At NoVAPA, the safety, well-being, and dignity of every student is our highest priority. We understand that parents place tremendous trust in us when they enroll their children in our programs. We take that responsibility seriously, and we have established safety standards designed to create a secure, supportive, and positive learning environment for all participants.
Every policy, procedure, and training requirement at NoVAPA exists to protect the young performers in our care. We are committed to:
Providing a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for all students.
Maintaining appropriate supervision of students at all times during program activities.
Promoting respect, kindness, and professionalism among students, staff, volunteers, and families.
Responding promptly and appropriately to safety concerns.
Following all applicable federal, state, and local laws related to youth programming.
Partnering with families and cooperating fully with authorities to protect every child.
Every adult with direct student contact is screened and trained before the first day of programming.
All employees, contractors, volunteers, and other adults who have direct contact with students are subject to screening procedures as required by NoVAPA policies and applicable laws. Screenings include:
Under Virginia law, certain professionals who work with children are required to report suspected child abuse or neglect when they have reason to believe a child may be at risk. Even when not legally designated, NoVAPA expects all staff, contractors, and volunteers to immediately report any concern about a child's safety or welfare to leadership. Training covers:
NoVAPA strongly encourages all staff to obtain certification in:
NoVAPA is committed to an environment where every student feels safe, respected, and valued.
Students are supervised by NoVAPA staff during program activities. Our practices include:
The following behaviors are not tolerated at NoVAPA:
We expect all staff, contractors, and volunteers to maintain professional boundaries with students. Examples include:
Clear procedures, current information, and well-maintained spaces keep students safe day to day.
NoVAPA maintains emergency procedures designed to address:
Parents are encouraged to provide accurate and current health information for their children. We request notification regarding:
NoVAPA strives to maintain safe program spaces by:
Communication is a critical component of safety — we welcome your questions and partnership.
We encourage families to partner with us in maintaining a safe environment for all participants. Parents are encouraged to:
Any parent, student, staff member, volunteer, or community member who has a concern regarding the safety or well-being of a student is encouraged to notify NoVAPA leadership immediately.
At NoVAPA, we believe that students learn best when they feel safe, supported, and respected. Every policy, procedure, and training requirement is designed to help create an environment where young performers can grow in confidence, creativity, and character — while families can trust that their children are cared for responsibly.