Kirov Academy Announcements

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A Letter from our President

Dear Kirov Academy Families and Students,

I would like to thank all of you for being wonderful partners during the last six weeks of school. As we look forward to our Graduation on May 30th, I find myself reflecting back on this life-altering year with a sense of gratitude and purpose. 2020 is the 30th anniversary of Kirov Academy’s founding but I am also cognizant of the fact that 2020 will always be remembered as the year of the COVID pandemic. In Asian culture, we have an understanding that light and darkness coexist, like two sides of a coin. Darkness does not provoke fear but instead elicits wonder because it is in the darkness that we see the bright stars guiding our way. Likewise, despite the many challenges and the darkness brought upon us by the COVID pandemic, Kirov Academy, with your help, has transitioned beautifully to our Virtual Classrooms. Our Kirov Academy students, pursuing their studies with discipline and purpose, have once again, shown us who they are, as they continue to develop themselves into the incredible artists and stars they are becoming. 

Here at Kirov, we are ever mindful that the health and safety of our students is, first and foremost, our top priority. Any activity, from our Graduation Ceremony on May 30th to the Summer Intensive Program (SIP) scheduled for July 13th to August 15th, and plans to re-open in September are all designed with this in mind. We are working hard to ensure that we are aligned with CDC guidelines and working in-step with the plans outlined by the DC Mayor’s office to slowly and safely re-open our academy.

It is anticipated that Washington DC will be entering Phase One of re-opening on Friday, May 29th. If all goes well, we are planning to launch this year’s “Hybrid” version of our Summer Intensive Program that will include Virtual Learning (July 13th – July 25th) and In-Person Training at Kirov Academy (July 26- August 15th). We believe this Hybrid Model is the best option considering the circumstances but may be subject to change based on guidance from the CDC and the Mayor’s Office. Mr. Runquio Du will inform registrants of additional details.

Like many of you, we are very much looking forward to our first Virtual Kirov Academy Graduation Ceremony on May 30th at 8 PM EST. We are working closely with our media team to provide an exceptional and intimate online ceremony for our graduates and their families. This will be a wonderful finale to this school year and a well-deserved celebration of our graduates with our Kirov family worldwide.

In addition to honoring our graduates, we also want to acknowledge the accomplishments of Kirov Academy’s entire student body. 2020 has certainly been a landmark year for us. Under the direction of our new Artistic Director, Mr. Runquio Du, Kirov Academy won the most prestigious Outstanding School Award, the Outstanding Choreographer Award, the Grand Prix Award, together with 12 additional awards in different categories at the YAGP competition. We also welcomed our new Music Artistic Director, the distinguished Dr. Yang Sook Lee, to lift the Music Department to the highest caliber of instruction and to forge new partnerships as we pioneer interactive online learning. Furthermore, in the Music Department, we won 3rd Place in the Advanced Division of the 49th Annual Joseph and Goldie Feder Memorial String Competition. These unprecedented achievements are a great tribute to our team of dedicated teachers and to our outstanding students. Moreover, building upon the foundation of Russian artistic excellence in dance and music, we are launching new classes in the Russian School of Mathematics starting with our After School Programs. 

At this time, Kirov Academy is also pleased to announce the world’s first Virtual International Piano Competition featuring the Steinway Spirio, the world’s most advanced high-resolution player piano system. The Steinway Spirio can capture every nuance of a performer’s musical interpretation and reproduce it live anywhere in the world. Contestants around the world will perform on Spirios in select cities worldwide, with international judges evaluating live recreations of these performances at the Steinway Hall of Korea and Kirov Academy, the proud home of the Steinway Spirio Concert D. The winners will compete for Steinway Artist Grants, a concert tour with the Embassy Concert Series, and the chance to perform at the world-renowned Kennedy Center of Washington, DC in the Spring of 2021.

We are proud to partner with Steinway and the Embassy Concert Series, to offer young pianists an opportunity to pursue their dreams while sharing their precious talent and passion with the world. Please join us to celebrate this historical moment where art and technology come together to continue the best of classical music tradition while embracing the performing arts culture of the 21st Century. Further information regarding the Virtual International Piano Competition will be available shortly. Please check the website for updates.

Many of you have enquired about the 30th Anniversary Gala that was originally scheduled for the end of May. I mentioned in my last letter that we have tentatively scheduled our celebration for the end of 2020. Due to uncertainties rising from the pandemic, however, we have decided to celebrate our 30th Anniversary in the spring of 2021. We will of course keep you updated on important dates as we move along throughout the year.

