ARMES HANDBOOK

The ARMES handbook contains the polices and guidelines set forth for all students who participate in the ARMES program. All parents and students need to read it, and will be required to adhere to those polices. Failure to comply with these rules may place a student's standing in the ARMES program at risk.

(updated, 6/21)

ARMES - Purpose and Goals

The ARMES Program is an Arts program designed to meet the needs of Greenville County’s students (grades 3-8) who have demonstrated outstanding talents and a deep interest in theatre, visual arts, dance, creative writing, or strings orchestral music. Sponsored by the Fine Arts Center (FAC), the purpose of the program is to allow the student to explore their chosen art form in depth while promoting individual creativity, and critical thinking skills.

The ARMES program is funded primarily by South Carolina’s Educational Improvement Act (EIA) and is offered at no cost to the students. Admission to the program is by nomination and auditions, which are held each spring. The ARMES Program serves approximately four hundred students from Greenville County elementary and middle schools along with charter, home-schooled and private school students.

ARMES - Objectives

1) To allow young students to develop as artists

2) To create a stimulating learning environment in which students experience both intellectual and social interaction with other young artists

3) To develop behaviors and skills useful in self-directed learning

4) To heighten enthusiasm for learning

5) To increase knowledge and usage of creative problem-solving skills and critical thinking skills

6) To foster appreciation for personal abilities

7) To encourage the development of aesthetic values

8) To provide students with a better understanding of the relationship between art and the society in which we live

CONTACT INFORMATION

Please contact your child’s teacher first with questions or concerns about the program.
If the teacher is unable to help, please contact one of the ARMES Directors.

ARMES Directors:

ARMES Instructors:

Matthew Lipinski - Strings

mlipinski@greenville.k12.sc.us

355-2580

Rebecca Lee - Dance

rtlee@greenville.k12.sc.us

355-2575

ARMES PARTICIPATION AND RULES

The ARMES program of The Fine Arts Center is a tuition-free program for which any rising 3rd-8^th grade student living in Greenville County may submit an audition. All students must have a nomination in order to audition. This special Gifted and Talented program exists for the student’s benefit and strives to achieve the highest in artistic standards.

Spaces in the ARMES classes are limited, and acceptance for the following year is not guaranteed. All students must re-audition each year.

Students selected for the ARMES program have the opportunity to participate in an intensified instructional arts program. Because students receive a limited number of instructional hours, it is very important that they arrive on time and do not miss classes. Students who miss substantial instruction may compromise the pace of instruction in the classroom.

The artwork that is on display in the Fine Arts Center Gallery and hallways is valuable and should be treated with respect and care. Please do not touch.

No horseplay will be allowed anywhere on the Fine Arts Center campus.

Parents and students need to follow the directions given by any ARMES or FAC staff member, including custodians, while on the campus.

ATTENDANCE

Three unexcused absences are allowed. A note to the teacher should follow each absence. If a student needs more than the three approved absences, the parent must contact the instructor. Parents will be contacted by phone or letter after two unexcused absences have occurred. If the attendance problem cannot be resolved, students may be dismissed from the program after three unexcused absences to preserve instructional pace.

Excused absences include:

• Death in the family

• Doctor’s visits (with a doctor’s note)

• Illness (three allowed with parent note, then a Doctor’s note is necessary)

• COVID illness or GCS required quarantine

• School related absence tied to an academic or arts class (class field trip or Beta Club activity)

• Inclement weather

• Religious Holidays

Non-Excused absences include:

• School dances or other optional school activities

• Sports events

• Transportation problems

• Youth Group, Mission Trips or other Church Activities

• Vacations

ARMES classes are taught at a pace and level of complexity appropriate for artistically gifted children. Students often find the ARMES class work stimulating and look forward to doing it. However, ARMES students must first maintain their regular class work. Participation in the ARMES program does not excuse students from their regular school assignments.

SCHOOL SPORTS

While we understand and appreciate the importance of sports activities for all children, we ask that parents and students consider the commitment in time and energy involved in the ARMES program and in sports. We ask that you do not schedule practices or games on the same day as ARMES as these will not be considered excused absences.

ACTIVITIES AND CALENDAR

ARMES classes typically begin shortly after Greenville County Schools begin in the Fall. Please refer to the calendar posted on our website www.armesprogram.com for your specific program.

As always, we will follow the Greenville County Schools calendar for vacation days, teacher workdays and holidays. If school is dismissed for a holiday at the end of the school day, there will be no ARMES classes on that day. If school is dismissed early or cancelled for the day because of inclement weather, there are no ARMES classes on that day.

Because ARMES is an afterschool program at The Fine Arts Center, priority is given to The Fine Arts Center school activities. Classes may occasionally have to be cancelled because of a conflict with the high school schedule. An email will be sent home if a class is to be cancelled. Please check your email regularly so that you will not make an unnecessary trip to the Fine Arts Center.

OUT OF CLASS ASSIGNMENTS

Developing artistic talent requires more time and effort than in-class participation can provide. Artists of all disciplines must learn to work independently and to develop the habits their disciplines require in order to engage at a high level.

BEHAVIOR AND EVALUATIONS

Student work is monitored at each class meeting. If the teacher perceives that a student’s level of engagement is not meeting standards of the program, the following procedure will be in effect:

1. The teacher will talk with the student about a change in work or behavior.

2. The teacher will observe whether the work/behavior is changing.

3. The teacher will send a note to the parents, alerting them of a possible problem or requesting a conference.

4. A conference will be held with the teacher, parent, and FAC administrator.

5. Unsatisfactory behavior or improvement will result in dismissing the student from ARMES.

The ARMES program will issue evaluations during the year. It is hoped that all students will strive to make superior progress in their discipline. Students are allowed two weeks after evaluations are issued to return the report signed by a parent or guardian.

