Saint Joseph School admits students of any race, sex, color, national origin, age (according to age requirements as listed below) or disability, to all rights and privileges accorded to all students in school.

Please call the school office at 717-766-2564 if you are interested in scheduling a personal tour of our school.

The following items must be presented at the time of registration:

• Birth certificate
• Baptismal certificate
• Child's Social Security number
• Proof of adequate immunization and a physical examination required by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
• Proof of custody where applicable
• Records from previous school (for transfer students)
• Proof of Residence in School District

The school requires that an entrant for Kindergarten be five years old by September 30. No testing is mandated for kindergarten entrance, but screening is done prior to the start of school to evaluate physical development, ability to listen and follow directions, along with fine and gross motor skills.

Tuition for the 2009-2010 School Year:

BACKGROUND

Saint Joseph School is committed to providing quality, affordable Catholic education. The annual school tuition fee only partially covers the total cost for the Catholic education program for each student. The remaining funds come from parish subsidies, the Annual Appeal and other Development activities, fund-raising events, and the generous contributions of many benefactors. In addition, organizations like the Home and School Association provide funding for special projects and needs beyond the ordinary operating budget.

The Education Board establishes the tuition fee each year based upon a careful review of the actual cost of education. The proposed tuition is always subject to the approval of the pastors of the three supporting parishes.

Saint Joseph School is operated as a faith community, and not as a commercial or secular enterprise. The school provides an opportunity for the development of faith-based values and for receiving instruction in the Gospel as part of its religious mission and ministry. Consequently, payment of tuition may not be considered as creating a commercial or contractual relationship between the school and parents that may be construed to create a legally enforceable obligation on the part of the school, or its sponsoring ecclesiastical entities, to allow for continued enrollment, or to provide any type or level of educational services, or to provide such services involuntarily.

Notice and Registration Fee Policy

The tuition schedule for the coming school year will be sent to each family before the end of the current school year.

A registration fee is payable to (re)register a child to reserve a space. The registration fee is non-refundable.

TUITION OBLIGATION

The payment of tuition is an obligation the parents/guardians assume when they register their student(s) at Saint Joseph School. The school depends on the timely payment of tuition to meet its financial obligations and pay its dedicated teachers and staff.

TUITION PAYMENT OPTIONS

In order to pay tuition, parents may select one of the following payment plans.

A. Full tuition less a $35.00 discount may be paid in full by July 1 for the upcoming school year.

B. Tuition payments may be made in equal installments over a 10-month period, with the first payment due by June 20 and the last payment due on or before March 20 of the academic year to which the tuition applies.

TUITION PAYMENT POLICY

1. If the school does not receive a payment for a student by July 1 under either plan outlined, the school's records shall reflect that the student will not be returning in the fall and the seat will be available to another student.

2. If the10-month payment plan is chosen, monthly payments are due on or before the 20^th day of each month from June through March.

3. All payments due through August 20 must be paid and current or the student will not be allowed to attend Saint Joseph School. The space for any such student will be made available to a student on any waiting list.

4. If a payment is one month late, the parents/guardians shall receive a written notice of delinquency.

5. If parents/guardians are two months behind in tuition payments, they will receive a written reminder of delinquency from the school, and the appropriate pastor will be notified for any student who is a member of the three supporting parishes.

6. Except as noted below in paragraph 7, parents/guardians who are determined by the school to be three months behind in tuition payments will be notified that their child/children will be barred from attending classes or participating in school activities of Saint Joseph School.

7. ALL TUITION PAYMENTS MUST BE PAID IN FULL BY MARCH 20 OR STUDENTS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO COMPLETE THE SCHOOL YEAR. IN ADDITION, STUDENTS FOR WHOM TUITION IS UNPAID AS OF MARCH 20 WILL LOSE THEIR SEAT AND FORFEIT ANY REGISTRATION FEE ALREADY PAID FOR THE COMING YEAR.

8. Report cards/progress reports will not be distributed to students (or their parents/guardians) if any tuition payments are not up to date.

9. Re-registration will only be accepted for students for whom tuition payments are up to date.

10. Post-dated checks will NOT be accepted.

11. A $25 service fee (payable directly to Saint Joseph Parish) will be charged for returned checks.

12. Any request for academic records will be denied until all financial obligations to Saint Joseph School for the student are paid in full.

This policy may not be modified except by the agreement of the pastors of the supporting parishes.

TUITION REFUND POLICY

1. If a student is withdrawn from school before the start of school the year, installment tuition payments made in June, July, and August are non-refundable. If tuition was paid in full, the tuition will be refunded less 30%.

2. If withdrawal of a student before the start of a school year is due to extenuating circumstances, requests for a modification of the above policy will be at the discretion of the Education Board in consultation with the pastor of Saint Joseph Parish.

3. If the student leaves before end of the first trimester, the refund would be 50% of the full tuition. If withdrawn before the end of second trimester, then 25% of full tuition would be refunded. After that period of time, no refund would be given.

We believe that our tuition rate compares favorably with that of other parochial and private schools in this area. We urge any family that has special circumstances or hardships to discuss them with their pastor, who will help find ways to make a Catholic education available to all who appreciate its value.

If you are looking for way to reduce your tuition costs, please check into our Grocery Certificate program. You will earn tuition credits by purchasing grocery certificates!

Attendance Policy | Uniform Policy | Student Handbook