Once again, I would like to thank all the parents for being our devoted partners in supporting our students’ distance learning at home. It has been a rewarding and inspiring experience for me to see our students, faculty, and staff rising to meet the challenges presented to them and shining so brightly against the darkness of the pandemic. I am indeed proud of our students and our Kirov teams’ accomplishments during these extraordinary times.

I look forward to seeing you at our Virtual Graduation Ceremony on May 30th. Please feel free to contact me at tm@kabdc.org should you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,
Tatiana Moon
President & Chair

A Letter from our Academic Director

Dear Parents & Students,

All our staff are so grateful for the support that you have given your sons and daughters to continue in a most remarkable way to perform so well artistically, academically, and in online classroom discussions. I think it is a testament to the ongoing commitment that both you and your growing teenagers have to obtain the best education that you can from Kirov Academy. I really applaud all your efforts during these definitely unusual and trying times!

I am also grateful to all the staff, but in particular the teaching staff for their amazing efforts to adapt to the new environment of online classes. When many schools just stopped all their classes, and left students floundering with unfinished courses, Kirov teachers went above and beyond to maintain their classes and commitment to students’ education and also to contribute to their stability during this problematic time. Their innovation and diligence have created the opportunity for all our students to succeed and finish this year from a position of strength.

We want to especially congratulate all our graduates for this year 2020. They have all done very well in ballet as well as academics – four are graduating with Honors in academics which is a great achievement while keeping up such a rigorous schedule 6 days a week in ballet. Well done to all of them!

Please take care of your health. We also look forward to seeing everyone again in September.

Sincerely,
Stephen Gabb
Academic Director

A Letter from our Ballet Artistic Director

Dear Kirov Families,

Congratulations on a tremendous year! My sincere gratitude to all the teachers, staff, and parents. Your dedication, commitment, and love for our beautiful school made this year extra special. 

Now, summer is our focus, I believe it can be the perfect opportunity for us to rejuvenate, refocus, and prepare our mind and body for the new semester.  After weeks of careful planning and contemplating all of the elements related to creating, or in words that are familiar to me, “choreographing”, a Summer Intensive Program that will allow Kirov to serve the students’ artistic needs, I am happy to let you know that we have carefully created a “Hybrid” version of our Summer Intensive that would include Virtual Learning and In-Person Training. We believe it is safe, responsible, and comprehensive. The program would meet the needs of our many families that have waited so patiently for so long. 

Last week, the DC Mayor’s Office released a set of plans to slowly and safely reopen the city. DC is meeting the guideline of a 14 day decline in the number of the new cases of COVID-19. If there are no surprises, the city will be entering Phase One of the re-opening stage next Friday, May 29th. If all goes well, Summer Camps with reduced capacity can operate when the city enters Phase Two. This is when our Summer Intensive (without Dormitory Service), can take place. Here are the details:

Dates:

July 13th – August 15th

Virtual Learning/Quarantine (July 13th – July 25th )In-Person Training (July 26th – August 15th)

Curriculum:

Virtual Learning/Quarantine Period: All students will study via Kirov’s engaging and high quality Virtual Learning Program. All ballet technique classes will be live online classes, given by Kirov faculty directly from the Kirov studios with live piano accompaniment. Other subjects will include Character, Ballet History, Pilates, Floor Barre, Music, Life Skills, Nutrition, Career Preparation, and Great Ballets. Most of these classes will be taught live online, the others will be through video.

In-Person Training: Students will be divided into group A and group B. While group A is having In-Person Training in the studio during the morning period, group B is at their residence studying subjects that require less moving space, such as Ballet History, Pilates, Floor Barre, Music, Life Skills, Nutrition, Career Preparation, and Great Ballets. The groups will switch after lunch.

Lodging:

Kirov Academy will be responsible to locate and select safe, clean, and comfortable single-family residences in DC via Airbnb. Each residence will house no more than five students, and each residence will be staffed with one Kirov Resident Adviser to monitor the students’ safety, facilitate study, prepare breakfast, and provide transportation to and from the studios. 

Meals:

The Resident Adviser at the residence will prepare breakfast for the students. All lunch and dinner meals will be prepared in the Kirov kitchen, and will be transported to the residences by Kirov Staff. Snacks and water will be provided in the morning.

Transportation:

A Kirov vehicle and Kirov Staff Driver/Resident Adviser will provide all transportation between the studios and the residences. Organized shopping and sightseeing trips will be under strict supervision to ensure students’ safety. No public transportation is required or needed during the Intensive.

