2022 ENROLMENT APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN

Closing Date is Friday 31^st August 2021

Thank you for considering Aquinas College as your child’s preferred school for secondary education. A State Integrated Catholic College, Aquinas, has a 95% Preference enrolment. If places are available, there is up to a 5% allocation for Non-Preference enrolment.

Aquinas College is a Catholic, co-educational, Year 7-13 secondary school. We are currently at our maximum roll of 750 students, exhibiting some pressure at certain year levels. We generally receive more applications than positions available for enrolment each year. We have a transparent process for enrolment selections as outlined in our Enrolment Scheme, in line with the College’s Enrolment Policy.

The 2022 enrolment process is a two-step process.

1    The online Aquinas College enrolment application form

To access the digital enrolment for, click on the YELLOW button opposite, marked ‘Online Enrolment Form’. Questions marked with an * are mandatory and must be answered. Once you have completed and submitted the online Aquinas College enrolment form you will receive confirmation that your application has been received.

Supporting documents (listed below) can be attached electronically, however this is not mandatory. You have the alternative option of submitting the supporting documents in hard copy to the College Reception main office, or scanning and emailing them to reception@aquinas.school.nz

Supporting documents:

• a completed Preference Card for a Preference application, or for a Non-Preference application a letter explaining the reasons for applying for enrolment at Aquinas College.
• a copy of the student’s last school report
• a copy of the student’s Birth Certificate, Passport, Residency/Citizenship certificate, or Immigration Visa
• any supplementary documents you may wish to submit (eg cover letter, reference) THESE ARE OPTIONAL AND NOT PART OF THE ESSENTIAL DOCUMENTS

2    Catholic Integrated Schools Enrolment Contract

This form is NOT electronic, but can be downloaded from the BLUE button opposite, titled “Diocese Enrolment Contract’. Once it is completed and signed by all parties, contract can be submitted in hard copy to the College Reception main office or attached similarly as the supporting documentation above.

PLEASE NOTE THAT YOUR APPLICATION WILL NOT PROCEED UNTIL ALL DOCUMENTS ARE RECEIVED.

2022 Enrolment Process Timeline

What happens at Open Day?

Open Day this year is being held on Thursday 29th July. BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL here. We host two 2-hour sessions, with the first one starting at 8:45am and the second beginning at 11:40am. Students are encouraged to attend with their parents. Our Open Day format is as follows:

• Welcome, prayer and a brief introduction to our College by our Principal and Head Students in the College foyer.
• Tour of the College and classroom learning environments, led by senior student leaders.
• A hands-on learning experience for enrolling students with our teachers and students. During this time, parents and whānau have the opportunity to meet and ask staff members questions with responsibilities for curricular and extra-curricular dimensions of the College, for example, Special Character, sport, the arts, cultural activities, buses etc.
• A brief presentation about our unique holistic curriculum and assessment framework.
• Questions and farewell.

Preference /Non-Preference

The following supporting documents are required to accompany the College’s online enrolment application form prior to closing date of Friday 31st August 2021:

1. For Preference students, a completed and signed Preference Card (criteria below)
2. A copy of the student’s last school Report
3. A copy of the student’s Birth Certificate, Passport or other legal document confirming citizenship, residency, visa conditions.
4. Any other documents you may wish to submit in support of your Enrolment Application (not compulsory).

The Non-Preference roll is very competitive.  How many students we can accept each year is dependent on the number of Preference applications we receive.

Closing Date for 2022 Enrolment Applications is Friday 31st August 2021.

Contact Moira Ramsbottom by phone (07) 543 9032 or email admin@aquinas.school.nz with any further queries.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is a Preference Enrolment?

Preference enrolment is granted by the Parish Priest. Preference requires that the child meets one of the following criteria:

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 significant familial adult such as a grandparent, aunt or uncle, who is living in close proximity and who is actively involved in the child’s upbringing 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.

Parents/Caregivers of Preference learners must obtain a Preference of Enrolment Certificate signed by the Parish Priest.

What are Attendance Dues?

Attendance Dues are a charge for attendance at an integrated school and are one of the main sources of income for maintenance or upgrade of existing buildings, plus meet the costs of servicing loans incurred for this purpose. The Attendance Due is a compulsory charge invoiced from, and payable to, the Catholic Integrated Schools Office. It is administered and collected by the Hamilton Diocese Office. Dues are not tax deductible. The 2021 Attendance Dues for Year 7/8 students is $444 per student, and for secondary students $888 per student.

What is the Aquinas College voluntary contribution?

The Board of Trustees has responsibility for governance including Finance, and as such, has set the College Voluntary Contribution at $1200 per annum per student, with a maximum of $3000 per annum for three or more students from the same family. This is a voluntary contribution, but the great majority of families have accepted the Board’s vision to resource and staff the College generously to enable us to deliver the best outcomes for our students and community. These contributions support curricular and extra-curricular resources, as well as some of our necessary non-teaching staff. Any family who’s financial or family circumstances are such that the full school voluntary contribution is too difficult to meet, should not be deterred from applying for enrolment.

For further queries regarding payment of Attendance Dues or Aquinas Voluntary Contribution, contact the school’s Finance Administrator, Mrs Mary Walton, on mwalton@aquinas.school.nz

Closing Date for 2022 Enrolment Applications is Friday 31st August 2021.

Contact Moira Ramsbottom by phone (07) 543 9032 or email admin@aquinas.school.nz with any further queries.

Enrolment Scheme

Enrolment of Students Policy

Prospectus