APPLICATION/ADMISSION/REGISTRATION

Archdiocesan Policy 4101:   Policy of Non-Discrimination

All Catholic schools of the St. Louis Archdiocese shall admit students of any race, color, or national and ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at these schools.  The schools shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, or ethnic origin in admission policies, scholarships and loan programs, and athletic and other school administered programs.

Archdiocesan Policy 4103:  Custodial and Non-custodial Parents.

The principal, according to the admission policies established by the pastor and/or the board, will register students to the school according to the norms set by the parish School Board, the Archdiocesan Board of Education and accepted educational procedures.

The registration process includes:

1. Completion of a registration form;
2. Verification of the date of birth by a review of the birth certificate and/or baptismal certificate;
3. Verification of the dates of other sacramental celebrations, if appropriate;
4. Verification of custody arrangement in cases in which the parents of the student are divorced.  (A copy of the portion of the divorce decree, which verifies custody arrangements, must be provided.)

Criteria for Acceptance

Parents wishing to enroll their children in Our Lady Of The Pillar School will be expected to show an interest in the education of their children by cooperating with the faculty and administration in school matters. Individual conferences will be scheduled after the first quarter. Parents may call for individual appointments with teachers at any time during the school year. Teachers may request a conference through the report card.

The student will be expected to comply with all the school's regulations and to conduct him or herself during school hours in a manner conducive to good learning. Failure of a student to do so may lead to the removal procedures or non registration of the student. New students will be evaluated at the end of one grading period academically and behaviorally.

Should a student be unable to progress satisfactorily in a regular school curriculum due to physical, emotional or mental disabilities, a conference will be held with the parents to explore various educational resources. Outside testing and evaluation by a professional may be requested to better decide how to meet a child's individual needs.

OLP Admissions Policy

Registration is not a guarantee of acceptance into school. Each student's records are considered on an individual basis, and a determination will be made as to whether we can provide the type of education, which fits the individual needs of the child. In order to maintain the high educational standards of Our Lady of the Pillar School, enrollment is limited to 30 students per class. Availability of space is a determining factor for acceptance.

Priorities for Admission

1. Students currently enrolled
2. For Kindergarten Admissions Only: Kindergarten applicants classified as "deferred" from the previous school year.
3. Siblings* of currently enrolled students (with preference to those with the earliest parish registration dates).
   1. Children of active parishioners living within the parish boundaries.
   2. Children of active parishioners living within the boundaries of another parish that does not have a parochial school.
   3. Children of active parishioners living within the boundaries of another parish that does have a parochial school.
4. New students (with preference to those with the earliest parish registration dates)
   1. Children of active parishioners living within the parish boundaries.
   2. Children of active parishioners living within the boundaries of another parish that does not have a parochial school.
   3. Children of active parishioners living within the boundaries of another parish that does have a parochial school.
5. All other applicants based on class openings and at the discretion of the Administration.

*Note: To be considered a sibling of a current student, the student must have attended OLP for at least two consecutive quarters in the school year prior to the admission year for the sibling. The sibling status of new (or out-of-state) students that do not meet this qualification will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

State law requires a complete medical and dental examination before entering kindergarten, third and sixth grades. Students from out-of-state also need a new medical examination. These must be on the correct medical form and signed by a practicing physician and are due at the beginning of school. Forms are available in the school office.

Missouri law provides that children may not enroll in school until all immunization proof is provided. Missouri State law requires that all children be adequately immunized. Up-to-date Health and immunization records must be on file in the school. Students without the necessary immunizations will not be allowed to attend school (including the first day of school) until such immunizations are obtained.

All current students and new applicants must register/apply each year to be considered for admission. The deadline to return the Registration/Application form is the last school day in February.

Registrations/Applications received after this date will be considered based on space availability. All fees are non-fundable and non-transferable.

• Students presently attending OLP will have an opportunity to re-register in January through a registration form sent home. The Principal determines acceptance of the registration.
  
  
• New applicants for grades K-8 must complete an application form, submit required documentation and pay the application fee to be considered for admission. (See Admission procedures for New Students) All students meeting the eligibility requirements will than be admitted based on the "Priorities for Admission" as defined in the OLP School Handbook.

Registration and Admission for Kindergarten

Applications:

To apply for Kindergarten, the Archdiocese requires that a child must be FIVE YEARS OLD by August 1st.

Applications for entrance into Kindergarten are accepted on an ongoing basis.  A non-refundable registration fee is due at the time the application is submitted.

A birth certificate should be presented and a baptismal certificate should be presented if the child was not baptized at Our Lady of the Pillar Church. After the certificate is verified, it will be returned. A copy will be kept on file at OLP. If applicable, a copy of the portion of the divorce decree which verifies custody arrangements must be provided if parents are divorced.