GREENVILLE COUNTY STUDENT BEHAVIOR CODE

Parents and students are also responsible for reading and following the Greenville County Behavior Code. Use this link to access the document.

https://go.boarddocs.com/sc/greenville/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=9ZRQ8H660580

Click on JCDA: Behavior Code on the right side of the page.

Copies are also available at The Fine Arts Center or at any Greenville County School.

DROP OFF & PICK UP: PARENT RESPONSIBILITY

It is the responsibility of the parent to deliver the student to The Fine Arts Center and to pick them up on time.

For your child’s safety, students may NOT be dropped off more than 15 minutes before the class begins. If you arrive more than 15 minutes before the start of class, please remain in the parking lot with your child until the time for drop off.

At dismissal, all students must wait with the instructor on duty on the concrete area near the front entrance of the school. Pickup is immediately after class.

If a parent is late in picking up a child, the student will first attempt to call the parent or another responsible adult. If the student cannot reach a responsible adult, elementary students will wait with their instructor in the classroom, and middle school students will wait in the classroom with the instructor on duty. Parents will have to come inside upon arrival to pick up the child.

A consistent pattern (more than 3 times) of parental tardiness will require a meeting with the teacher, parent, and FAC administrator. If the tardiness persists, your student may be dismissed from the program.

VISITORS & EARLY DISMISSAL

Unless it is an emergency, parents needing to pick students up early should notify the instructor ahead of time either by a signed note or email. The parent or responsible adult picking up a student for early dismissal must report to the front desk and show ID. Please budget enough time to come inside since no student will be allowed to wait outside.

No visitors are allowed during class unless permission is obtained ahead of time from the instructor.

FOOD & DRINK POLICY

NO FOOD, GUM, CANDY OR DRINK OTHER THAN BOTTLED WATER IS ALLOWED IN THE FINE ARTS CENTER.

We suggest you provide a snack, if needed, for your student to eat before your student arrives prior to the beginning of the ARMES classes. Snacks and drinks will not be permitted in the building.

STUDENT DIRECTORY INFORMATION

Contact your child’s teacher in writing to obtain an opt-out form for directory information if you do not want your child to be photographed in class or his/her name included on performance programs.

Please contact your child’s teacher if you would like more information.

TRANSPORTATION & CARPOOL

No buses are available for the ARMES program. It is the parent’s responsibility to provide transportation to and from the Fine Arts Center. In the interest of safety, please make sure anyone picking up your child understands the traffic flow and rules. In addition, please advise instructors in writing of any special circumstances or anyone who is not permitted to pick up your child from ARMES.

We understand it is often a hardship to transport students to ARMES in the afternoon. We provide carpool information for those who request it. To be on the carpool list, you must complete the required form by the date provided each year. To see a listing of the students interested in carpooling this year, go to www.armesprogram.com. The carpool list will not be updated once it has been posted online.

DROP OFF & PICK UP PROCEDURES FOR THE FINE ARTS CENTER

Please look at the Drop Off & Pick Up page at www.armesprogram.com for complete information.

Inner Loop (Drop-off)

Parents will take an immediate left upon entering the Wade Hampton/Fine Arts Center campus in order to use the inner loop (the faculty parking lot) to drop off their students. Students MUST use the crosswalk as they cross the pick- up lane. An adult will be on duty at the crosswalk during drop off and pick up times.

Outer Loop (Pick-up)

Parents will stay straight to use the pick- up lane. Whenever possible, please stay to the RIGHT as you come around the circle and wait in line until you reach the front of the building. For safety reasons, no student will be allowed to enter a car in the left hand lane.

If you reach the front door of the building and your student is not waiting for you, please pull ahead and wait farther down the lane freeing the area immediately in front of the building for those whose students are ready. If you are early, you may be asked to make a second loop to free up the traffic pattern.

Throughout the year there are many events, sponsored by Wade Hampton High School and/or Fine Arts Center that cause ARMES dismissal to be difficult, please be patient if this happens.

During special events at both high schools, many parents and guests park their cars in the drive-thru loop causing ARMES parents difficulty getting to the front of the school. In those cases, it may be easier to park in a parking space and walk over to the ARMES dismissal area to get your child rather than wait in line.

Finally, the custodial staff and the ARMES faculty are there to assist in the safe arrival and departure of students. Their objective is to facilitate student safety, so please give them your cooperation and your respect for the difficult job they are doing.

The ARMES program is unable to provide transportation for students to and from classes. Therefore it is up to parents to ensure that students are able to attend regularly and on time. In order to assist parents in need of help in this area, we provide an opportunity for parents wishing to do so, to voluntarily share their contact information with other ARMES parents. There is a link to the Carpool Information Release Form in the email sent to accepted and wait listed students.

The Information on this form will be shared with other parents in the program. Only information entered on this form will be distributed, and only to other ARMES parents. By filling out the Carpool Information Release Form you are giving permission for this information to be shared.

The first version of the carpool list will be emailed to all parents no sooner than July 1^st. Another version of the list will be sent out at some point in August. Please make sure you have added your information to the emailed link by June 28^th if you wish to be included on this list.

Please keep in mind that while the different disciplines within the ARMES program each have their own schedules, it may be possible to arrange carpools with students in other areas of study.