YOUTH & TEEN CERAMICS POLICIES
Studio Conduct and Behavior Policy
Elemental Counseling LLC reserves the right to remove a student from a class, intensive, or the studio if their behavior is disruptive, unsafe, or damaging to the learning environment, other students, studio members, staff, or studio property, or if it violates Elemental Counseling LLC policies.
When appropriate, parents or guardians will be contacted to discuss concerns and possible solutions before further action is taken.
If necessary, Elemental Counseling LLC may also remove the student from future classes or participation in the Elemental Counseling LLC studio community.
Respect for People and Work
Students must treat other participants, instructors, and studio members with respect. Students may not touch, move, or alter another person’s pottery or materials without permission.
Studio Safety and Tool Use
Students must follow instructor directions when using pottery wheels, tools, glazes, and other studio equipment. Unsafe use of equipment may result in removal from the activity or class.
Clean-Up and Shared Space Responsibility
Students are expected to help clean their workspace, tools, and shared studio areas at the end of each session as instructed by the instructor.
Clay and Material Use
Clay, glazes, and studio materials must be used only as directed by the instructor. Throwing clay, misusing materials, or intentionally wasting clay or supplies is not permitted.
Personal Devices
To support focus and engagement in the studio, phones and other personal devices should be kept away during instruction and studio work unless the instructor permits their use for class-related purposes.
Pottery Completion and Pick-Up
Ceramics is a multi-step process that takes time to complete. While we make every effort to fire student work, pieces that break, crack, or do not survive the firing process are a normal part of working with clay. Finished pieces should be picked up within the timeframe provided by the studio. Unclaimed work may eventually be recycled or discarded to make space for new projects.
Drop-Off, Pick-Up, and
Transportation Policy for Minors
To ensure a safe and smooth experience for all participants, please review the following drop-off, pick-up, and transportation guidelines for our youth and teen intensives and classes.
Intensive and Class Hours
Youth and teen intensives and classes have specific scheduled hours, and the drop-off and pick-up policies apply to the start and end times of the particular class or intensive for which your child is enrolled.
Drop-Off
Parents/guardians may drop off their child no earlier than ten (10) minutes before the scheduled start time. Our staff may be preparing the studio prior to that time and cannot provide supervision earlier than the designated drop-off window.
Pick-Up
Parents/guardians must pick up their child, or arrange transportation, no later than ten (10) minutes after the intensive ends.
Late Pick-Up Fees
If a participant is not picked up within 10 minutes after the scheduled end time, a late pick-up fee of $25 will be charged for the first 30 minutes. If pick-up occurs more than 30 minutes after the scheduled end time, an additional $30 fee will be charged.
Authorized Pick-Up
Participants will only be released to a parent/guardian or an individual authorized in advance by the parent/guardian. Identification may be requested if staff do not recognize the individual.
If someone not listed will be picking up your child, please notify the studio ahead of time.
Self-Transportation for Teens
Teens who will walk, bike, take public transit, drive, or otherwise transport themselves to and/or from the intensive must have written parent/guardian approval on file.
The approval must specify the methods of transportation permitted, such as:
walking
riding a bicycle
public transit
driving themselves
ride-share or other arranged transportation
Once a teen leaves the studio under an approved self-transportation agreement, supervision by studio staff ends.
Communication
If you anticipate being late or need to arrange a different pick-up person, please contact the studio as soon as possible so staff can plan accordingly. We can be reached by text or phone call at 503-714-8762
Emergency Contact
Parents/guardians must provide at least one emergency contact who can be reached if the parent/guardian cannot be contacted at pick-up time.
Repeated Late Pick-Ups
Repeated late pick-ups may result in additional fees or removal from the intensive, as staff supervision cannot be guaranteed beyond the designated pick-up window.
Cancellation, Refund, and Transfer Policy
Full Refund:
Cancel 10 or more calendar days before the start of your class or intensive for a full refund.
No Refund:
Cancellations made within 10 days of the class start date or after a class begins are non-refundable.
Optional Flexible Registration – $75:
For an additional $75, participants may choose the Flexible Registration option, which allows one transfer to a future class:
The transfer must be requested in writing via email to info@elementalstudiospdx.com no later than 3 calendar days before the class start date.
Transfers are only allowed to a class of equal value.
Only one transfer is permitted; once a transfer is confirmed, the participant cannot transfer again.
The class the participant transfers into must start no later than one calendar year after the start date of the original class.
Transfers are subject to availability, and confirmation occurs once space is available.
No refunds or additional transfers are allowed once the class has begun.
Limited Class Spots:
All classes are limited to 8 participants. If a participant transfers using the Flexible Registration option, their spot in the future class may reduce the number of available spots, and a transfer is only confirmed once space is available.
Missed Classes:
There are no refunds for missed classes. Elemental Counseling LLC will make every effort to ensure participants’ work is completed, glazed, and fired.
Emergency Considerations:
While the studio cannot guarantee refunds for illness or emergencies, participants are encouraged to contact the studio if extenuating circumstances arise. Exceptions may be considered at the studio’s discretion, but are not guaranteed.
Other Adults in the Studio
Parents/guardians acknowledge that the studio is a shared creative space. During youth and teen classes or intensives, adult members and adult students may also be present in the studio working independently or attending other classes.
A class instructor will be present at all times, and 11–13 year old classes will also have a studio assistant present. Minors will be actively supervised during class activities and will not be left alone with adults using the studio space.
By enrolling their child, parents/guardians acknowledge and agree that other adults may be present in the studio during their child’s class while supervision is maintained by studio staff.