general Admittance Policies

For a New Student Entering St. Michael School (Preschool – Grade 8)*

(Revised October 23, 2006)

St. Michael School is operated under the auspices of the Diocese of Joliet.  The school admits students of any race, color, gender, and ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students in this school.

REGISTERED AND ACTIVE REQUIREMENTS:

All families must be active registered parishioners at St. Michael Parish or at their respective parish for application at St Michael School.  New families may register in the parish office at which point a written record will be created for them.

To be active parishioners we are asked to pledge "time, talent and treasure."  Active parishioners are called to stewardship in the areas of time and talent through involvement in parish and school ministries.  Parental involvement, something which is fundamental to Catholic education, has been documented as a primary factor for school success.  Through the many committees of volunteer services coordinated by the parish, parent organization and the school board, we offer our time and talent.  The stewardship of time and talent is accompanied by considerable financial support individually through tuition payments and communally through a pledge of treasure as a registered parishioner. 

Discretion in the interpretation of admission and registration policies rests with the school principal and pastor.  Parish school authorities are authorized to make discretionary exceptions to admission priorities in favor of furthering racial desegregation [March 16, 1976, Catholic Schools Office, Joliet, Illinois.]

ADMISSIONS:

An application form for initial admission to St. Michael School (P-8) must be obtained from the school office.  These forms will be available on school days during the month of January and are due back at the school office by January 31.  Families moving into the area during the school year may obtain an application at the time of registration in the parish.  Only when the application has been approved will the applying family be offered a registration form.

*A former St. Michael School student who has left the school for any period of time and wishes to return will be considered a new student for purposes of these guidelines.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR INITIAL ENTRANCE

PRESCHOOL THROUGH GRADE EIGHT

A)  Completed application forms for St. Michael School (P-8) must be returned to the school office by the last day of January.

1.   Any application received after the last day in January deadline will be considered after any and all waiting lists are established.

2.   A child seeking admission to St. Michael Kindergarten must be five years of age by September 1 in the year of admission.  In addition, all applicants for kindergarten will be tested for readiness using the Developmental Indicators for Assessment of Learning (“DIAL”) test or other similar test.

3.   A child seeking admission to St. Michael Preschool Four-Year-Old program must be four years of age by September 1 in the year of admission.

4.   A child seeking admission to St. Michael Preschool Three-Year-Old program must be three years of age by September 1 in the year of admission.

5.   NO child will be accepted for the preschool program if he or she is not toilet trained.

6.  A child seeking admission to first grade at St. Michael School must be six years of age by September 1 in the year of admission.

B)  A personal meeting between parents and school administration may be scheduled at the discretion of the school principal.  This is to satisfy the principal and the pastor that the reasons for seeking admission are in accordance with the policies enunciated in Policy #5111 from the Catholic Schools Office, Joliet, Illinois.

C)  Class size for each grade will not exceed the following:

      1)   Grades 1-8:  Thirty-two (32) students.

      2)   Kindergarten:  Thirty (30) students.

      3)   Four-Year-Old Preschool:  Twenty (20) students.

      4)   Three-Year-Old Preschool:  Fifteen (15) students.

D)  All new students will be admitted on a conditional basis for the first six months.  If it is found that the student’s medical or academic status is not as initially represented, or if it is determined that the student’s needs cannot be met adequately at St. Michael School, the student will be dismissed.  Every effort will be made to assist parents or guardians in finding more appropriate placement for the student.

E)   Any situation not addressed by the General Requirements for Initial Entrance will be considered a special circumstance and will be addressed by the principal and/or pastor.

 Criteria for Initial Entrance to Preschool / Kindergarten:

Children of families meeting the registered and active requirements described previously will be admitted in order of the following considerations:

FIRST CONSIDERATION:

Siblings of those currently enrolled (P-8) and of graduates of St. Michael School by date of parish registration.

SECOND CONSIDERATION:

Children of families new to or already registered with St. Michael Parish in order of parish registration date.**

THIRD CONSIDERATION:

Children of Families who are not registered at St. Michael Parish who:

A)  Are registered in their respective parish;

B)  Have provided a letter from their pastor stating they are active in the parish.

C)  Have confirmed (in writing) that the subsidy will be paid by the respective parish or by the individual parent.

Within each category of consideration above:

1.    When all of the requirements are equally met a waiting list will be formed using the child’s date of birth to determine placement order, oldest first.

2.    Where a waiting list has been formed and notification has been made that a child has been accepted at St. Michael School, if initial tuition payment has not been received by July 1, or special arrangements have not been made the next child on the waiting list will be offered the available space.

3.    Any situation not addressed by the Criteria for Initial Entrance will be considered a special circumstance and will be addressed by the principal and/or the pastor.

**In exceptional cases, the pastor may consider a family’s commitment of "time and talent," in addition to the date of parish registration in making admission decisions.