St. Mary Catholic School admits students of any race to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities of the school and provides equal opportunity and access to persons without regard to race in administration of educational policies, admissions policies, and any other school-administered program. St. Mary Catholic School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national and ethnic origin, or gender in the educational programs or activities they operate.
As a Catholic school in the Diocese of Beaumont, St. Mary Catholic School gives preference in admission to Catholic students living within the parish boundaries; secondly, to Catholic students living outside the parish boundaries; thirdly, to non-Catholics. All students enrolled in the Catholic schools in the Diocese of Beaumont, Catholic and non-Catholic, are enrolled in the Religious Education program and attend all liturgical services.
New students entering St. Mary Catholic School are given an enrollment agreement that must be signed by the parents/guardian and the student. The enrollment agreement will be reviewed periodically throughout the year to ensure that the needs of the student and the school are being met. A copy of the enrollment agreement is included in the back section of this handbook.
Registration fees must be paid in the spring at the time of registration for the following year or at the time a new student is registered. Such fees are non-refundable. Registration for the next school year will not be complete until the tuition, fees, and other financial obligations for the current year are paid.
The Diocese of Beaumont promotes a model of inclusion for children with mild learning disabilities/differences in our schools. We believe that children with mild learning differences can be successful within the regular classroom setting when strategic teaching methods are utilized and appropriate planning are implemented. This philosophy is based on the understanding that parents are active partners with the school and play a critical role in their child?s success.
Unlike the public school system, Catholic schools do not receive state and federal monies to fund special education programs. Therefore, we do not write or accept Individualized Education Plans as public schools are mandated to do. A plan may be written at each school for those students who are experiencing learning or behavioral differences. Each school will designate the proper personnel to collaborate on this plan with the parents. The plan?s content is dependent on each school?s ability to make reasonable accommodations to assist a student or to provide personnel who may participate in the plan.
Parents are expected to provide copies of all assessment information to schools in order that an appropriate student intervention plan can be written. If an assessment has not taken place, the school may require that an assessment is necessary to determine the student?s strengths and weaknesses. This assessment can be done by a local ISD at no charge to the parents. Contact your administrator for information.
In some cases it may become evident the severity of the learning or behavioral disability/difference exceeds the level of accommodations the school may be able to offer the student. The question of what will best benefit the student?s success may indicate that a different educational placement is necessary. This decision will be based on knowledge of the resources of the school and the severity of the problem. In all cases, the decision will be based on Christian compassion.
Students in all schools in Diocese of Beaumont are on probation until all school and immunization records have been received.
Students who leave St. Mary Catholic School under any circumstances and decide to return to St. Mary Catholic School will be subject to the following guidelines:
* Review of conduct.
* Review of grades.
* Review by the Executive Committee.
* Parents may be subject to signing a Probation Agreement.
* Payment of first full semester tuition is due upon time of enrollment.