Classroom Size:

The maximum number of students in each group is 40. We will divide this number among our 5 beautiful studios. No more than eight students will be in any studio at any one time. 

Safety Protocol:

The first two weeks of the Summer Intensive will serve as the Quarantine period. No additional quarantine is necessary prior to the Intensive.

  • All students will have their temperature checked upon arrival to the Intensive and each day thereafter.
  • A Mask is required at all times at the studio. Students are responsible for providing their own masks.
  • Students will be kept at least six feet apart at all times. 
  • Hand sanitizing stations are already posted throughout the school.
  • Surface areas will be scrubbed down twice a day. The first time will be in between the morning and afternoon periods, the second time will be at the end of the day.
  • All faculty and staff will be trained in safety protocols.  
  • The full time Kirov nurses will be on staff to monitor the daily operations and alter the protocols as needed.

Registration Options:

Option A: All Five weeks including Virtual Learning/Quarantine and In-Person Training. $4,250 artistic and $2,850 Room and Board

Option B: All Five weeks in the form of Virtual Classes including access to our Content Folder, which will contain our In-Person Training archives in the event that our time zones don’t coincide. $2,125 ($425 per week)

Because of the limited number of students per class, we need a confirmation of which Option you accept, or if you want to withdraw completely from the program. There are 80 Option A spots available. Click here to register your choice  All Registrations will be accepted on a first come first serve basis.

Arrival and Departure:

We recommend all students arrive at their designated residence no later than Friday, July 10th.  We respectfully ask that parents dropping off their children wear masks and gloves and stay for a minimum amount of time while practicing social distance to reduce the possibility of contact with other students. The departure date will be August 16th. All students must depart on this day.

Thank you so much for your patience, support and trust of Kirov Academy in this challenging time. I am so looking forward to working with you this summer. Together, we will make this experience both safe and remarkable. 

Best Wishes,
Runqiao Du
Artistic Director

A Letter from our Music Artistic Director

Dear Kirov Music Family,

I would like to thank all the parents for showing unwavering support for our music education program during this difficult time. With your efforts, both students and teachers were better able to adapt to the challenge of distance learning. I would also like to thank our faculty members for providing the best music education even in the face of the challenges put forth by teaching online. Last but not least, I would like to congratulate all the students who have shown great efforts and phenomenal passion for music. Our students have demonstrated amazing diligence and improvements despite the difficulty of virtual classes. I hope the COVID-19 pandemic will be resolved by September and look forward to the next semester when we will be able to all make music together.

Sincerely,
Yangsook Lee
Music Artistic Director

Letters from our After School Program
After School Ballet Program

Dear Parents and Students,

We have received a lot of feedback regarding our most recent letter citing various concerns. The Wellness Department thought it would be a good idea to address some Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: I do not have access to a notary and/or I cannot make a sports physical appointment for my student. When can I submit these documents?

A: We understand the difficulty in access to these services right now, so we are therefore forgoing the notary requirement for the General Authorization form. If you live in the US, you may be able to schedule an appointment with the CVS Minute Clinic or other similar clinics to have a sports physical performed. If there is no other way to have a sports physical done, please see us at the nurse’s station on the first day of intensive so we may perform a physical ourselves to ensure safety. If you are having trouble with any other of the medical forms, please fill them out to the best of your ability.

Q: What is your protocol in the event of a potential outbreak of COVID-19?

A:  For the SIP, we must take extraordinary precautions beyond what is normally recommended to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We are in the process of fine-tuning a process based on CDC guidelines. Thus far, we have come up with the following:

  • Social distancing within the building and classes
    Mandating social distancing and keeping children in small groups (no more than 10 people clustered in an activity): absolutely no large group activities.
  • Implement daily student’s health assessments for s/s of illness development ( RR, activity level and endurance, temperature checks)
  • Contamination prevention in common areas
  • Providing adequate supplies for good hygiene, including clean and functional handwashing stations, soap, paper towels, and alcohol‐based hand sanitizer.
  • Restricting field trips.
  • Instructing parents/guardians to keep children home if they or any member of the household exhibits symptoms. Instructing staff to monitor for symptoms, and stay home if they are sick.
  • Restricting outside visitors and volunteers
  • Drop off and pick up to and from the academy
  • Class observation and final performance

Q: Will testing for COVID-19 be mandatory upon entry into the program?

