Policies

To ensure the safety of our students and the protection of our equipment, the following guidelines must be strictly followed:

  1. Jewelry:
    • All jewelry, including but not limited to earrings, rings, necklaces, bracelets, and watches, must be removed before the start of any class or training session.
    • If any jewelry cannot be removed, it must be securely taped or covered to prevent it from catching on equipment or causing injury.
  2. Body Piercings:
    • Any body piercings that come into contact with the equipment must be removed, taped, or otherwise covered.
  3. Clothing:
    • Absolutely no clothing with zippers, buckles, hooks, velcro, or any similar features that could catch on equipment. These can be dangerous to the student and damaging to the equipment.
    • Clothing should be stretchy but not baggy, and we highly recommend fully covering the knees, armpits, and waist to prevent friction burns and injuries.

Failure to comply with these guidelines may result in being unable to participate in the class or training session. Please head to the Front Desk if you need assistance.

We want to keep our circus community healthy and active, so please stay home if you are experiencing symptoms of an illness or if you are contagious. Refer to our other sections below to view our makeup policy for youth classes and cancellation policy for adult classes.

COVID-19
We follow the CDC Guidelines for Covid care and prevention. Masks are not required, but encouraged as needed. Masks available at our Front Desk, so stop by if you need one. Proof of vaccination is not required at this time.

Makeup Tokens are offered as a courtesy to students that have upcoming scheduling conflicts and they will only be issued for excused absences. Makeup Tokens cannot be requested retroactively. Makeup classes are subject to availability and given out on a first-come, first-served basis. Missed makeup classes cannot be made up. If a student unenrolls from a class, their Makeup Tokens will expire on the last day of their enrollment period. Makeup Tokens can only be used by active students 30 days from their absence.

Record Absences on Your Account

  • To record your absences, please log in to your iClass account.
  • Under each student is a menu that says Enrollments, Evaluations, Makeups and Future Absences.
  • Click on Future Absences, and create one by date.
  • When it asks if the absence spans multiple days, click No.
  • Select the date of the missed absence and submit your request.

Makeup Tokens will be issued to your account within a few days of your request. Log in again and select dates in the system for your makeup classes and schedule them on your own!

Please Note: We cannot offer makeups for Performance Prep, Performance Troupe, Kids Day Off Camps or Circus After School.

Youth Classes & Circus After School (C.A.S.)

After your initial class & CAS purchase, all enrollments are automatically billed on the first of each month using your default card on file. Your student’s enrollment automatically renews for the same class each month unless you withdraw or change your schedule.

All youth class cancellation requests must be received by filling out this FORM at least 12 days in advance of the monthly billing cycle (1st of the month). 

Please note: You are responsible for payment for your student’s classes WHETHER OR NOT YOUR STUDENT ATTENDS CLASS until the time you notify the office. Please do not rely on your student to verbally let us know that he/she/they will no longer be attending classes. If a student stops coming to class without notification then that student’s account will be charged for the additional 30 days. This charge will be for holding the student’s place in that class instead of offering that place to one of the many on a waiting list.

Circus After School (C.A.S.)
Please note that the CAS program does not offer make-ups, credits, or refunds for missed days.

– ABSENCES – If your child will be absent from school and/or the Circus After School program, please email afterschool@phillycircus.com to let us know.

– DROP-OFFS – If you are dropping your child off, please walk them into the building and to the front desk.  Drop-off is no earlier than 3:00 pm (12:00 pm on half-days)

– ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT – You can log into your account to enroll, to update your billing information, check your child’s enrollment details, and to enroll in Kid’s Day Off Camps

– CANCELLATIONS & TRANSFERS – CAS Cancellation & Transfer requests must be received by filling out this FORM at least 12 days in advance of the monthly billing cycle (1st of the month). 

– UNEXPECTED SCHOOL CLOSURES – In the event of unexpected school cancellations due to snow days or other inclement weather, the Circus After School program will also be cancelled. No refund or credits will be given.

– PLANNED CLOSURES – The Circus After School program follows the Philadelphia School District’s school calendar, with this school year’s session ending on June 12, 2026.  Please note that full-day school closures are separate and require additional charge and registration HERE. 

Kids Day Off
All Kids Day Off transfer & cancellation requests must be received by filling out this FORM. 

• Kid’s Day Off cancellations and transfer requests 48+ hours before Kid’s Day Off Camp will receive a full refund and are eligible for a transfer.
• Kid’s Day Off cancellations 24-47 hours before Kid’s Day Off Camp will receive a credit and are eligible for a transfer.
• Sorry, Kid’s Day Off cancellations requests less than 24 hours before Kid’s Day Off will not receive a credit, refund, or be eligible for a transfer.

    We are delighted to welcome one-on-one aids into our youth programs at the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts. To ensure the safety and clarity of all participants, please submit the following information and documents to our office before your child’s class or camp begins:

    Contact Information: The full name, phone number, and email address of the one-on-one aid’s agency. If the aid is an independent contractor, please provide their contact information along with proof of the agency’s or contractor’s liability coverage.

