FAQ

Welcome to Third Option™ Learning Hub
This FAQ Sheet has been prepared to answer parent questions about the Third Option™ Learning Hub and to help parents decide whether or not it would be a good fit to support their child’s education for fall.

What is the purpose of the Third Option™ Learning Hub?
Third Option™ Learning Hub is a way our business (Tamara Howe School of Dance, LLC) can support local schools by supporting students in hybrid and virtual on-line learning models.  It’s also a way to offer support for parents who may not be comfortable going back to traditional school this fall and who also may be looking for more support and socialization than may be available at home.

How is Third Option™ Learning Hub different from a school?
Third Option™ Learning Hub is a service offering at Tamara Howe School of Dance, LLC, an independent youth learning facility, which does not operate under the same guidelines as public schools. As a private organization, we are able to set our own class sizes, educational best practices and standards of care. Tamara Howe School of Dance, LLC,  follows our national association guidelines.

Where will the Third Option™ Learning Hub be held?
All classes will meet at the Tamara Howe School of Dance facility which is located at 124 S. Santa Fe in Salina, KS. The facility has a dedicated instructional room, a lunch area, parking, security systems and plenty of sunlight!

What ages can the Third Option™ Learning Hub currently serve?
Third Option™ Learning Hub is currently able to serve Kindergarten through 12th grade students. Per the KDHE COVID-19 State of Disaster Emergency: Academic Services to Support K-12 Remote Education:

1. This is to provide academic services for children attending kindergarten thru 12th grade.  (No young children that are not attending kindergarten)

2. This only occurs on actual days school is in session, no holidays, weekends or teacher in-service days.

3. This may continue as long as the State of Disaster Emergency is in effect or as long as the school offers a hybrid/online model.  This is specific to the COVID-19 situation and is meant to be temporary.

What is the daily schedule?
We have two options: Half days (8:30am-11:30am) or full days (8:30am-2:30pm). We are currently working with USD 305 to determine the daily schedule for hybrid classes and virtual classes. There will be time set aside for on-line instruction and time for enrichment activities.  There will also be time each day for lunch and physical activity.

What do the full day students do for lunch?
Students will bring their own lunch and snacks each day. Refrigerators and microwaves are not available.

What are class sizes?
Each class will be limited to 10 students, which will be considered a cohort. Each cohort will stay together for learning, lunch and enrichment activities to minimize community exposure.

What if I try to register and it’s full?
We will keep a waiting list and reach out if a space opens up. 

Do you have surround care available?
We will add this feature if there is enough need. Please indicate your interest here.

Who will be supervising the students?
Each classroom will be staffed by background checked, adult Instructional Guides whose role is to help the students to log-in to their online system and navigate virtual learning each day. Our instructional guides are also there to create a sense of community, foster safe socialization and facilitate daily enrichment activities among learners. In some cases, there will be one instructional guide for the morning and one for the afternoon to minimize teacher exposure and to maximize classroom coverage for when subs are needed. 

Is there a fee?
Yes, Third Option™ Learning Hub is a fee-based service similar to a day camp or other youth development activities. Registration requires a one-time, non-refundable registration fee of $45 which will hold your space between now and the start of classes. Beginning the first week of classes, weekly fees of $20/per day for half days or $35/per day for full days will be charged to your account on first of each month. For your convenience monthly fees will be drafted automatically beginning September 1st until you terminate your enrollment or the end of the hybrid/online model. Need based, financial assistance is available.
 

ALL accounts must have a debit/credit card on file. All monthly payments are due no later than the first each month, and if not paid, payments will be drafted. Any transaction that is declined and not paid within five days will have a $35 late fee applied. Tuition is paid monthly depending on the specific program the student is enrolled in. Student absences do not change tuition prices

Students withdrawing from the program must provide 30 days written notice, as well as tuition for those 30 days.

Please note: A one month notice is required to withdraw.

Sibling Discounts
Yes! We do have a sibling discount for this program of 30%. So if you have one child in 4th grade and one in 2nd and you are choosing part-time programming, you would pay $20/day for the first child and $14/day for the 2nd child.

Why is there a fee?
Weekly fees are charged to cover expenses such as the hiring of staff, background checks, training, administration, equipment, wifi, materials, cleaning and space.

