Admissions
It is the goal of St. Bernadette Catholic School to educate children of all families interested in our program and mission. Registration means that the family is willing to comply with the programs and policies of the school and actively participate in the activities which support the school. The Catholic school is designed to assist families in the formation and education of their children in the Catholic faith, Gospel values, and traditions.
Nondiscrimination Policy
St. Bernadette Catholic School in the Diocese of Worcester admits students of any race, color, religion, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available at all schools. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national and ethnic origin in administration of their educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs and athletic and other school administered programs.
Application Process
For families whose children are in attendance at St. Bernadette Catholic School, registration for the succeeding year usually takes place in January. Dates are published in the school newsletter and the parish bulletin well in advance. Registration forms are provided and registration is completed after all forms are filled out and the registration fee has been paid. It is required that delinquent payments of the current year must be taken care of before the new registration can be processed.
All incoming kindergarten students must have proof of being five years old, and first grade students must have proof of being six years old on or before September 1st to be eligible for the current school year. It is Massachusetts State Law that all students must be current in their immunizations. Attendance at school may be denied if students are delinquent in this matter.
In addition, it is a St. Bernadette School requirement that PK3 students must be 3 years old by August 31st. PK4 and First Steps students must be 4 years old by August 31st. All PK students must be toilet trained and able to take care of their bathroom needs independently.
Students are considered for enrollment at St. Bernadette Catholic School in the following order:
1. Returning students
2. Siblings of returning students
3. New students from St. Bernadette Parish
4. New students who are associated with area parishes
5. New students who are non-Catholic
To begin the application process, please fill out an Application Form and mail it to the Admissions Office at the School. The Director of Admissions will then confirm receipt of your Application and advise you of the next steps in the process. Application forms for the 2012-13 school year will be available in late January.
Process for Enrollment (New Families)
All new families will be invited to attend an Open House during Catholic Schools Week in January. Notification of St. Bernadette’s Open House will appear in local parish bulletins and newspapers. Potential students will have an opportunity to visit the school during Open House and, if families wish to pursue application, will complete a screening. Recommendation forms, current report cards, and birth and baptismal records are required for review. The student’s final acceptance at the school will be contingent upon the student’s visit, testing, academic data, space availability, and the return of the completed registration materials and fees. Following a review of these materials, you will receive formal notice as to your child’s enrollment status. Acceptance at the school is not final until all of these steps have been completed. Each new incoming student is placed on a 6-week probation period.
OPEN HOUSE for the 2012-13 school year will take place on Sunday, January 29, 2012 from 1:00 - 3:00 pm (with a complimentary Pancake Breakfast immediately following 11:00 am Mass) and Thursday, February 2, 2012 from 10:00 am- 1:00 pm.
Entrance Requirements
Finances
Tuition rates are determined yearly based on a percentage of the actual cost to educate each student. Revenue for operating costs each year comes from three sources: (1) Tuition, 2) Diocese Tuition Assistance and 3) School Fundraising and Development.
Tuition Assistance/Scholarships
Tuition assistance is available to all students attending St. Bernadette Catholic School based on need. It is not the intent of St. Bernadette Catholic School to deny Christian education to any child for financial reasons. Financial Aid is available, through the Diocese of Worcester, to
qualified families in Grades K-8. Forms are available on-line at
www.factstuitionaid.com. Application deadline is April 27, 2012.
Payment
For families new to St. Bernadette Catholic School, there is a non-refundable Application Fee of $275.00 per student. A $50.00 nonrefundable fee is due at the time of application. If a child is accepted and enrolls in the school, the balance of the registration fee, $225.00 must be returned with the registration materials.
The yearly registration fee of $275.00 per student, payable at the time of re-registration, is non-refundable.
St. Bernadette Catholic School utilizes F.A.C.T.S., a tuition management service. Tuition payments are debited from parents’ savings or checking account directly by F.A.C.T.S. and deposited in the St. Bernadette account.
Payments may be made annually directly to the school with a 2% discount, or semi-annually, or in 10 or 12 monthly payments through the F.A.C.T.S. Company. If anyone would be interested in helping to pay for a child’s education, the Principal has the necessary information relative to scholarship donations.
With approximately 80% of the projected cost per student coming from tuition, it is imperative that each family assumes the responsibility to keep payments current.
Records at Entrance
Students entering school for the first time are required to bring a birth record, a baptismal record (if applicable), and a record of state-required immunizations.
Transfer Student Process and Requirements
Any student transferring to St. Bernadette Catholic School from another school is required to schedule a parent/student orientation. He/she will spend one day at St. Bernadette Catholic School for an informal assessment before acceptance is determined. Admission of the student is at the discretion of the principal after conferring with teachers at previous schools and careful examination of school records.
Admission will be on a probationary period of six weeks. Probation will be based on academic and behavioral performance as determined by teacher observation.
Attendance
Regular attendance is required of all students in order to support the academic climate of the school. A student’s repeated failure to comply with the school attendance policies may jeopardize that student's promotion to the next grade level.
Contact Us
For more information, please contact
Bernadette Aube, Director of Admissions
St. Bernadette School, 266 Main Street, Northborough, MA 01532
(508) 351-9905 ext. 30