Ascension Catholic School: Forms

Age Requirements
Children must meet the following age requirements by September 1 of the year of their admission:
PK3 --3 years,
PK4 – 4 years,
Kindergarten – 5 years,
First Grade – 6 years.

Admissions Priority Categories
If there are more applicants than can be accepted based on class size limits as determined by the Principal and the School Board, applicants will be given priority as follows:

1. Currently enrolled students in good standing whose tuition and fees are paid and up-to-date
.
2. Siblings of the above.

3. Former students and siblings of alumni.

4. Other children of Ascension Parishioners. Families will be considered Parishioners if they are registered as such at the Rectory and are financially contributing to the Parish on a regular basis.

5. Other children.

Priorities within a Category: If all applicants within a given priority category cannot be accommodated, an Admissions Committee will determine which students to admit.
The Committee will consist of the Pastor, the Principal, member(s) of the Parish Staff, and representative(s) of the School Board.

The following criteria will be used by this Committee;
* Length of time the family has been at Ascension.
* History of legacy (parents, grandparents, extended family at Ascension).
* Level of participation by the family in the Parish and school through contributions of time, treasure and talent.
* Opportunities to increase the diversity in the school community.

No Preferential Treatment: The categories and criteria listed in paragraphs 3 and 4 above are intended for admissions priorities only, and do not imply any preferential treatment of students once admitted. Specifically, the assignment of students to a particular teacher or session is at the Principal’s discretion, and will not be based on the above criteria.

Child Custody and Guardianship

Before accepting a student for admission, school personnel must verify that the person enrolling the child is the legal guardian. If someone other than the parent/guardian seeks to enroll a child, school personnel must present a court order appointing the person as legal guardian of the child. If the person is unable to present such proof, the assistant superintendent should be contacted immediately to discuss the situation.

If the child is enrolling during the school year, the following documents must be presented at the time of enrollment:
• the child’s original birth certificate;
• a transfer from the sending school;
• permanent records from the sending school;
• health and immunization records.

New students entering grades 1 – 8 must be tested and interviewed before an application can be accepted. The testing is scheduled in the spring and summer. The Principal makes the final decision about academic eligibility and placement.

Priority Registration: Each winter, current Ascension students may be registered for the following year before other applicants are considered. In order to maintain priority status, completed registration packets and deposits must be returned by the deadline and the family must be up-to-date in all payments.

Dual Enrollment: If there are available spaces, a family may enroll a child in two different Early Childhood programs/classes. Full tuition will be charged for both sections. October 2007

Open Registration: Following the priority registration deadline, registration will be opened for all others. Applications will not be considered until they are complete, including any fees, deposits, birth certificates, baptismal certificates, medical records, and other completed paperwork required by the application. The deadline for applications is two weeks before the beginning of the school year.
Policy # 05-02-07

The School Board sets the tuition and fees in spring, and a link to the complete Tuition Page appears on the school web site’s Forms page. The page includes the payment schedule, Delinquency Policy, Fundraising Commitment and early-payment discount.

Fundraising Commitment

Each Ascension School family is asked to make a commitment to support specific school fundraising programs.
The family commitment is determined by the age of number of children at Ascension but is generally between $200 and $300 annually. If your oldest child is in PK3 or PK4, your fundraising commitment is $100.
If your oldest child is in kindergarten, your fundraising commitment is $150.
If your oldest child is in grade one through eight, your fundraising commitment is $225.
For each additional child, your commitment goes up $25.
With each purchase you make from the commitment programs, the profit to Ascension is applied to the family commitment. Monthly reports included with your tuition bill help you keep track of your commitment status. If the family continues to participate in the fundraising program when the commitment is fulfilled, a portion of that discount can be applied to their tuition. Please refer to the Fundraising Commitment Page on the school web site.

