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Admission and Registration
Information
Acceptance Policy
The pastor and principals are responsible for determining the admission of students to St. Thomas More School. The school will strive to have Catholic education accessible to as many students as possible, both with its educational programs and financial considerations; however, it is understood that the limited resources of archdiocesan schools may make it impossible to reasonably provide an appropriate educational environment for students needing additional support. After completion of the application, interviews, and assessment, a student may be admitted into Kindergarten through Seventh Grade. However, priority for acceptance is as follows: 1. Preferences shall be given to active members of the Parish 2. Siblings of students enrolled in the school 3. Catholics out of parish 4. Non-Catholics Children will be welcomed at St. Thomas More School if they have a record of acceptable behavior and can maintain the academic program of the school. The application process involves an assessment of the child’s academic readiness, a parent orientation with the principals, receipt of all required documents, and a review of the most current report card. New students are considered on probation for the first trimester. Assurance of parental cooperation and support of the signed contracts are an essential factor in the acceptance of the students into St. Thomas More School each year. This includes the obligation to meet tuition payments on schedule and to comply with the policies in the handbook and the policies related to service hours and fundraising. Registration and Re-Registration In January of each year, re-registration of all returning families takes place. This involves a non-refundable commitment fee. If fees are not paid on a timely basis, families could lose their place in any given class. In the event re-registration is paid and a family chooses not to return to Saint Thomas More, written notification must be received in the office, or FACTS registration will proceed and the family is responsible for tuition and fees assessed. Applications for new students are available beginning in January. Once an application and required documents are received, an appointment will be set up for assessment. Each new registered family will have an interview with Father Paul Menke. Tuition Contract In Parish/Out of Parish tuition status is determined in the following manner:
Attendance at Sunday Mass is a serious parental obligation. Parents need to accompany their children to Mass on Sundays and Holydays and assist them in the reception of the sacraments. STM Parish provides a tuition discount for its members who meet the In-Parish criteria specified. To receive this discount, school families must attend Mass each Sunday at St. Thomas More Church. The use of the assigned Parish envelope for a minimum of thirty Sundays must be observed. All participating families receive a special number in the parish computer system to easily monitor usage. Families are re-evaluated each year to ensure compliance with the In-Parish criteria. Families not meeting these requirements will be billed at the higher tuition rate. New families, who are not already active parishioners, will be considered Out of Parish until they have registered and have met In Parish criteria for at least three months, including summer. All families must share equally in the service hour program. All families are responsible for 30 hours a year. A fee of $10.00 per hour will be assessed for service hours not completed by May 7, 2010. All families are also required to sell 50 Multicultural Festival Raffle Tickets and to participate a minimum of three hours either setting-up, working a booth, or cleaning-up. Families failing to participate will be assessed an additional $25.00 per hour. All Saint Thomas More school families receive financial aid (the difference between the real cost to educate each student and the amount each family pays in tuition). The amount of tuition increase each year is determined by the success of our fundraising programs. Tuition for the 2009-2010 school year In Parish Tuition Rates: Out of Parish Tuition
Rates: Missed Tuition Payments/Late Fees The tuition management agency, FACTS, charges a fee for missed payments. If you know a pull will not clear, notify the school office at least 7 working days in advance to make arrangements. Monthly collection of tuition is a necessary component of budget management. Missed tuition payments may result in one or more of the following: · an accelerated payment of all tuition and fees · additional assessment of a 20% late fee · the child to be excluded from school until payment is received · collection activities and fees · the withholding of examinations, report cards, or diplomas A $20.00 NSF is charged for any returned checks made out to Saint Thomas More school and must be paid in the school office in cash, money order, or cashier’s check within 14 days of notification. Any fee not received by a given deadline, may incur an additional late charge of $20.00 or 20% of the balance, whichever is greater.
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