Thistlevale Academy
Terms and Conditions
Thistlevale Academy Terms of Service
Last Updated: October 3, 2025 (v1.0)
Welcome to Thistlevale Academy! We're a fantasy-based educational community offering lessons, creative activities, and group discussions for children and families. The Site encourages safe, imaginative learning through character-based participation, such as roleplaying as a wizard apprentice in group stories.
By using the Site and the Thistlevale Academy community platform, you agree to these Terms of Service ("Terms") and our Privacy Policy. Parents or guardians are fully responsible for supervising their child's use of the Site. If you're under 13, please get your parent's permission first!
1. About the Site
Thistlevale Academy is a fantasy-based educational community that offers lessons, creative activities, and group discussions for children and families. The Site encourages safe, imaginative learning through character-based participation and storytelling.
Use of this Site means you agree to follow these Terms and our Privacy Policy. Parents or guardians are responsible for their child’s use of the Site.
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2. Safety and Supervision
We prioritize a safe space for all—especially kids. To that end:
- Children under 13 must have verifiable parental consent, obtained via a parent email verification during signup (in compliance with COPPA).
- All members must complete our free, Internet Safety Course (covering online etiquette and safe sharing) to keep their accounts active—access it [here].
- Moderators actively oversee chats, events, and community spaces to maintain a safe and respectful environment.
- Parents can monitor or limit their child's activity via account settings at any time.
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3. Identity and Privacy Rules
To protect all members and keep the magic alive:
- Everyone must use a character name (not real names) to foster fun, fictional identities.
- Do not share personal information, such as full name, address, school name, phone/email, social media handles, or photos of yourself/real life.
- Use fun, fictional details to enhance your character's story!
- We reserve the right to edit or remove any content that includes personal details or violates community safety.
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4. Behavior Guidelines
All members agree to:
- Be respectful, kind, and appropriate for all ages.
- Follow moderator instructions.
- Avoid bullying, harassment, inappropriate language or inappropriate roleplay (e.g., violence, romance, or scary themes beyond light fantasy adventures—ask a moderator if unsure).
- Not use the Site for advertising, spamming, or off-topic promotion.
Report issues to moderators via the in-site button or email [email protected].
Failure to follow these rules may result in:
- First offense: Warning.
- Repeated offenses: Temporary suspension or permanent removal from the community.
5. Anti-Bullying and Online Conduct
We are committed to maintaining a positive, inclusive, and respectful community for all members — especially children and families participating through CC Machine. Bullying, harassment, intimidation, discrimination, or any form of targeted harm is strictly prohibited.
Our Expectations:
-Treat all members with kindness and respect.
-Use inclusive, supportive language in group discussions, chats, and events.
-Do not ridicule, insult, or target others based on identity, ability, experience, or opinions.
-Refrain from sharing or amplifying any content meant to embarrass or isolate another user.
Moderation and Enforcement:
Our moderators review community spaces, group chats, and event participation to maintain safety.
Reports of bullying or harmful conduct are taken seriously and will be investigated promptly.
Depending on severity, consequences may include content removal, temporary suspension, or permanent account termination.
In serious cases, we may notify a parent or guardian and, if legally required, the appropriate authorities.
Reporting Bullying:
If you or your child experience or witness bullying on the site, use the “Report” feature where available.
Contact our moderation team at [email protected].
Include the date, username/character name involved, and a description of what occurred.
We encourage parents and guardians to talk with their children about kindness, empathy, and digital citizenship. Together, we can create a safe and uplifting space for everyone.
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5. Digital Products and Purchases
We may offer digital materials (e.g., downloads, lessons, creative tools) for sale.
- All sales are final and non-refundable, except as required by law (e.g., faulty downloads—contact us within 7 days for review).
- Purchased content is for personal use only—redistribution, copying, or resale is not allowed.
- Payments are processed by third party vendors; we do not store full card details.
- Refund and shipping policies for future physical items will be posted when available.
See Section 6 for full intellectual property terms.
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6. Intellectual Property
All Site content (lessons, tools, artwork) is copyrighted © 2025 Thistlevale Academy and may not be used without permission.
- User-created stories and content remain yours, but by posting, you grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to feature them in community highlights or promotions.
- Respect others' creations—do not copy or claim as your own.
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7. Privacy and Data Protection
We follow COPPA and child privacy laws strictly. Personal data is collected only as needed to run the Site, keep members safe, and send optional newsletters (with easy opt-out). We never sell or share personal information with third parties.
For more details, see our Privacy Policy. For EU users, we comply with GDPR; for California residents, CCPA rights apply.
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8. Disclaimer and Liability
This Site is for educational and entertainment purposes only.
THE SITE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. We do not guarantee uninterrupted service or specific results. While we strive for safety, we cannot monitor every interaction—**please supervise your child's use**.
We are not liable for any loss or harm that occurs from use of the Site or its materials. Parents and guardians accept full responsibility for their child’s participation. In no event shall our liability exceed the amount you paid us in the last 12 months.
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9. Termination
We may suspend or terminate accounts for violations of these Terms. You can close your account anytime via your account setting on the Thistlevale Academy community platform.. Upon termination, your access ends, but these Terms' sections on liability, IP, and privacy survive.
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10. Updates
We may change these Terms from time to time. The newest version will always appear here, with major changes notified via email or in-site announcement at least 30 days in advance.
Continued use of the Site means you agree to any updates. If you don't agree, you can delete your account in your account setting on the Thistlevale Academy community platform.
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11. Governing Law
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Pennsylvania, United States. Any disputes will be resolved exclusively in the courts of Washington County, Charleroi, Pennsylvania.
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