Screening:

1. All applicants for kindergarten will be screened for readiness.  Testing dates will be arranged by the school office and will take place in early Spring. Each child will be evaluated on an individual basis with the kindergarten teacher and learning consultant, with input from the parents and the preschool teacher, if applicable.
   
   
2. Because we realize that one hour of screening activities do not present a complete picture of a child, we will discuss any concerns with parents before a collaborative decision is made as to whether OLP can provide the type of education fitting the needs of that child. Acceptance will be based on the admissions criteria as presented above, in the section titled “Priorities for Admission.”

Notification of Acceptance:

1. The school administration will review all information and decision letters indicating enrollment status will be mailed  within two weeks of the screening.
   
   
2. A non-refundable book/activity fee will be due to reserve the student’s place in class.

Registration and Admission for Grades 1- 8

All current students and new applicants must register/apply each school year to be considered for admission. Registration and application fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.

A.  For New Students Grades 1- 8

1. Contact the School

Families interested in Our Lady of the Pillar School should contact the Principal at (314) 993-3353 and provide a copy of the student's past & current report cards, and standardized test scores for review.

Once records have been reviewed, a parent interview may be requested so that the specific needs of a child and parental expectations may be discussed. Qualified students will then be asked to submit an admissions application. Applications forms may be obtained from the school office.

2. Application:

The admission process begins when a completed application is submitted with a $50 non-refundable application fee. The application fee, copies of the student's birth certificate, baptismal certificate and most recent physical with immunization records must be submitted with the application form. A copy of the portion of the divorce decree which verifies custody arrangements must be provided if parents are divorced.

3. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Applications will be evaluated based on available space. Applications without the appropriate fees and forms will not be considered.

4. School Records and Recommendations

The school office will give applicants a transcript release form. The applicant's parents must sign this form and request the final original transcripts from their current school to be sent to Our Lady of the Pillar. Teacher recommendations from the applicant's previous school(s) are welcomed. Additional recommendations from OLP parishioners are also welcomed.

5. School Visits & Interview:

   1. All applicants must attend a half-day school visit.  To schedule a school visit please call the office at     314-993-3353. An interview may be conducted by the school administration during the applicant's visit.

   2. Each student will be considered on an individual basis, and a determination made as to whether OLP can provide the type of education fitting the need of that child. Acceptance will be based on the admissions criteria as presented above.

6. Testing:

If deemed necessary, new applicants will be tested.

7. Notification of Acceptance:

   1. The school administration will review all information. If offered admission, a non-refundable book/activity fee will be due to reserve the students place in the class. There will be a probationary period for new students of two quarters.

   2. Failure to pay this fee by the due date will result in forfeiture of the student's place in the designated class. If a student chooses not to attend OLP, all fees are non-refundabl

B.  For Returning Students

1. Registration forms and book/activity fee statements will be distributed mid-January

2. The registration form and payment of a non-refundable $50 registration fee and Book/Activity fees are due by the last school day in February. Failure to pay these fees by the due date may result in forfeiture of the student's place in the designated class.

3. If a student chooses not to attend OLP, all fees are non-refundable.

C.  Re-Admission

A student choosing to leave OLP in grades 6 or 7 will not be re-admitted. Re-admission to gr. 1-5 will be at the discretion of the Pastor & Principal

CHILD SAFE ENVIRONMENT PROGRAM

Any parent of a student at Our Lady of the Pillar School who wishes to participate in any school function involving children (including but not limited to: room parent, party or field trip chaperone, lunch helper, library aide), is required by the Archdiocese to attend a Protecting God’s Children workshop and submit background check information, and must agree to read and sign the Archdiocesan Code of Ethical Conduct.

Failure to comply with any of these requirements would preclude the parent from participating in any of these types of events.

Guidelines for Applying the Policy

1. A central, parish file of all completed forms, including the copy of the Social Security card, will be kept in a locked cabinet in the parish office.  Only the parish child safety officer will have access to those files, and may only access them to verify or renew the safety check done on all persons who have contact with youth every two years.
   
   
2. These forms must also be complete by all Scout leaders and helpers, and by all athletic coaches and helpers, and by any other adult supervising any parish activity involving youth.
   
   
3. A schedule of all Protecting God’s Children trainings in the Archdiocese of St. Louis is available on the Archdiocese’s website:  www.archstl.org

All parents are asked to attend the Protecting God’s Children workshop and complete the necessary forms for the Child Safe Environment Program.