    Background check: A copy of the One-on-One Aid’s background check, provided by the employer (agency or parent/guardian). We require all adults on the floor to have a background check on file.

    PSCA Waiver: All Participants on the floor, including One-on-One Aids, must agree to and sign the PSCA Liability Waiver.

    Additional Liability Insurance: A copy of the One-on-One Aid’s (or employer’s) professional liability insurance.

    Description of Service: A clear description of the One-on-One Aid’s expected roles and responsibilities while on Circus Campus. This should explicitly state and list how the One-on-One Aid will be assisting the youth while in class.

    Please note the following guidelines for one-on-one aids:

    • The one-on-one aid is never allowed on the floor without their student.
    • While we encourage the one-on-one aids to help their child with PSCA spotting techniques, and participating in juggling and ground skills, the one-on-one aids are never allowed to get on PSCA’s aerial equipment to demonstrate or teach moves. 
    •  One-on-ones cannot actively engage with spotting other students in the class.

    Communications: The parent/guardian and/or one-on-one aid must check in with the coach before class and must abide by PSCA’s communication procedures. For example, if the student leaves before the end of class/camp without the child’s parent/guardian present, the coach or the front desk must be notified so that the school can call the parent/guardian in advance.  

    This information is essential for safety and clarity within our program, and to ensure we have a record of the One-on-One Aid’s identity and credentials.

    If you need to cancel your class, log into your MindBody account and manually cancel the class. You can also send an email to info@phillycircus.com or call the Front Desk at 215-849-1991. Please do so at least 12 hours in advance of the scheduled class time to receive class time to receive class credit. For Monthly Members: No Shows and Late Cancels that occur within the 12 hours leading up to your class time will result in a penalty or fee

    Early Cancels occur with more than 12 hours notice and will not result in penalties. 
    Late Cancels occur when a class is cancelled within 12 hours of its start time and will result in penalties. 
    No Shows are absences that occur without warning of a cancellation and will result in penalties. 

    Members will be charged a $10 fee for Late Cancels. There will be a $20 fee for No Shows. You will be notified by email when a fee is issued.

    Non-Members who use single drop-in classes or class packs are not subject to Late Cancel or No Show fees. However, if you Late Cancel or No Show, the class will be deducted from your account and you will not be able to receive your credit back. 

    Weather Closings If PSCA closes due to inclement weather, your account will be credited accordingly. Unless we reach out via email/phone, all classes will be running according to the session’s schedule.

    We reserve the right to cancel any program due to insufficient enrollment or unforeseen circumstances. Registrants will be notified by email and/or phone prior to the class and refunds/credits will be issued accordingly.

    Open Gym is open to all current beginner-level Adult PSCA Students (with a membership, 5- or 10-pack of classes or ongoing private lessons). During these 1-hour practice sessions, students may work only on moves and equipment that they have been trained on by our coaching staff.

    Open Gym Policies
    Violations of any of the policies below will result in the Open Gym user being asked to leave, and future Open Gym privileges will be forfeited.

    Open Gym students must not touch any rigging–Rigging is for staff only! No personal aerial equipment may be used. Aerial equipment will be set to a reachable height by our coaches and will not be able to be reset or adjusted by staff on the floor once the session has started. All aerial equipment must be used with crash mats, which must be cleaned at the end of training.

    Signing up for this practice time entitles you to work only on the equipment named in the title and for the hour that the Open Gym is scheduled. Promptly clean up your space, gather your belongings and exit once the Open Gym hour is complete.

    Check-In
    Sign in on the iPads at the front desk when you arrive. Please arrive 5 minutes beforehand to also have time to check in with a coach on the floor.

    Waivers
    All participants in activities at PSCA are required to sign our waiver before training, available on iPads at the Front Desk.

    Safety
    – Never train in the air or on the trampoline unless there is another adult present in the room.
    – Make sure everything you do is and appears to be safe and well planned.
    – Speak up if you feel or see anything unsafe.
    – You must only train skills that have been taught to you by a professional coach.
    – Teaching skills to other people during Open Gym is prohibited.
    – Do not ask instructors for advice on your training during Open Gym.
    – The trampoline is off limits except for the Trampoline Open Gym.
    Respectful Conduct
    – Actively promote a welcoming, cooperative culture.
    – Be respectful to others’ desire to be social or asocial in their training.
    – Be mindful of noise in the space.
    – Photos and videos may be taken, however, please be mindful of staff and students in the background when publishing online.
    – If you wish to play music, headphones/ earbuds are preferred. Keep aware of your surroundings if using earbuds. If speakers need to be used, ask permission from others in the space and be considerate of volume.
    – Clean up at the end of practice, including returning all equipment, mats, and training props to the locations where you found them.
    – Forbidden in the training spaces: Food, beverages other than water, smoking or illegal drugs.

    Equipment Management
    Any equipment issues (repairs or replacements needed, props stored incorrectly, etc.) should immediately be brought to the attention of staff.

    Incident Reports
    Incident Reports should be filled out and delivered to the Executive Director in the office in the following circumstances:
    – When an event occurs that causes injury, property damage or a hazard
    – When follow-up is needed