Junior School Policies & FAQ
The Glassell School of Art is a part of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and as such complies with all policies and procedures of the MFAH, as appropriate, for the proper administration and management of the School. The School reserves the right to amend, add, and delete policies and regulations as necessary, as well as the right to change programs, dates, personnel, and fees noted in this schedule.
Please note: The Glassell School of Art is NOT a licensed day-care facility or child-care center.
By enrolling in the program, students and their guardians acknowledge and agree that any photos, videos, pictorial images, voice recordings, or quotations taken or created by the MFAH (including without limitation any taken by any photographer or videographer paid by or volunteering for the MFAH) during or relating to the course are the sole property of the MFAH and may be used in future publications, web pages, promotions, advertisements, and exhibitions of the School or the MFAH or any other person authorized to use such images by the School or MFAH without the need of additional permission from or consideration to the student or guardian.
By enrolling in the program, students and their guardians agree to release and waive for the student and anyone claiming through the student, all claims based on the right of privacy, right of publicity, moral rights, or any other intellectual property rights related to the rights granted by the student to the MFAH.
Cancellations, Changes & Refunds
These policies appear in the fall 2024 course catalog on page 20.
- No refunds are issued after the start date of the classes for which you registered.
- No refunds are issued for “no-shows.”
- Only written requests for cancellations and class changes (where space is available) are accepted. Class changes are not permitted after the second class meeting for full- and half-semester classes. Class changes are not permitted after the first class meeting for workshops. Written notification can be emailed to juniorschool@mfah.org during Junior School business hours.
- A 70% refund of tuition is given for class cancellations if written notice is received10 business days prior to the first class meeting. Without 10 business days written notice, total tuition is forfeited.
- Registrations received less than 10 business days prior to the first class meeting, including same-day registrations, are considered final and are nonrefundable.
- Check refunds are processed after all classes have met twice. Approximately 10–14 days after paperwork is transferred to the accounting department, refund checks are mailed.
Parking
Parking is available at the Glassell School’s new underground parking garage at 5101 Montrose Blvd. Free parking is available for up to 30 minutes. Space is limited. Visit mfah.org/parking for additional information and fees for parking 31 minutes or more. Street parking is available in the surrounding neighborhood. Observe and comply with all “No Parking” signs and regulations when parking on the street.
Pickup Policy
Every Junior School student must be picked up by a parent or authorized caregiver no later than 15 minutes after the student’s class ends. Neither the School nor its staff can be held responsible for students who are not picked up within this 15-minute window. Students must be picked up by an adult guardian and will not be released to a young sibling. In the event that you have a personal emergency and are unable to arrive on time, you must call the Junior School office at 713.639.7700.
Students are not allowed to walk through the parking garage unescorted by a parent or guardian (unless they’ve received written parental permission to leave campus).
Permission to Leave Campus
Children ages 12 & older can be given permission to leave campus at the end of class unescorted by a parent or guardian. Permission can be granted at the time of enrollment on the registration form (online or paper form), or by emailing the school at juniorschool@mfah.org. Students younger than 12 must be picked up by a parent/guardian.
Valuables
The Junior School encourages its students to leave all valuables and all personal or sentimental items at home. The MFAH is not responsible for loss of or damage to a student’s valuables or personal items.
Discipline/Dismissal
The School reserves the right to remove students from classes for behavior that is deemed to be rude, disruptive, inappropriate, dangerous, or in violation of school health and safety regulations. Individual instructors maintain the right to dismiss a student from a class with a prior warning, and to remove a student permanently from a class for repeated offenses. In the event of ongoing behavior problems, the student will be dismissed from the School with no refund and no access to further programming. Students may also be dismissed for nonpayment of any tuition or fees.
Inclement Weather
In the event of inclement weather, the School makes every effort to announce class cancellations as quickly as possible. In general, the Junior School follows weather closures as posted by the Houston Independent School District. Information regarding Junior School class cancellations will be available in a recorded message at 713.639.7700, at mfah.org, and posted at the School when possible. If a class is canceled for inclement weather, there are no refunds or make-ups.
Illness
In order to protect the health of all, the School prohibits students from attending class when ill with a communicable disease or condition such as chicken pox, the flu, head lice, pink eye, strep throat, or symptoms of COVID-19. The School reserves the right to notify parents/ guardians regarding any student who becomes ill during class and to request that said student be picked up immediately. The School also reserves the right to request a physician’s authorization for return to class.
Media Release
By enrolling in the program, students and their guardians acknowledge and agree that any photos, videos, pictorial images, voice recordings, or quotations including those of students taken or created by the MFAH (including without limitation any taken by any photographer or videographer paid by or volunteering for the MFAH) during or related to attending courses at the MFAH are the sole property of the MFAH and may be used in future publications, web pages, promotions, advertisements, and exhibits of the MFAH (or any other person authorized to use such images by the MFAH) without the need of any additional permission from or consideration to the student or guardian. By enrolling in the program, students and their guardians agree to release and waive for the student, and anyone claiming through the student, all claims based on the right of privacy, right of publicity, moral rights, or any other intellectual property rights related to the rights granted by the student to the MFAH.
