Legal Disclaimer & Organizational Statement
Project Combustion: Junior Scientists Club is an independent student enrichment program, founded by Larry Pretlow II and co-operated with Jorge Santiago, both of whom are current educators employed by the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS). While the club’s activities primarily serve students enrolled in DCPS or other public, charter, or private schools within the District of Columbia, Project Combustion is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or operated on behalf of DCPS or any other D.C. school system.
This club is currently operating as a non-DCPS extracurricular initiative and is in the process of seeking formal registration as a Limited Liability Company (LLC) within the District of Columbia, although such registration is not required. The purpose of this transition is to establish a recognized legal structure while maintaining the club’s academic enrichment mission and ensuring clarity of responsibility and liability.
🏫 School-Based Participation
In select DCPS schools, Project Combustion may operate as an after-school program and may also engage students during permitted instructional hours, subject to the approval of the school principal. In such cases, activities conducted on DCPS property—whether during the school day or as part of an approved after-school program—are permitted by the school and carried out in accordance with DCPS’s administrative policies.
The club operators, Larry Pretlow II and Jorge Santiago, do not act as authorized agents of DCPS or any other D.C. school system, and therefore do not and cannot bind DCPS or any other school to any legal obligations or liabilities beyond those already required by law.
DCPS reserves all rights and assumes no legal obligations, liabilities, or operational responsibilities for club activities beyond any obligations it may hold specifically for approved activities conducted on DCPS property and during approved instructional or after-school hours.
🚫 Independent Operations & Liability Waiver
All other club-related programming—including but not limited to:
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The official website and digital content
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Monthly and bi-weekly contests
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Prizes and reward distribution
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Weekend or off-site field trips
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Supplemental enrichment activities and communications
is independently organized and funded by the club operators, unless otherwise explicitly stated. These activities are not the responsibility of DCPS, any public charter school, or any private educational institution within the District of Columbia.
Accordingly, DCPS, all D.C.-based school systems (including public charter and private schools), and the club operators themselves—Larry Pretlow II and Jorge Santiago—are fully released and free from any and all liability associated with participation in these independently conducted activities, to the fullest extent permitted by law.
📝 Student Membership & Parent/Guardian Agreement
Student participation in Project Combustion: Junior Scientists Club is entirely voluntary and is governed by a basic membership agreement between the club operators (Larry Pretlow II and Jorge Santiago) and the parent or legal guardian of each participating student.
By enrolling their child and granting permission for participation, parents or legal guardians explicitly acknowledge and agree to the following:
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Project Combustion is an independent educational enrichment club, not affiliated with, sponsored by, or operated on behalf of DCPS or any other D.C. school system.
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Participation occurs independently of any school mandate, and students may engage in club activities during designated instructional hours or during approved after-school periods with school-based approval.
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Parent or guardian consent is required on a case-by-case basis for student participation in any prize-based challenges, weekend or off-site field trips, or other activities not occurring during the regular school day.
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The operators are solely responsible for all non-school-sponsored components of the program, including contests, field trips, prizes, and independent enrichment activities.
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Parents or guardians voluntarily waive all liability claims against the operators, DCPS, and any public charter or private school system in the District of Columbia related to participation in the club—including but not limited to enrichment activities, contests, field trips, communications, and the acceptance of prizes.
Participation in Project Combustion requires a signed or electronically acknowledged agreement from a parent or legal guardian. Submission of this agreement confirms understanding of this disclaimer and agreement to the separation of the club from any D.C. school system.