Our school represents a small, tight-knit community built on mutual respect and dedication to one goal: preserving the Bulgarian culture together!  To ensure that all students and parents have a positive experience, please review our bylaws below  

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OUR PURPOSE

Recognizing the desire and need to preserve and perpetuate the Bulgarian heritage, the organization will strive to educate the students in the customs and traditions of music, song, and dance. The Parent Group has been formed to lend moral, material and financial support to the students in this nonprofit organization.

 

MEMBERSHIP

All parents, guardians, or sponsors whose children are members of Otets Paissii need to be active members of the Parent Group (BMNECC).  This means that those parents, guardians, or sponsors have to pay full family dues for the year in addition to school tuition fees.

 

MEETINGS

The regular meetings will be held on the first Sunday of every month but may be postponed due to emergency or lack of a quorum.  The school board will aim to hold meetings during school time.  However, at least one of those meetings during any given semester will fall outside of school hours to ensure that we include the teachers.  The school board will announce meeting dates and times at the beginning of each semester.   Special meetings may be called if necessary.

• An agenda and notification of 3 days at minimum will be given.

• A quorum at special meetings will consist of two thirds (2/3) the total family membership.

• One vote is allowed per family. The majority vote of the members present is to rule.

• At least two officers must be present at each meeting.

• All policy matters pertaining to the organization must be discussed at a meeting and voted upon a quorum.

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SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, APPOINTMENT AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The School Board will work for the best interest of Otets Paissii Bulgarian Sunday School.  The Board will support the school operations and ensure that all members (children and parents) are maintaining good standing and adhering to the school code of conduct. 

School Board Members / Officers (2019-2020 school year) and responsibilities - please see 'Our team.'

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Officers are reestablished every year.  In March of every year, each officer will express their interested in retaining the same responsibilities the following year. At that time, the School Board will seek interest from any other parent for each of the positions.  If there are 2 or more people interested in the same position, the parents will vote to determine the person who will occupy the position the following year.  Only members in good standing will be eligible to hold office.  Good standing will mean having all dues and fees paid in full to the previous and current year.  Members nominated for office must have attended 50% of the regular meetings in the current Otets Paissii year. The Bulgarian School year is typically from the 1st Sunday in September through 3rd Sunday in May. 

 

PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES

• All parents need to pay semester tuition fees - full dues as spelled out by school board by the end of the first month of the school year.    

• Parents must attend all regular meetings unless excused by the Director. 

• Members are responsible for communicating scheduling conflicts and communicating any feedback to the Director to be incorporated in the meeting. 

• Parents are required to participate in all fundraising events or to contribute a dollar amount determined by the School Board.

• Parents will be sure that each costume is presentable (i.e., cleaned, pressed, in good repair, and complete) for each scheduled performance.

• Each parent is responsible for practicing with their kids to ensure homework is complete and they are prepared for school events and performances.

• Each family participates in chaperone duty.

• Parents will work for the best interest of Otets Paissii Bulgarian Sunday School.  

 

TEACHER RESPONSIBILITIES

Bulgarian Language ​

• The teacher adheres to the specified school curriculum and schedule from the Bulgarian Ministry.  

• The teacher maintains proper documentation required by the Bulgarian Ministry. ​

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Bulgarian Dance 

• Teacher maintains proper documentation required by the Bulgarian Ministry. 

• Teacher is expected to introduce 1 new dance/routine per semester or a total of 2 new dances/routines for each group for the school year.  Teacher needs to outline what will be taught at least 1 week before the semester starts.  

  • The 1 semester dance will be taught immediately at start of the school year to be performed within 6wks or start of school year.   

• Christmas school party: Teacher is expected to prepare additional simple routines for each group to be performed at the Christmas party.  Preparation of the routines for the party to happen during class time and therefore will be considered part of the class material.  The parents will lead 2 rehearsals for the final Christmas performance.  It is preferable but not required for the teacher to stay at those rehearsals.   

• Graduation School Party: The students will showcase everything that they have learned during the year at the Graduation party.  No additional dance routines are required but the teacher is expected to ensure that the students are prepared to perform everything that they have learned during the school year. 

• The Teacher shall participate and contribute to the preparation for outside performance events.   

• Teach will ensure:  

  • clarity of what will be performed at the events

  • distribution of music to be used at the event  

  • if teacher cannot attend the performance, he needs to communicate at least 2 weeks in advance to the school Director (unless it is due to an emergency).   

 

All teachers

• The Teacher shall arrive for work 15 min before the first lesson of the day and record the title of the lesson in the designated school records book.

• Teacher shall be responsible for the safety of the students during class time and only during class time (excluding break time). 

• The Teacher shall arrive in the classroom on time and dismiss the student at the end of the class.

• The Teacher shall adopt and maintain good classwork preparation and work towards the implementation of the lessons.

