CONDITIONS OF ENROLMENT

PREAMBLE
Parents and students accepting these CONDITIONS OF ENROLMENT at Marist College Ashgrove are reminded that, in doing so, they enter into a contractual agreement with the school authority (in the person of the current Head of School) and the governing body, the Provincial and Council of the Marist Brothers. BOTH parents are required to sign these Conditions of Enrolment. In the case of a Joint Residency Order BOTH parents are required to sign these Conditions of Enrolment as their commitment to their son’s education at the College if a place is offered to him. The only exception to this is the case where one parent is deceased or there is a Court Order / Parenting Order in place stating other conditions. The College must be provided with copies of any Court Orders pertaining to the applicant as they occur.

In these Conditions the expression ‘Head of School’ includes any person from time to time acting as Head of School or other staff members delegated to carry out the duties or exercise the authority of the Head of School.

The Head of School has authority to apply whatever disciplinary measures are appropriate or necessary in relation to the conduct of the student, both inside the College and at outside, College-related events. This includes behaviour inside or outside the College that might bring the good name of the College into disrepute and may include the decision to suspend / exclude the student for any cause judged to be sufficient.

GENERAL
A.                    The College is a Catholic school founded on the traditions of Marist education and committed to the vision and ethos of St Marcellin Champagnat, founder of the Marist Brothers. The College sets out to proclaim the Good News of Jesus. The participation of every student is required in the spiritual and religious life of the College. Exemptions from this vital dimension of the Colege’s life for any reason are unacceptable, even from those enrolments accepted from other than Catholic students and families.

B.                    Full and frank disclosure of all information requested by the College throughout the enrolment process (Expression of Interest, Student Information Form and interview) must be provided, and it is a continuing obligation to keep the College informed of any changes as they occur which may affect the student’s well-being or progress at the College. This includes any learning, physical, medical, social or emotional needs, whether past or present. Any test results, previous school reports and any government funding being provided for any student who has undergone the Verification process and who is on an Educational Adjustment Program, must be fully disclosed. The Head of School must be confident that he has all the information in order to make an informed offer of a place at the College. All known needs must be fully documented in the enrolment process with supporting evidence provided. Failure to provide clear and accurate documentation will render the contract invalid.

C.                    The College requires full participation in events integral to the life of the College. This includes:

• College Masses – Inaugural, Feast of the Assumption, Champagnat Day
• Retreats
• College Swimming and Athletics Carnivals
• College Walkathon
• Camps and excursions as set out in the annual calendar
• Secondary and Junior School Prizegiving evenings

Apart from legitimate medical reasons supported by a doctor’s certificate or unavoidable family emergencies, attendance is required.

D.                    No specific consent will be sought from parents for their son[s] to attend regular curricular, sporting and co-curricular activities, pre-advised on the annual calendar and conducted with the approval of the College.

E.                    Parental support of the student’s compliance with the College rules, codes of behaviour and policies for the time being in force is required. The College will be indemnified by parents against any loss or damage caused by any failure of the student to observe the aforesaid. The student is expected to act at all times in accordance with the values and rules of the College. Serious breaches in this regard could lead to a cancellation of an enrolment.

F.                     During his enrolment, the student will live in the care and control of his family. All boarding students will live in the care and control of the College-approved care arrangements.

G.                    Membership of this College community implies specific positive relationships among students, staff and parents. Such relationships are founded on our core Gospel beliefs. Acceptance, respect and dignity must, therefore, be accorded to every member of the College community. Bullying, intimidation or threat to other persons is counter to every value we hold dear and will not be tolerated. All issues relating to discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment and bullying will be dealt with according to established College policy.

H.                    Our standards and values are a precious part of our heritage. When appropriate and necessary for the College’s values to be protected and to ensure the physical and moral safety of all students, the College reserves the right to confiscate forbidden and dangerous property and to take whatever necessary action such as directing searches in lockers, desks, bags etc to deal with those threatening – by commission or omission – the well-being of the College community. Suspension from the College will be enforced when the behaviour, actions or attitude of the student demonstrate a threat to:

• the health, welfare and safety of other students or staff or
• the effective delivery of successful educational outcomes for other students or
• the fair and effective discipline and administration of the student body.

FEES
The College fees are determined each year by the Provincial and Council of the Marist Brothers detailing tuition, boarding and other costs. The College expects that all fees will be paid promptly by the due date as indicated on the account. Payment by direct debit is the preferred option. In rare cases, which require evidence of actual financial over-burden, provision exists for extensions of time for payment or some consideration of amounts, but only when the Head of School is afforded the courtesy of immediate contact from parents to explain circumstances in detail and to make alternative arrangements. Compassion for, and support of families in special circumstances, will always be a priority. It is unreasonable and unjust to other families however to ignore fee accounts or to fail to contact the College promptly when problems affecting payment arise. Enrolment may be terminated in the face of ongoing discourtesy or without the development of a sustainable repayment plan.