A: Yes. We are requiring a negative COVID-19 test result before arrival to the Airbnb. We are requiring this testing to be done within the DC metro area to ensure the virus was not contracted anytime during travel. We will require proof of documentation of a negative test result upon arrival to the Airbnb. Please review the following to find a testing site local to the DC metro area:

Q: What if my child gets sick?

A: We work closely with the Children’s National Hospital and the Adolescent Center located about a mile from the school. In the event your child becomes ill, we will bring them to either the emergency room or the clinic depending on the severity of illness. We highly recommend ensuring adequate insurance coverage before arriving at the SIP. 

As a reminder, each student MUST have active health insurance which is admissible in US Medical Facilities (hospitals, urgent care, laboratories, imaging departments). In case the insurance coverage is not sufficient or the insurance does not cover provided services, the student must have sufficient funds on hand to pay for medical services provided. Kirov Academy will not be responsible for the financial coverage of health services rendered. Please note that if you are a US resident with an HMO plan and live outside of the District of Columbia, your child may not be covered for certain services.

Please follow up with your health insurance provider to ensure you coverage with the following facilities:

Children’s National Hospital
111 Michigan Avenue NW, Washington, D.C., 20010
202.476.5000


Children’s National Adolescent Health Center
202.476.5464

Patient First Urgent Care
8206 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD, 20910
301.960.4682

We strongly advise children with pre-existing health conditions including, but not limited to, asthma and other immunosuppressive conditions, refrain from participating in our in-person summer intensive program. If you decide your child is healthy enough to participate, documentation of health clearance from their pediatrician to attend the SIP program is required. Review potential risks and provide the Kirov Academy Wellness Team with clear orders/instructions to care for your child should they become ill.

We are monitoring the situation day by day and we will continue to keep ourselves up to date on the latest recommendations. Please continue to check your email daily for further updates. Please understand that while these guidelines may not be the most ideal, our intention is to be a leader in the artistic community and work diligently to keep your children, and our faculty and staff as safe as possible. 

If you have any questions regarding uploading medical documents to the Magnus portal, please contact our Counselor, Ms. Devin, at g.counselor@kabdc.org

If you have any questions in regards to accommodations, please contact our Resident Life Manager, Ms. Karlene, at k.blackburn@kabdc.org

If you have any other medical- or COVID-related questions, please contact either Nurse Catherine or Nurse Nadia at nurse@kabdc.org

Sincerely,
Catherine Lancaster BSN, RN
Nadia Galushko BSN, RN

Letters from our After School Program
After School Ballet Program

Dear ASP Parents and Adult Ballet Students,

Over the last eight weeks, with the successful launch of our virtual classes, the ASP programs at Kirov Academy have shown that the disruption of a pandemic will not stop our students from dancing, learning and improving. The Kirov Academy leadership has kept us all able and inspired, and our commitment to you remains strong.

As we move forward to Summer 2020 at Kirov Academy, we must prioritize the health and well-being of our community. To support our ongoing education mission, all ASP Ballet Summer Programs will be held as advertised on Kirov Academy website but conducted virtually. Our esteemed ballet faculty will instruct classes live directly from Kirov Academy studios to your home. To help you make most of your child’s learning this summer, we are expanding our virtual classes to include extracurricular video materials and assignments on ballet technique, ballet history and ballet repertoire. Your dancer will continue to receive the top-notch ballet training from Kirov Academy instructors and master teachers. All sessions will culminate in virtual performances highlighting progress of our dancers.  

I encourage you to continue to learn and dance this summer. If you have not yet registered for our ASP Ballet courses, please do so at your earliest convenience. If I may be of any help, please do not hesitate to contact me any time by emailing to iwunder@kabdc.org or calling my cell phone at 703 966 7073. Feel free to pass my contact information on to anyone who might be interested in dancing with us this summer. 

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you once again for your stellar support in the last eight weeks. We are proud of you and your commitment and cannot wait to be fully open as soon as it is safely possible. Wishing you all a wonderful, productive summer and hoping to see you all very soon.
            
Warmest,
Irina Wunder
After School Program Manager

After School Music Program

Dear ASP Families,

Firstly we want to say a heartfelt thank you for your support over the past two months since announcing our decision to close our in-person lessons at this time. Now more than ever, it is important for your child to have a routine and be able to learn music which brings them joy and passion. We had a wonderful 2nd Virtual ASP Ballet and Music Recital on Saturday, May 22. Our ASP Music Department is grateful to all our students and parents for the tremendous support during this challenging time.  

Warm regards,
Jinha Park
After School Program Music Department Chair

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