• The Teacher shall give a notice of absence to the school director at least 24 hours prior to the class in order for the school to secure a substitute teacher.  Communication should be done through the Director of the school. 

• The Teacher shall be responsible for the maintenance of his/her classroom and any other room occupied by the Teacher and the students.

• The Teacher shall attend regularly staff meetings, school gatherings, school events.

• The Teacher shall maintain always a business attire and a tidy personal appearance.

• The Teacher shall not teach lessons for the Bulgarian School “Otets Paissii” outside the designated schedule without permission of the school management board.

• The Teacher shall not promote any political, anti-government, religious, or economical views among the school community.

• The Teacher shall not use a cell phone in the classroom.

• The Teacher shall not smoke, bring or drink alcohol on the school premises during lessons, school events and activities.

• The Teacher shall not bring any weapons on the school premises, including any items that may be used or construed as weapons.

• The Teacher shall not discriminate in any direct or indirect way based on age, race, color, nationality, or ethnicity.

• The school management reserves the right to sanction and penalize the individuals who do not abide by the above referenced duties.

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STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

• Students must attend Sunday school sessions and any make up sessions as scheduled. If two consecutive school sessions are missed without a valid excuse such as illness or other complications, students may be prohibited from participating in a performance or from receiving a valid diploma, by the instructors.

• The student and parent are responsible for the maintenance and repair of the costumes in their possession.

• Immediately upon leaving the Bulgarian School, the costumes and accessories are to be returned complete and in good condition.

• At the end of each year, each student should return the textbooks he/she was given at the beginning of the year so they can be reused if needed. 

• Students are required to practice music, song, and dance between scheduled practices and rehearsals.

• Students will be prompt for practice, rehearsals, and performances.

• Scheduled school time in on Sundays. Refer to annual class schedule for specific times for each group.

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CODE OF CONDUCT

• Parent concerns: If an issue arises, it needs to be brought up at the meeting or to the director immediately. Avoid mass email communications.  

• Students need to be on time Attendance / accountability

• Disciplinary action / escalation 

• Disrespectful and disruptive to the system – discussion and voting in parent meeting

• Parent on duty roles and responsibilities

  • Ensure that students are safe and maintaining good behavior while teacher is not in the classroom. 

  • The parent on duty is not to interfere with class program. 

  • Responsible for remembering the date. If a scheduling conflict arises, parent on duty is responsible for finding a substitute. 

• The Bulgarian School shall not dissolve as long as there are at least fourteen (14) active members in good standing who desire to continue. In the unlikely event that the School dissolves in the middle of any given semester, the Club will keep the money already given by the parents.

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COSTUMES: INSTRUCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

• ALL Kids should wear the provided t-shirt for rehearsals with black shorts/ leggings/ sweatpants that are easy to move in. 

• Dance sneakers/jazz or ballet shoes are required for the 1st grade and Shareni Chorapi as they are now learning more detailed exercises in warm ups and dances. Payless Shoes, Amazon, Target and Walmart all have a selection of reasonably priced dance shoes, some suggestions are included below. Please be careful with sizing. 

• ALL Girls need black buckle/character shoes for performances.  Boys can use their rehearsal black dance shoes, or if they prefer a black dress shoe (less bulky is better).

• As our younger kids are outgrowing shoes fast, please consider donating shoes you no longer need to the club. We will keep them in storage and make them available to all parents as an alternative to buying. 

• All kids (aide from pre-school students) need to have their dance belts every week.  

• Undergarments for costumes are a must (to preserve the costumes/coverage while changing/coverage while turning on stage):

 

PreK Girls:  white opaque tights, white leotard/tank-top.

1st Gr Girls: white opaque tights, white leotard/tank-top with white spandex shorts or white slip.

Shareni Chorapi Girls: white opaque tights, white leotard/tank-top with white show slip.

 

1st Gr Boys: white, close-fit tank-top/v-neck t-shirt, black dress pants, black crew socks (not low ankle socks).

Shareni Chorapi Boys: white, close-fit tank-top/v-neck t-shirt, white spandex shorts/boxer briefs, white crew socks.

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ALL COSTUMES ARE PROPERTY OF THE BULGARIAN CLUB.

 

• Inventory will be charted on all costume pieces distributed and all costume pieces collected back.  If a costume piece is lost, it will be the borrower's responsibility to cover the cost of replacement.

• If you receive a costume piece that needs repaired in any way, I ask that you do this as a parental duty. If you are not able to do so, please contact Annie, so she can coordinate the repair with someone else.

 

WASHING INSTRUCTIONS

• All costumes should be washed in cold water and hung to dry before they are returned. 

• White shirts should be ironed as well.

• If you received the costume on a hanger, please return it that was as well.

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Approved August 2019