Enrolments

Enrolments

Enrol at St Mary's

Thank you for considering St Mary’s School for your child’s education. Children are entitled to start school the day of their fifth birthday.

You are welcome to contact us at anytime and make an appointment to see the Principal and to view our school.
Enrolment forms are available from our school office.  

As part of the Enrolment process, you will need to supply the school with copies of your child’s:
  • New Zealand Birth Certificate (Preferred document of identification) or Passport
  • Passport showing current residency status (if not born in NZ)
  • Preference of Enrolment Certificate obtained from The Cathedral Parish Office (for Preference Enrolments).  You will need to take with you a copy of your child’s baptism certificate (or a parent’s – if the child is not baptised).  For further information ph 03 379-1068 or email office@cathedralparish.nz.
  • Your child’s immunisation certificate
Optional
Children who are not Catholic are welcomed into our school community, depending on places available (as we are only allowed 5% of our maximum roll for non-preference children).

Pre-visits
It is advised that you allow for pre-visits to our school so that your child may become familiar with the class and routines before starting. These visits are usually arranged with the new entrant teacher. Please phone to make some times for these visits about 2-3 weeks prior to your child’s start date.

Enrolment Policy

In determining an enrolment policy for St Mary’s School, maintenance of the school’s Special Character must be the Board’s prime focus. 

Submitting application for enrolment at St Mary’s School is not a guarantee of acceptance. 

Pre-enrolment of Students 

In order to pre-enrol all students will be required to obtain a preference certificate from St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral Parish Office. You will need to take with you a copy of your child’s baptism certificate (or a parent’s – if the child is not baptised).  For further information ph 03 379-1068 or email office@cathedralparish.nz.  

The criteria promulgated by the New Zealand Catholic Bishops’ Conference, which are to be used by proprietors and their agents, in order to grant Preference of Enrolment are:

  1. The child has been baptised or is being prepared for baptism in the Catholic Church.
  2. The child’s parents/guardians have already allowed one or more of its siblings to be baptised in the Catholic faith.
  3. At least one parent/guardian is a Catholic, and although their child has not yet been baptised, the child’s participation in the life of the school could lead to the parents having the child baptised.
  4. With the agreement of the child’s parent/guardian, a grandparent or other significant adult in the child’s life, such as an aunt, uncle or godparent, undertakes to support the child’s formation in the faith and practices of the Catholic Church.
  5. One or both of a child’s non-Catholic parents/guardians is preparing to become a Catholic.

Total School Roll 

The total school roll will not exceed the maximum roll. Once all preference students have been accommodated, non-preference students may be accepted up to 5% of the maximum roll. This is conditional on the school roll not exceeding 85% of its maximum roll. 

Priority In Enrolment 

If there are more applications than places available, then the following priority for enrolment will apply: 

First Priority will be given to preference applicants residing within the St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral Parish boundaries, as defined by the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch.

Second Priority will be given to those preference applicants whose siblings already attend St Mary’s School.

Third Priority will be given to those preference applicants who are children of St Mary’s School Board  permanent employees. 
Fourth Priority will be given to those preference applicants who are children of current members of the St Mary’s School Board.
Fifth Priority will be given to those preference applicants who are siblings of former students of St Mary’s School.
 
Sixth Priority will be given to those applicants who are preference students from Catholic Parishes that do not have a Catholic school within their parish boundary.
 
Seventh Priority will be given to those applicants who are preference students who have not been offered a space at the Catholic School within their parish boundary.
Eighth Priority will be given to non-preference students. If there are more applicants than places available, the following sub-priorities will operate:
 i) those who are siblings of non-preference students attending St Mary’s School
ii) applicants who are children of St Mary’s School Board permanent employees
iii) applicants who are children of current members of the St Mary’s School Board 
iv) applicants who are non-preference students living within the Parish area 

v) applicants who are non-preference students living outside the Parish area Should there be more applicants in one priority group than there are places available, places will be allocated according to the date of pre-enrolment application. 

Waiting List Procedure
All unsuccessful applicants may choose to have their names placed on a waiting list.  The waiting list will be kept within relevant priority categories, ranked in order. Parents and caregivers of those applicants on the waiting list will be notified when and if places become available for their child. Parents and caregivers will then have seven days to confirm their enrolment. If no confirmation is received the applicant will be removed from the waiting list, and the position may be offered to the next priority student.The waiting list will remain current until the beginning of the next school year.  
The Board delegates the authority to administer this policy to the Principal.