Terms & Conditions and Policies

Business Name: Biology with Berta / Owl STEAM Academy (“we,” “us,” “our”)

Service Area: Monterey County, California, including Prunedale, CA and Salinas, CA

Effective Date: January 1, 2026 (Last update 05/19/2026)

These Terms & Conditions (“Terms”) apply to all classes, tutoring, camps, enrichment programs, educational services, events, and related products or services we provide (the “Services”). By registering, booking, purchasing, or participating in our Services, you agree to these Terms.

1) Enrollment, Participation, and Parent/Guardian Responsibility

A parent/guardian or authorized adult must enroll a minor student and is responsible for providing accurate information during registration.

Parents/guardians are responsible for ensuring that students follow all behavioral, safety, and participation expectations. We may refuse service or remove a participant from a class, camp, tutoring session, enrichment program, or event for unsafe, disruptive, or inappropriate behavior. In such cases, refunds or credits may be limited depending on the circumstances.

Participation in our Services may require a separate Liability Waiver signed by a parent/guardian. This form is separate from these Terms and must be completed before a student may participate, unless we confirm otherwise in writing.

Liability Waiver forms must be renewed each school year. For our purposes, the school year runs from August 1 through May 31.

2) Photo/Video Release and Opt-Out

By registering for or participating in our Services, you authorize Biology with Berta / Owl STEAM Academy to use photos and/or video of you and/or your child for educational, social media, and promotional purposes.

You understand that no compensation will be provided and that your child’s name or other identifying information will not be used without additional written consent.

You may opt out of this photo/video release by emailing us at info@owlSTEAM.com prior to your registered event, class, camp, or program. If you opt out, we will make reasonable efforts to refrain from using photos or video of your child in our educational, social media, or promotional materials.

3) Drop-Off, Pickup, and Late Pickup Fees

Parents/guardians are responsible for dropping off and picking up students at the scheduled times for each class, camp, tutoring session, enrichment program, or event.

Please arrive promptly for pickup at the scheduled end time. Timely pickup helps us maintain appropriate staffing, respect facility rental times, and ensure a safe and smooth experience for all students and staff.

A brief courtesy grace period of up to 10 minutes may be allowed for unexpected delays. Beginning 11 minutes after the scheduled class, camp, tutoring session, enrichment program, or event end time, late pickup fees may be billed at $1 per minute, per student, until the student is picked up.

Late pickup fees may be invoiced separately and are due upon receipt. Repeated late pickups may affect a student’s ability to participate in future programs.

4) Payments and Billing

Payment is due at the time of registration or booking unless we confirm different terms in writing, including an approved school Purchase Order, charter school agreement, or other written arrangement.

We use third-party payment processors. By paying through our checkout links, invoices, or approved payment methods, you authorize the processor and Biology with Berta / Owl STEAM Academy to charge the selected payment method for the Services you purchase.

5) Cancellation and Rescheduling Policy

We understand that schedules change. Our goal is to be fair while protecting reserved seats, staffing, preparation time, and facility arrangements.

A. Cancellations by Parent/Guardian

If you cancel more than 48 hours before the scheduled start time, you may choose either:

A refund, subject to Section 6 regarding non-refundable payment processing fees; or

A credit toward future Services, subject to Section 6.

If you cancel within 48 hours of the scheduled start time, the booking is non-refundable. A credit may be offered only at our discretion for emergencies or special circumstances.

B. Rescheduling

Requests made more than 48 hours before the scheduled start time may be rescheduled without penalty, subject to availability.

Requests made within 48 hours of the scheduled start time are treated as a late cancellation unless we approve otherwise in writing.

C. No-Shows

If you do not attend and do not notify us in advance, it is considered a no-show and is non-refundable.

D. If We Cancel

If we must cancel a class, camp, tutoring session, enrichment program, event, or other scheduled service due to illness, facility issues, low enrollment, emergency, or other circumstances, you may choose a full refund or full credit.

6) Refunds, Credits, and Payment Processing Fees

A. Refunds

When a refund is approved, we will refund the amount paid minus any non-refundable payment processing fees actually charged to us by the payment processor for that transaction, if applicable.

Processing fees vary by payment method and processor. We only retain the actual non-refundable fees tied to your transaction. Many processors do not return the original processing fee when a refund is issued.

B. Credits

If you choose a credit instead of a refund, we typically issue the full amount paid as credit so you avoid losing any non-refundable payment processing fees.

Credits are non-transferable, have no cash value, and may only be used for future Services offered by Biology with Berta / Owl STEAM Academy.

Credits expire at the end of the current school year, defined as May 31. The school year runs from August 1 through May 31. Unused credits expire automatically after May 31.

C. Transparency

Any required charges will be disclosed to you before you complete checkout or registration.

7) Returned Payments, Failed Payments, and Chargebacks

If a payment is returned, reversed, disputed, or fails to process, including ACH returns, card payment failures, and chargebacks:

* Your balance becomes immediately due.

* We may pause Services until the account is current.

* You agree to reimburse any bank or processor return fees actually charged to us.

* If a chargeback is filed, we may provide documentation to the payment processor, including invoices, attendance logs, registration details, and communications.

For dishonored checks, California law may allow a service charge, commonly up to $25 for the first returned check and $35 for each subsequent returned check, subject to applicable legal requirements.

We do not impose an additional fee simply for choosing to pay by credit card. If we ever implement credit card surcharging, we will comply with applicable law and card-network disclosure rules.

8) Charter School Funds, ESAs, and Purchase Orders

If you are registering using charter school funds, ESA funds, or other school-administered funds, you are responsible for ensuring the school issues an approved Purchase Order, written authorization, or other documentation we accept before Services begin, unless we confirm different terms in writing.

If a Purchase Order is not issued on time, is denied, is reduced, or does not cover the Services provided, the parent/guardian or registering party agrees to pay for all Services rendered at our standard rates.

We are not responsible for a school’s internal processing timelines, approval decisions, funding limitations, or paperwork requirements.

9) Contracted Charter School Terms

If we are contracted under a written agreement with your charter school, including Ocean Grove Charter School or Central Valley Charter Schools, also known as Yosemite Valley Charter, then the written charter school contract controls where it conflicts with these Terms.

These Terms still apply to anything not specifically addressed in the charter school contract.

10) Educational Disclaimer

We provide educational services, but we do not guarantee specific outcomes, grades, test scores, academic results, skill mastery, or student performance. Progress varies by student.

11) Intellectual Property

All lesson materials, handouts, slides, curriculum, activities, written materials, and related educational content are owned by us or our licensors and are for registered student and family use only.

No redistribution, recording, copying, resale, or commercial use is permitted without written permission.

12) Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, our liability for claims related to the Services is limited to the amount paid for the specific Service giving rise to the claim.

We are not liable for indirect, incidental, consequential, special, or punitive damages.

13) Governing Law and Venue

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of California.

Services are provided in Monterey County, California, and any dispute will be handled in the appropriate California venue, unless otherwise required by law.

14) Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. The version posted at the time of booking, purchase, or registration will apply to that transaction.

15) Privacy Policy

Our Privacy Policy explains how we collect and use personal information.

View it here:

[https://www.biologywithberta.com/privacypolicy](https://www.biologywithberta.com/privacypolicy)