Information Release
Photographs and other personally identifiable information, such as age or name, may be published by the Junior School or the MFAH in any future publications, web pages, promotions, advertisements, or exhibits. By enrolling in the program, parents/guardians agree to release the Junior School and its agents and waive for the student all claims based on right of privacy or publicity and any other intellectual property rights.
Parents/guardians may opt out of this information release without affecting their child’s enrollment in the Junior School by requesting an Information Release Form from a Junior School administrator.
Students with Special Needs
The Junior School is happy to provide reasonable accommodations to children with qualifying special needs under the ADA. Under the ADA, qualifying “special needs” are medical conditions that substantially limit one or more of a student’s major life activities/functions (e.g., life-threatening allergies, asthma, and diabetes). Students with qualified special needs may request reasonable accommodations. Should you wish to request such accommodation, please contact an administrator at the Junior School office and complete the appropriate request forms at least two (2) weeks before the student starts classes so that the School may prepare appropriately.
Medications and Allergies
Please note: The School office will not accept medications without a prescription or medications that have expired. Due to possible side effects, the first dosage of new medicine must be taken at least 24 hours prior to attending the program.
Junior School faculty and staff are prohibited from administering medication to children and the School does not permit medication (OTC or prescription) on campus with the exception of emergency medications. Emergency medications are defined as (1) Epi-pens and (2) asthma inhalers, and (3) insulin pumps.
Parents/guardians are responsible for supplying the Junior School with all necessary emergency medications and ensuring that such medications are not expired. All emergency medications must be accompanied by a prescription from a licensed professional and must be in the original container with your child’s name and all labels intact. Please contact an administrator at the Junior School office at least two (2) weeks before the student starts classes so that the School may prepare appropriately. Parents/guardians are always welcome to remain on site and may visit their child at any time to administer necessary medications. The Junior School also encourages you to consult with your child’s physician to adjust medication dosages appropriately to accommodate the class schedule.
For students with food allergies, please note that Junior School faculty and staff do not monitor what other children bring on campus for snacks and cannot guarantee a “nut-free environment.”
Use of Facilities
The School facilities are for use only by registered students. Outside visitors, including former students, are not permitted to use any of the facilities or equipment under any circumstances. Visitors are not permitted in classrooms.
Waiver and Release of Liability
Although the MFAH hopes that no student is ever injured or hurt, injuries are a possibility of participation in the Junior School. The risk of injuries is a risk that the students and/or their legal guardian voluntarily agree to assume in exchange for the privilege of participating in the Junior School. The students and/or their legal guardian understand and agree that this risk is not a risk that the MFAH assumes and that the MFAH is not responsible for any injuries to the students. Accordingly, the student and their legal guardian voluntarily release, discharge, and waive the right to sue the MFAH and its directors, trustees, officers, employees, volunteers, agents and all persons acting by, through, under, or in concert with the MFAH for any and all losses, demands, claims, suits, causes of action, liability, costs, expenses, and judgments whether arising in equity, at common law, or by statute, under the law of contracts, torts, or property, for personal injury (including without limitation emotional distress), arising in favor of the guardian, the student, or anyone claiming through us based upon, in connection with, relating to or arising out of, directly or indirectly, the student’s participation in the Junior School EVEN IF ANY SUCH CLAIMS ARE DUE TO THE RELEASED PARTIES’ OWN NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY WITHOUT REGARD TO FAULT, VIOLATION OF STATUTE, OR OTHER FAULT, INCLUDING ANY NEGLIGENT ACT, OMISSION, OR INTENTIONAL ACT INTENDED TO PROMOTE MY CHILD’S SAFETY OR WELL-BEING.
The student and/or legal guardian hereby grants permission to the MFAH to obtain emergency medical treatment for the student if the MFAH deems in its discretion that such emergency medical treatment is necessary.
FAQs
What should my child wear to art class?
Wear comfortable clothes that can get messy. Please be sure to stop by the front desk and ask about Junior School aprons and T-shirts!
What are the behavior expectations?
Students are expected to listen, follow instructions, participate in class activities, respect others, respect property, and have fun!
May I stay in the classroom with my child?
We ask that parents do not stay in the classroom. Independent learning and socialization are an essential part of their art class experience. If you feel your child is unable to remain in the classroom for more than a few minutes without you, you may want to enroll in a parent/child class. The Junior School offers a variety of parent/child classes and workshops. See the front office for details.
May I register a gifted child for an older age group?
Age requirements are strictly enforced and cannot be negotiable. All children must be registered in their correct age groups.
Can I leave my child at the drop-off door at class time?
Parents must remain with students until the start of class. Do not leave your children unattended.
A friend/relative is visiting from out of town. May he/she attend class as a guest with my child?
Only registered participants may attend class. Guests are not allowed in the classroom.