrument wear and tear.  

  • The vast majority of instruments deposits are fully returned. Please click this LINK for more information.   


Q:  What happens if my child’s NVSD instrument needs to be repaired during the school year? 

  • Please view this LINK to view the mid-year repair process.

 

Q: Can my child play the piano or guitar? 

  • Piano and acoustic guitar are not part of the Band or Strings program. Bass guitar is part of the Band program. Please contact your school’s Band teacher for information.


Q: How does instrument choice work? What instruments are offered? How much is it? 


Q: I have an instrument I would like to donate.  

 

More information about the Band and Strings Program 

 

Q: What are the benefits of my child being involved in a Band or Strings program?

The Elementary Band and Strings program is one of the finest instrumental programs in British Columbia and complements the BC Ministry of Education's Arts Education curriculum.

This program offers a wonderful opportunity for students to receive instrumental instruction in a group setting and represents the start of an exciting musical journey that they can follow through to the end of their secondary school years.

As research has conclusively revealed over decades, involvement in a music program can benefit children’s academic and social-emotional development, providing an opportunity to develop a child’s musicianship and creativity. (Hallam, S. 2016).

Further, there is a strong correlation indicating that music education promotes social skills, teaches discipline, and elevates confidence for children.

Research has also shown, that musical training early in life improves how the brain processes sound. The benefits of early exposure to music education last well into adulthood, years after the training has ceased.

With this, the study of music in an ensemble has been shown to increase the capacity of memory, enhance perseverance, and self-expression.

 

Q:  Who are my child’s teachers? What experience and credentials do they have?

The NVSD Band and Strings teachers come with an impressive range of music experience and training. They are both active musicians as well as certified B.C. teachers. All Band and Strings teachers have education degrees as well as specific instrumental music training.