REGISTRATION
Q: How do I register my child?
Register at School Cash Online.
The registration fee for January 16 - February 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 duringāÆLate Registration is based on class size as well as school site offerings (determined after registration as of February 28, 2023).āÆ
Q: Why is registration no longer available at my childās 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 a private school/attends an elementary school in a neighbouring district. Can we apply?
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 childās school. Canāt they attend the nearest school which offers the program?
PAYMENT
Q: How do instalments work?
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).
The instalment option is not available during the late registration period. The fee of $600.00 must be paid in full.
**Note: Enrolment duringāÆLate Registration is based on class size as well as school site offerings (determined after registration in March).
Q: Iām registering during the January 16 to February 28, 2023 registration period. Can I extend the instalments into the next school year?
Q: Why canāt I find the option to pay by instalments during the Late Registration period?
Q: Iāve signed up to pay by instalments, but my checkout cart shows $0.
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?
Q: What happens if I applied to have my Band and Strings fee refunded, but the credit card I used has been cancelled?
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 childās school office. Please note that the withdrawal form must be received by your childās office on or before the following deadlines.
Band and strings withdrawal form
|
January 16 to June 15, 2023
| |
June 16 ā September 29, 2023
| Refund minus $75 processing fee |
| |
SCHEDULING
Q: What if I register my child and it turns out the schedule doesnāt 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 childās school on or before June 15, 2023. Please refer to the 2023 - 2024 Refund Schedule.
Q: Are classes ever scheduled after school?
Q: What happens when my child goes to Band or Strings class during school? Will they miss classwork?
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. āÆ
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.āÆ
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 childās NVSD instrument needs to be repaired during the school year?
Q: Can my child play the piano or guitar?
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 childrenās academic and social-emotional development, providing an opportunity to develop a childās 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 childās 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.