Tuition Refund

Families who leave Ascension School receive a tuition refund if they have paid in advance. The refund will be determined by dividing total tuition costs by 10 months of school. Families are responsible for tuition for the months that they are enrolled in school, and any overpayment will be refunded. Families who are not in attendance at the opening of school are entitled to a full refund of any tuition paid. Once a family has been accepted into the school, the registration fee will not be refunded. October 2007

Student Records

A file of attendance, original birth certificate, transfer, achievement test scores, health and immunization records and report cards is kept in the school office. Parents/guardians are welcome to review this information. Requests to examine a file should be made to the principal.

The Office of Catholic Schools has established guidelines for school records of your child, which are maintained by Ascension School.

1. Right to inspect: In accordance with local school procedures, parents/guardians have the right to look at the child’s records maintained in the child’s permanent record. A prior appointment must be made with the principal.

2. Right to prevent disclosures: The school will not disclose anything to third parties from your child’s records unless
(1) you consent in writing prior to the disclosure, or (2) the information is directory information which you have not requested be kept confidential, or
(3) request for information is from a school to which your child is transferring and the school has received a written request for release, or
(4) the request for the information meets one of the limited circumstances described in the Guidelines for School Records.

3. Right to request correction: Parents/guardians have the right to present evidence that the school should amend any part of the child’s record which you believe to be inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of student rights. If the school decides not to change the record, you may insert an explanation in the record.

Ascension School abides by the provisions of the Buckley Amendment with respect to the rights of non-custodial parents. In the absence of a court order to the contrary, a school will provide the non-custodial parent with access to the academic records and to other school-related information regarding the child. If there is a court order specifying that there is to be no information given, it is the responsibility of the custodial parent to provide the school with an official copy of the court order.

Special Needs

Ascension school provides a limited amount of assistance for children with minimal special needs. Those children who require, or who are suspected of requiring, additional services can be tested through Oak Park District 97 or their public school district. These school districts can provide services under PL 94-142, if the student qualifies.

If you have a student in kindergarten through grade six who is currently enrolled in another school and you’d like information about transferring to Ascension, please call the Advancement Office, 708-434-1558. We'd be happy to introduce you to our community and arrange for your child to "shadow" another child at the same grade level. We recommend a visit of an hour or so for a child in the primary grades and a half day for a child in the middle or upper grades. Open House for all families and visitors in in January. Watch the web site for more information.

Registration materials for current families was distributed in the Wednesday mailing on January 27, 2012. The materials will included the complete tuition schedule. Tuition must be current for you to register your child for the 2011-2012 school year. Registration materials must be accompanied with a registration fee of $100. Registration for current families will close on February 15 and open for new families on February 10. On February 10, you must be current with your tuition to retain a spot for your child for the fall. Registration Form for Current Families

Financial Aid/Tuition Assistance

Ascension Parish accepts requests for financial aid from parents/guardians needing tuition assistance. If you would like information or a Student Aid Application please contact the office during school hours.

Tuition Assistance Policy

1. Parents who choose Ascension School for their children have an obligation to finance that education to the best of their ability.
2. There are limited funds available for financial assistance.
3. Registered members of Ascension Parish may request financial assistance.
4. The Pastor and Principal will establish procedures, which might include processing fees, for requesting financial assistance.
5. The Pastor, in his discretion, will decide whether to grant financial assistance. In making that decision, the pastor will consider the family's financial need.
6. All information regarding a request for financial assistance will be handled and kept in strictest confidence.
7. Financial assistance will not be granted for 100% of the tuition amount.
8. No financial assistance will be granted for fees, fund-raising commitments or Extended Day.

Registration for new families will begin on February 20. We will accept registration forms before that date, but they will not be processed until February 18. There is no advantage, other than your convenience, to completing registration forms before that date. Your registration forms must be accompanied by the registration fee of $100, however, we will not deposit your check until we are assured that we have a spot for your child and you have accepted that spot. We will process current family forms and then determine how many slots are open at each grade level. When we have determined the number of available slots, we will begin accepting new families in this way: parishioner status, legacy (families who have attended Ascension School in the past), non-parishioners. Registration Contract New Families.

Admission and Registration Information 2012 - 2013