Admission Requirements
Priority in admissions to Aquinas Academy shall be as follows:
1. Current students
2. Siblings of students currently attending
3. Active, registered parishioners in Region 12 of the Diocese of Greensburg
4. Active, registered parishioners of other regions in the Diocese of Greensburg
5. Non-parishioners
6. Non-Catholics
Currently enrolled students receive the opportunity to re-register before open application in February. If a currently enrolled student does not re-register by the open application dates, openings are made available to the next priority level. Siblings of currently enrolled students may apply before open application dates.
The appropriate school application form must be submitted to be considered for enrollment. Children must be immunized before entering school as required by state law. No child shall be permitted in school without the following immunizations:
1. Four DPT (diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus. The fourth dose must be given after age four;
2. Three OPV (oral polio vaccine) or four Salk polio.
3. Two MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) given on or after the first birthday.
4. Three Hepatitis B.
5. One dose of varicella (chicken pox) vaccine or history of disease.
6. Any other immunization required by the state of Pennsylvania.
The school adheres to the age requirements of the Greensburg-Salem and Hempfield Area school districts. Any child who reaches the age of 3 by September 1 and is toilet trained may enter the preschool three year old program. Any child who reaches the age of 4 by September 1 may enter the preschool four year old program. Any child who reaches the age of five by the cut-off date of September 1 of the current school year may be admitted to kindergarten unless there is evidence that the child is not ready to begin.
Any child who reaches the age of six by the local public school district cut-off date of September 1 of the current school year may be admitted to the first grade unless there is evidence that the child is not ready to begin. Registration will be held no later than February for the following school term.
On the date of registration, the following documents must be presented:
1. Completed application form.
2. Birth certificate – original, no copy.
3. Initial guidance questionnaire.
4. Up-to-date immunization records.
5. Verification of residence if living with a person other than a parent.
6. Completed tuition agreement payment preference form.
7. Non-refundable application fee of $50 per family.
8. Custody papers in the case of separation, divorce, or adoption. Legal documentation regarding any change in custody status during the time a child is enrolled in the school with official copies of court orders. The school must maintain copies of custody decrees or other court orders in order to assure compliance with the law.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act gives full rights to each parent, unless the school has been provided with evidence that there is a court order, state’s statute or legally binding document relating to such matters as divorce, separation or custody that specifically revokes these rights. Such an order is to be on file in the school and those persons responsible for the child/children) are to be informed of the circumstances. Every effort is made to keep the non-custodial parent informed of the progress of the child/children through reports, report cards and parent/teacher conferences.
Admission from Other Schools
The transfer into a new school is difficult for any student. Transferring from a public school into a Catholic school has particular challenges. This is especially true for eighth grade students who will complete just one year or part of a year before needing to transfer again into high school.
An especially difficult issue is the request, occasionally made by parents, to transfer a student who has been expelled from another school district. This type of request requires special evaluation. To address these issues, Aquinas Academy adopted the following policies:
· Ordinarily, Aquinas Academy does not admit a student during the eighth grade. When family circumstances justify the request, e.g., newly moving into the area, the principal will consider such a request on an individual basis.
· Ordinarily, Aquinas Academy will not admit a student who has been expelled for serious reasons from another school district. If requested, the principal may review the circumstances under which the student was expelled and make a prudent judgment about admitting the student.
· Students will be on probation and asked to sign a contract to assure success in the transition.
Aquinas Academy admits students of any race, national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin in the administration of our educational policies, admission policies, athletic or other school administered programs. Children who are not Catholic are expected to participate in religion classes and to attend all religious functions of the school.
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