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Creative Innovators Project
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For CIP families

Family policies

Please read these with your family before you complete the family form. Each section shows the statement you'll check on the form.

Code of Conduct

On the family form: I have read the Code of Conduct and reviewed it with my child.

This applies at practices, events, competitions, and online.

Students will:

  • Treat teammates, coaches, volunteers, and other teams with respect
  • Listen when someone else is talking
  • Share their ideas and listen to their teammates' ideas
  • Accept that their idea won't always be picked
  • Finish the jobs they take on
  • Take care of materials, tools, and the space we use
  • Ask for help when they need it
  • Tell a coach when something is unsafe

Not allowed:

  • Bullying, teasing, or leaving others out
  • Hitting, pushing, or other physical aggression
  • Damaging property on purpose
  • Unsafe tool use
  • Leaving the practice area without permission

When a student has a hard time, coaches start with a reminder and a conversation. If it keeps happening, the student takes a short break and we contact the parent. If behavior is unsafe, we call the parent and the student may go home early. Repeated serious behavior can mean removal from the team.

Coaches go over these expectations with students at practice.

Safety and Tool Rules

On the family form: I have read the Safety and Tool Rules. I understand tools are a privilege and can be taken away for unsafe use.

Students build with real tools and materials. Tools are a privilege, not a right. Students use a tool only after a coach shows them how and gives permission.

  • Craft tools (scissors, rulers, markers, tape): after instruction.
  • Supervised tools (hot glue guns, hammers, hand saws, screwdrivers): with an adult nearby.
  • Power tools (drills, sanders): only with training, direct adult supervision, and coach approval.

Students must:

  • Wear safety glasses or other gear when required
  • Wear closed-toe shoes and tie back long hair
  • Keep their work area clean
  • Stop right away when a coach says stop
  • Report every injury, even small ones

If a student uses a tool unsafely, the coach stops the activity. The student may lose use of that tool for the day, and we tell the parent. If it happens again, the student loses tool privileges until they are retrained.

Attendance and Participation

On the family form: I understand the attendance expectations. I will tell the coach about absences.

The season runs August to May. CIP follows the Peoria Unified School District calendar.

Practices are held at The Village at Vistancia Clubhouse, Peoria.

  • Regular practice: Wednesdays, 2:00 to 5:00 PM. PUSD has early release at 1:00 PM on Wednesdays.
  • Full school day Wednesdays: When PUSD does not have early release, practice runs 4:00 to 6:00 PM. The Primary team does not meet on these days.
  • No school, no practice: There is no practice when PUSD has no school.
  • Before competitions: More practices are added.

Every student has a role on the team, so an absence affects everyone. Please:

  • Bring your child on time and pick up on time
  • Tell the coach as soon as you know about an absence, late arrival, or early pickup
  • Plan for competition days. Students are expected to attend.

If a student misses several practices, the coach will talk with the family. The student's role on the team may change so the team can keep working.

Outside Assistance

On the family form: I understand the outside assistance rule. Adults can teach skills and ask questions. Students do the work on their solution.

CIP is student-led. Students come up with the ideas, make the decisions, and build the solution. Odyssey of the Mind calls help from anyone outside the team “outside assistance.” That includes parents, siblings, friends, and coaches. Teams can lose points for it.

Coaches may teach skills, explain the rules, and ask guiding questions. Coaches don't create solutions or complete work for the team.

Parents and other adults may not:

  • Suggest ideas or solutions for the team's problem
  • Build, paint, sew, or fix anything the team will use
  • Write or edit scripts
  • Tell students how to perform

Adults may teach a general skill, like how to use a drill safely or sew a basic stitch. After that, the student does the work.

Failed designs, broken props, and changed ideas are a normal part of the process. Questions you can ask at home:

  • What have you tried?
  • What does your team think?
  • What could you try next?

If you aren't sure whether something counts as outside assistance, ask the coach first.

Payment Policy

On the family form: I agree to the membership fee and payment policy.

Membership is $500 per student for the August to May season, or 5 monthly payments of $100 per student. It covers practices, supplies, coaching materials, and facility costs.

You can pay in full online, in monthly installments, or with ESA funds through ClassWallet.

ESA families submit payment through ClassWallet and pay any amount ESA doesn't cover.

If a payment will be late, email info@cip-club.com before the due date.

Refunds. Fees are non-refundable after your child's first practice, except in special cases approved by CIP leadership.

Withdrawing. Email info@cip-club.com. Missing practice does not count as withdrawing.

Other costs may include State or World Finals fees, travel, and team shirts. We share these as early as we can.

Photo and Video

On the family form: I have read the Photo and Video policy. I chose Yes or No for each child.

Yes means CIP may use photos, videos, and recorded interviews of your child from practices, events, and competitions. It also covers your child's work, like drawings and builds. We may share them on our website, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube channel, newsletters, printed flyers, and advertisements. We use first names only. We never share your child's last name, school, or personal information.

No means we leave your child and their work out of anything we post or print. Your child may still appear in the background of photos taken by other people at public events, like competitions.

You can change your answer anytime by emailing info@cip-club.com.

Teams keep their solutions private until after competition. Please don't post photos or videos of your team's work before then.

Emergencies and Medical Care

On the family form: I understand how CIP handles medical emergencies.

In a medical emergency, we call 911 first and then call you. If we cannot reach you, a coach will go to the hospital with your child. Your insurance company and member ID let the hospital register your child before you arrive.

If you allow it, coaches give basic first aid for small injuries, like cleaning a cut or giving an ice pack. We tell you about any injury at pickup.

CIP staff and volunteers do not give medication. Students who carry emergency medication, like an inhaler or EpiPen, carry and use it themselves. If your child has an action plan for allergies, asthma, or seizures, please give the coach a copy.

Please keep your child home if they are sick.

Health and insurance information is shared only with your child's coaches, CIP leadership, and emergency responders.

Release of Liability

On the family form: I have read and agree to the Participation Agreement and Release of Liability.

I am the parent or legal guardian of the child(ren) listed on this form. I give permission for them to take part in Creative Innovators Project (CIP) activities for the season. This includes practices, workshops, competitions, performances, fundraisers, and community events.

Risks. CIP activities are hands-on. Students build with real tools and materials, including scissors, craft knives, hot glue guns, hammers, drills, and saws. They move around, lift and carry things, perform on stage, and may travel to events. These activities carry a risk of injury, including cuts, burns, bruises, sprains, broken bones, and in rare cases serious injury. CIP uses safety rules, training, and adult supervision. It cannot remove every risk. I understand these risks and accept them for my child(ren).

My responsibilities. I will tell CIP about any health condition that affects my child's safe participation. I will go over CIP's safety rules with my child. I understand CIP may limit my child's participation or remove them from an activity for safety reasons.

Release. To the fullest extent allowed by law, I release Creative Innovators Project, its board, coaches, and volunteers, and the facilities where CIP meets, from claims for injury, illness, or property loss that come from my child's participation in CIP activities. This release does not cover gross negligence or intentional misconduct.

Personal belongings. CIP is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged personal belongings.

This agreement is governed by Arizona law. If any part of it is found unenforceable, the rest still applies. By typing my name on the registration form, I sign this agreement for myself and for each child listed on the form.

Privacy

We collect contact, health, pickup, and insurance information so we can keep your child safe and run our program.

Your child's coaches and CIP leadership can see it.

We share health and insurance information with emergency responders only in an emergency.

We don't sell or share your information.

We keep it for the current season.

To update or remove information, email info@cip-club.com.

For how this website handles form submissions, see our website privacy policy.