Admission Policies

Non-discrimination

The Catholic schools in the Diocese of Oakland, mindful of their mission to be witnesses to the love of Christ for all, admit students of any race, color, and national and/or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the schools. The Catholic schools in the Diocese of Oakland do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and/or ethnic origin, age, sex, or disability in the administration of educational policies, scholarships and loan programs, and athletic and other school administered programs. (D.H. 5110)

In accordance with this, St. Perpetua School will adhere to the policy that every person, as a child of God, regardless of race, condition, or age has equal dignity and an inalienable right to an education. Therefore, no qualified student will be denied admission to this school on the basis of sex, race, color, or national origin.

Policies

• Age - All new and transfer students will meet the following age guidelines:

• to be admitted to Kindergarten a child must be 5 years of age on or before September 1st of the current school year.

• to be admitted into the first grade a child must be 6 years on or before September 1st of the current school year.

Priority of acceptance - To provide fair and consistent guidance on the selection of students for St. Perpetua School, the School Board recommends the following priorities be applied for admission.

1. Families who have a child enrolled in the school.

2. Families in St. Perpetua Parish who visibly and supportively participates in parish life as specified in the Parent Commitment Form.

3. Families from Parishes in the Lamorinda area i.e. St. Monica, Santa Maria.

4. Families who attend Catholic parishes outside the Lamorinda area.

5. Non-Catholics.

Procedure

1. The admission process begins when the following are submitted with the
application for new and transfer students: baptismal certificate, birth certificate, immunization records, recommendations from pastor and teacher, report cards and standardized tests for the two most recent years and a fifty dollar ($50.00) non-refundable processing fee.

2. All prospective students will be screened/evaluated. Parents and students will be interviewed.

3. Upon evaluation of the above documents parents will be informed of
acceptance or non-acceptance of their child(ren).

4. New students will have a ten week evaluation conference/letter to indicate progress, and adaptation to the St. Perpetua School community. Upon successful completion of a one year probation official approbation will be granted.

5. The school reserves the right to refuse admittance to any student, for reasons of an academic or discipline nature, the principal deems would not benefit from the educational structures and programs in existence at St. Perpetua School.

Financial Commitment

Tuition

Tuition is a yearly sum payable on an annual, semi-annual, quarterly or monthly (ten equal installments) basis. Tuition does not include any costs that are not part of the regular school program. It is not a tax-deductible, charitable contribution.

Tuition statements will be sent home monthly. All tuition payments are due by the 1st day of the month, and late after the 10th of each month. A late fee of $50 will be charged for late payments or returned checks. In addition, two returned checks will result in a requirement for tuition payments to be made by money order, cashier's check or cash. All delinquent tuition and fees must be paid before a contract will be offered for the new school year.

Registration and Maintenance Fees

There is an annual registration fee of $280 per student and a $335 maintenance fee per family.

New families to the school are required to make a non-refundable payment of $380 registration fee per child, $335 maintenance fee per family, and $500 deposit on tuition per family upon acceptance.

Financial Assistance

Financial Assistance is available through the Diocese of Oakland and St. Perpetua School. Families are requested to apply first to the Diocese of Oakland FACE Program.

The process at St. Perpetua School begins in April when a completed financial assistance application and supporting documents are submitted to the principal and the finance committee. Upon review of all applications, determinations will be made and applicants informed in a timely manner. Financial assistance is not available for payment of registration or maintenance fees.

Family Involvement

Studies show that parent involvement has a direct correlation to a child’s school success. It also helps keep Catholic education affordable by reducing operating costs and by raising funds to keep a balanced budget. St. Perpetua School parents assist through the Family Participation Program, yard duty and fund raising.

Family Participation Program

Parent involvement is most needed in enrichment programs for students and fundraising. Parents serve the school when they act as hot lunch servers, office assistants, room parents, teacher assistants, drivers for field trips or athletics, baby-sitters for parents assisting at school, fund raisers, yearbook chairpersons, moderators of school organizations/activities, and officers of the finance committee, parent association and school board.

Each family is required to give a minimum of 30 hours of service (15 hours for single parent/guardian and Kindergarten only families) to school programs. Within the 30 hour commitment we would like each family to: volunteer 1 hour to the success of the Parish Carnival in October; volunteer a minimum of 1 hour to one of the SEEDs programs, and the remaining hours can be fulfilled by volunteering for other school function/programs. Families not completing their required hours by June 1st will be assessed a fee of $50 for every unfilled hour.

It is expected that commitments be made for an entire school year. It is important that a job not be left in jeopardy; therefore, volunteers must arrive on time for their commitments and make arrangements for a substitute (when necessary).

Volunteer hours are reported each month to the Family Participation Chairperson of the Parent Association by using the form printed on the back of the tuition statement. It is to be filled out each month and returned with your tuition payment.

Fund Raising

Knowing that fundraising is necessary to offset the cost of educating a child at St. Perpetua School and to provide affordable Catholic educations, parents agree to support the Parent Association core fundraisers and the major fundraiser - School Auction/Dinner Dance.

St. Perpetua Parish participates in an ongoing SCRIP program to benefit the school. Each school family will purchase a minimum of $2500 of escrip purchases during the school year. Families not crediting $2500 in escrip by June 1st will be assessed a fee of 10% of the unfilled escrip requirement. (There is also a $250 buyout opportunity available.)

Yard Duty

All school families are required to participate in yard duty. Each year families are responsible for three days for first child in school and two days for each additional child. Families must get their own substitute when they are unable to work yard duty on assigned days. There is a $50 no-show fee.

Re-registration

In mid January each family currently enrolled in St. Perpetua School will be sent a form requesting their intention to return the following year. Parents complete the form and submit it with a non-refundable registration fee by the date indicated. Failure to do so can result in non-acceptance of the family for the following year.

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