Withdrawal from Program
Due to the limited spacing available for this program, at least 30 days notice is required for withdrawal under every circumstance.

Is there financial assistance?
Yes! Community support is part of our core philosophy. Need based, financial assistance will be available. To apply for financial assistance click here.

Would my child with educational needs be welcome?
The Third Option™ learning lab is best suited for students who can work independently with support as needed.  Students with educational needs will be assessed individually to ensure that we are best suited to support their educational needs.  To determine if we are able to support your student, please give us as call at 785-827-8473.

 

What does my student need to provide?
Student must bring their own snacks and lunch. Students must provide their own headphones and other necessary supplies(laptop/tablet/paper/pencils/etc). Students should also have hand sanitizer (THSD does have hand sanitizer available in each room as well).

What protections and procedures are in place to fight community spread of COVID-19?
Tamara Howe School of Dance, LLC follows the More Than Just Great Dancing!® Safer Studio™ policies and procedures which focuses on a hierarchy of measures beginning with avoiding contact with anyone with symptoms, followed by frequent hand cleaning and good hygiene practices, amplified cleaning, and minimizing contact and mingling.

What measures are put in place to foster a sense of normalcy for children in a pandemic world?
The mere act of getting up in the morning, getting dressed and “going to school” can be a significant anchor for a child in a turbulent time. Daily routines are stabilizing for children. Our small class sizes and structure minimize risk and maximize the joyful parts of schools such as socialization. Our classrooms are well lit and cheery. The artwork of children and youth is displayed prominently down our hallways. Important routines of school such as classroom greetings, newsletters, enrichment activities and community building are not only still present in our program, they are more important than ever.

 

Disruptive Behavior

A student can be dismissed for any reason without warning.

If it continues, the student will be dismissed from the program.

Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. If problems occur:

    1. Student will receive a warning.

    2. Parents will be contacted.

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Calendar

The Third Option™ Learning Lab will follow the USD 305 calendar in addition to Teacher Work Days/Half Days and holidays scheduled for USD 305.

Do you do temperature checking?
Our staff completes a self check daily. Parents are asked to do a self check on students before arrival as well.

Will the staff and students have to wear masks?
Our staff have been wearing masks all summer and will continue to do if a six foot distance can't be maintained.

The City/County order currently requires all students over the age of five to wear a cloth face covering while indoors unless a six foot distance can be maintained. Our limited class size allows us to spread out desks six feet apart.  Students do not have to wear a face covering while outdoors if spread out appropriately from other children. Once the emergency order expires, parents will be allowed to make their own decision for their children regarding masks and face coverings unless another order is put into place.

What is your illness protocol?
Staff, parents and students should know the symptoms of COVID-19:

• Fever

• Cough

• Shortness of breath

• Diarrhea (watery)

• Sore throat/congestion

• Headache

• Chills

• Muscle and joint pain (multiple)

• Nausea or vomiting

• Loss of sense of smell
   

Staff and students should notify the Third Option Learning™ Hub administrators and contact healthcare providers if they develop symptoms of COVID-19 or any other illness and will be asked to STAY HOME until they are symptom-free for 72 hours. Any student who becomes unwell during the school day will wait in a special isolation area, which is supervised by a staff member, until a parent or guardian can arrive.

Students or staff who test positively for COVID-19 will follow the country’s current recommendations for self isolation. Students may take up to a two week leave of absence and keep their place in the program. If there is a positive report of COVID-19 in our learning community, we will follow the county’s current guidelines for notifications.

How do I register?

• Registration begins Thursday, August 13th at 8am. The first round of registration will be those who are seeking FULL DAY, 5 DAY placement. Remaining spaces will be made available on Monday at noon for those seeking half days or fewer than five days per week.

• Registration requires a $45, non-refundable registration fee. Weekly fees will begin on Monday, August 31 and will be charged weekly on Mondays.

• Fill out this form if to apply for financial assistance, special educational services, or to indicate interest in before/after school care options.

Other
On August 21st, all enrolled students will receive an student profile form so that we can get to know your students better, complete necessary waiver forms, and begin our hiring process to find the right Instructional Guides for your child’s cohort.

You can expect to hear from your Instructional Guide the week before school and private tours of the facility will be made available at that time as well. A private FB page will be started for our learning community at the end of the month to foster a sense of community between families and students.