It’s dispointing that we have a second wave. Even if it was something that was foreseen by experts . As of now lessons like mine, have been made exempt from the recent shut down as long as social distancing is maintained.

I may be allowed to host 10 students at once according to the rules. However, I have asked myself what is the responsible thing to do? Is it responsible to be open when health officials ask us to avoid going out? The messages between what is and allowed and is suggested don’t line up. So these are decisions each business has to contend with in their own way.

I don’t believe at this time it is best to open up the studio , for now. So sadly for the present there won’t be group classes in the studio.

While rearranging the studio I found I could fit 6, seated 2 meters apart if I used every inch of space. This is something to consider for the future as hopefully the number of Covid cases fall again in Toronto.

I know many parents and students are on the same page as me and are keeping their children home.

As the curve flattens again, it is a decision I will certainly revisit. I very much want to open the studio again!

For those who are disappointed and aren’t understanding what they may see as an over abundance of caution, I would like to explain my perspective.

I have a number of family members that are considered vulnerable with other health conditions. I am not seeing them at this time or since March for their safety. Both my parents, independently of each other caught Covid19 this winter. One was much more seriously ill and there may be long term complications yet to come. The other despite their health issues recovered easily. But it could have gone the other way.

I am young and healthy enough that I have little concern for myself. I am worried about our larger community and those who have already existing health conditions and the elderly.

Back in 2009 during a much less serious outbreak of swine flu, 3 of my students ended up hospitalized. This has stayed with me ever since. I believe one of them gave me the illness, and I in turn passed it on to, two others, that I know of. We didn’t know better then.

I cannot live with that on my conscious again, knowing that someones family member like a grandparents caught covid19 because a student came to my art studio and now that love one is in hospital.

I am thinking that it would be safer to slowly go ahead with the hybrid model, I know so far those interested in it are limited in number, also making me feel that this is a compromise that can be done with lower risk to everyone.

That is why I am only doing online and the hybrid model. (Students can come in every few weeks by themselves during their online class to get some hands on learning. I have set up the studio to accommodate this)

For those who have paid for classes before the shut down, and have unused classes, I will give you credit for those paid classes to be used when I find it safe to open the studio, and you feel comfortable with doing in person classes again.

If you are looking for a refund, I will ask that you first let the student try an online class to see if they might like it, before I issue a refund. I know that some are apprehensive and have bad experiences with e-learning. Generally the feed back from students has been that my online art classes are different from their other experiences with online education. My online Art classes have been well received even for those who thought it wouldn’t be good for them, so I would like, at least for students to give it a try before quitting and making assumptions.

If you are looking for times to join an online class, contact me. There are still times available! I am teaching from Tuesdays through Sunday.

I would like to thank a million times over the parents who encouraged me to take my classes online during the start of the pandemic. Also to thank those parents and students who stuck with me online all these months and are signing up for more! I am grateful every day to everyone of you.

Stay well everyone!

-Katherine