ATTENDANCE AND ASSESSMENT
Regular attendance and punctuality at the College and all classes are required. Parents, in addition to phoning the student absence voicemail line on the day of the absence, must provide a note and a medical certificate if necessary when students are absent for legitimate reasons. Requests for early leave at the end of a term – except in rare cases where travel may be affected – are discouraged. Exams often go to the last day of the term and will not be rescheduled. Likewise, students who take days off from school to complete assignments or due work are doing a serious injustice to those students who meet deadlines. The practice is unacceptable and such practices will incur penalties.

The completion of set assignments, tasks and examinations is mandatory.

MEDICAL EMERGENCIES
In the event of any medical or other emergency arising in which the College considers it impossible or impracticable to communicate with the undersigned parents / guardians, the College will take all reasonable care of the student but will not be responsible for the costs of any medical or dental attention or treatment administered to the student in such an event; nor will it be responsible directly or indirectly for any act or omission of any medical or dental practitioner or medical officer attending or treating the student including attention provided at the College Health Centre.

CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Co-curricular activities include creative, sport and service endeavours which are integral to the curriculum of the College and are important ways in which the gifts of every student can be nurtured and shared. As designated in the College calendar, and on other occasions arising from our membership of the Associated Independent Colleges [AIC]  or Combined Independent Colleges [CIC], co-curricular participation is required as part of the life of the College and integral to the growth and development of each student.  Participation by all, according to the relative abilities of each student is mandatory. If a student has ability in a co-curricular activity and this activity is offered at the College, he would be expected to contribute by representing the College. Participation in College co-curricular activities takes precedence over fixtures offered by outside organisations.

BOARDING
Membership of the College boarding community implies that there is a reasonable expectation that students boarding are emotionally, psychologically and socially able to benefit from the structures and lifestyle of the boarding program at the College and not to pose a threat to the health, safety and well-being of others. Should a student wish to change enrolment from boarding to day or day to boarding, there can be no automatic presumption that this can occur. This decision is a matter exclusively decided by the Head of School.

USE OF ILLICIT AND UNSANCTIONED DRUGS
College Policy in relation to the use and/or possession of illegal or unsanctioned substances by students at the College will be invoked when necessary. A student at the College, in the vicinity of the College, travelling to and from the College, at College events or events related to, or interpreted as being under College control, shall not knowingly have in his possession a drug of dependence other than that for which they hold a current prescription prescribed by a registered medical practitioner; or a prohibited substance, supply and/or administer to himself, or permit another person to administer/supply to himself, a drug of dependence or a prohibited substance; and/or have in his possession any piece of equipment for use in connection with the smoking or consumption or administration of such a drug or substance or the preparation of such a drug or substance for smoking, consumption or administration. In the event that a student breaches this prohibition, suspension must follow.

Also ‘GENERAL Section H’ above may apply.

STUDENT REGULATIONS
A.                    College Uniform is:

• Clean black, leather shoes
• Black leather belt
• College hat – two styles (‘bucket’ hat or navy blue cricket-style hat) are acceptable. Caps are not permitted, nor are hats which are defaced in any way.
• A watch may be worn on the wrist. A chain with crucifix or medal may be worn around the neck hanging out of sight. No other jewelry, wrist bands or ear rings may be worn.

Grooming rules are:
Hair

• must be clean, brushed and generally neat
• must be above the ear lobes, off the collar and, when brushed forward, out of the eyes
• must have no extremes or variations to hair colour
• must not be layered, ridged or undercut
• must not be cut or shaved shorter than blade 3

Sideburns

• may not be below the level of the ear lobe and no other facial hair is permitted

• Cars

Students should not be absent from school for driving lessons or licence tests. They are discouraged from driving to school. However, if this is to occur, a car contract, available from Student Administration, must be signed by both parents and students. Boarders may not be driven by other students at any time. Student cars are not permitted on the property at any time.

OTHER APPLICABLE POLICIES
The College is also guided by other policies available on request at any time which include:

• Safe School Policy
• Child Protection Policy
• Child Safety Risk Management Plan
• Acceptable Use of Technology Policy
• Use of Electronic Devices Policy
• Sunsafe Policy

AGREEMENT
In addition to the Conditions listed above, families also agree to:

• the sharing of personal information, (limited to name, address, telephone numbers, email addresses, occupation), to College supporting groups such as the Parents & Friends Association, Old Boys Association, College Foundation and network and sporting and cultural groups
• the student being photographed for the purposes of identification and for school-related publications such as the Newsletter, College Magazine, Calendar, The Tower. [NB For the purposes of marketing and promotion a separate agreement will be sought for the use of student photographs on the College website, the Prospectus and advertising]
• full acceptance of all of these requirements, recognizing the College’s right to ensure that all who seek a place in the College are aware of expectations and are agreeable to all Conditions of Enrolment