ENROLMENT POLICY - ST MARGARET'S PRIMARY SCHOOL

This policy is additional to Catholic Education Office Melbourne Policy number 2.4 as it pertains to St Margaret's School,

At St Margaret's we believe that "the parents are the first educators of their children and have the obligation and the right to ensure an adequate education for their children consistent with their rights and and obligations and with their beliefs and values." (CEOM Policy 2.4)

"Once a child becomes a member of the Catholic Church through Baptism, the parents and the Church have a commitment towards its new member.   One of the obligations is to give the child the opportunity to be educated as a Catholic." (CEOM Policy 2.4)  

Our aim is to ensure enrolment of a high proportion of Catholic students in the school with non-Catholic enrolments being within the limits approved by the Archbishop.  We strongly suggest that children seeking enrolment turn 5 before the 30th of April.

PRIORITY OF ACCESS TO ST MARGARET'S SCHOOL WILL BE:

• that the student belongs to a present school family.
• that the student is a baptised Catholic resident of the parish.
• that the students is a baptised Catholic from outside the parish
• that the student belongs to a past non-Catholic school family
• that the student is a non-Catholic resident of the parish

Measures which are deemed to gauge the faith commitment of parents on their ability to pay fees will not be used as criteria for enrolment.  In the case of parents who are unwilling to pay fees after the child has been enrolled, every effort will be made to help the parents understand their obligations.   When financial difficulties arise, parents will be encouraged to discuss the matter with the Principal and Parish so alternative arrangements can be made.

Academic criteria will not be used in enrolment procedures and children with special needs and abilities are accepted into the school provided that the school can adequately meet their particular requirements in any given year.

Children who are non-Catholic are accepted into the school.  It is important that their parents are acquainted with the nature and ethos of the Catholic School.   It is expected that these children participate in all programs that are offered in the school, including Religious Education.

ENROLMENT OF CHILDREN UNDER THE MINIMUM AGE

Children under the age can be enrolled with the permission of the Parish Priest and Principal providing:

• that the child may be accommodated without undue inconvenience in terms of numbers in the class.
• that the enrolment of an under age child would not exclude a child of the correct age from enrolment
• that the child is not one month below the minimum age.

Where such enrolment takes place, parents must agree that should the child fail to make satisfactory progress, or to adjust satisfactorily to school, it may be required that the child be withdrawn from the school until the he/she reaches the school age or if the Principal so decided, that the child may be required to repeat the grade.

ENROLMENT OF CHILDREN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

In the case of a family enrolling children during the course, communication is set up similarly through an interview, and if accommodation allows, enrolment will take place.