FINANCIAL POLICIES

Tuition

Tuition is determined according to the number of children enrolled.  Tuition for the 2008-09 school year is as follows:

The lower in-parish rates presume additional contributions are being made for the support of our parish.  All Pillar families are encouraged to return to God a fair and just portion of what they have freely received from His bounty

The Tuition Contract

All families must sign a tuition contract, due in the parish office by April 8, 2008, or upon registration. The first installment payment must be in the parish office by August 1, 2008. If the signed contract and payment have not been received, your child/children will not be allowed to begin classes in August.

The 8th grade tuition and all related fees must be paid in full by November 30, 2008 or transcripts will not be sent to high schools. Our Lady for the Pillar School must send registration forms to the high schools by the end of November.

The terms of the Tuition Contract, 2007-2008 are as follows:

Parents/guardians agree to pay Our Lady of the Pillar the full tuition and fees for the enrolled Student(s) for the full academic year by choosing one of the payment plans outlined in the contract..  They agree that a non-refundable enrollment deposit, the book/supply fee and the activity fee are required to guarantee a student’s place in class.

A late payment penalty of $25 will be charged if tuition is not received within 3 days of the due date, as listed on the contract.  This late fee is due when the payment is made.  Report cards will not be issued, transcripts released and/or re-enrollment accepted until tuition balances are current.  Parents of eighth grade students agree that transcripts will be held unless tuition and all related fees are paid in full by November 30, 2008.  In the event that Our Lady of the Pillar is required to take any action to collect any monies due, the signor agrees to pay costs of collection, including attorney’s fees.

In the case of serious student illness, moving from the metropolitan St. Louis area, or if the student is dismissed at the request of the administration of Our Lady of the Pillar School, tuition shall be prorated to the end of the current semester with no refund of fees.  OLP reserves the right to dismiss a student at the discretion of the Administration when it is determined that continued enrollment is no longer in the best interest of the student or OLP.  If the student elects to leave OLP for any other reason, the undersigned will not be released from the obligation to pay the balance of any tuition and fees remaining due under the terms of  the tuition contract.

The parents/guardians agree to abide by the provisions of the contract and to accept the rules and regulations of OLP School as stated in its current School Handbook.

Delinquent accounts

Records, including report cards and transcripts will not be released if accounts are past due. This includes tuition, late payment fees, activity & book fees, library fines, cafeteria fees, after care charges and any other outstanding debts to school organizations.

In the case of eighth graders, all financial obligations including cafeteria fees, library fines, and obligations to other school organizations must be met prior to graduation. In the event delinquencies exist, final grades will be withheld and it will be within the Principal’s purview to withhold participation in graduation events.

Enrollment after the first day of classes

Tuition and fees will be due according to the following schedule:

* A portion of the activity fee may be waived if the activity has already taken place.

In the event of early withdrawal

Tuition and fees will be due according to the following three schedules dependent on the reason for withdrawal.

A. If a student chooses to withdraw, the following terms will apply:

• All book & activity fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.
  
  
• The entire yearly tuition is forfeited and must be paid in full at the time of withdrawal. No transcripts will be released for any grade if tuition payments and related fees are in arrears.

B. If a student/family is relocated out of the greater St Louis area or in the case of serious student illness, during the current academic school year, the following terms will apply: 

• All book & activity fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.
  
  
• Their tuition obligation will be calculated as follows; dependent upon the last day the student(s) attend classes. In the event tuition has been paid in full, a refund, including any discounts applied, will be issued for the balance of tuition paid as calculated below.

C. If Our Lady of the Pillar determines it cannot meet the educational needs of a student during the academic year, the following terms will apply:

• All book fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. Activity fees will be refunded if the activity has not taken place.
  
  
• The student will be released from the full obligation of their tuition contract. Tuition will be due equal to the cumulative monthly tuition due at the end of the month in which the student attends their last day of classes.
  
  
• All financial obligations of this student must be current for transcripts to be released.
  
  
• In the event that tuition has been paid in full, a refund, including any discounts applied, will be issued for the balance paid.

Transcripts and Requests for Records

Requests for records should be made through the School Office with at least one week’s notice. No student’s records, including report cards or transcripts, will be released without the written consent of the parents or if any financial obligations (tuition, late fees, library fines, cafeteria fees etc.) are not current.

All eighth grade transcripts will be held unless tuition and other related fees are paid in full by November 30. Our Lady of the Pillar School must send application forms to the high schools by November 30.  Requests for transcripts for students in all other grades will not be forwarded until tuition is paid in full.

Book and Activity Fees

Book & activity fees are due in accordance with the admissions procedures as outlined under the Admissions Policies sections above..

See APPENDIX 1 for current fees.

Failure to pay these fees according to the schedule outlined in the Admissions Policy sections above will make the application invalid and may result in forfeiture of the students place in class.

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