Parents and students accepting these CONDITIONS OF ENROLMENT in MARIST COLLEGE CANBERRA (“College”) are reminded that in doing so they enter into a contractual agreement with the College authority (in the person of the current Headmaster) and the governing body, Marist Schools Australia. The agreement (Enrolment Agreement) consists of these conditions of enrolment, the matters set out in the Application for Enrolment form and Acceptance of Enrolment form and any further conditions of enrolment notified by the College from time to time.
All person(s) having parental responsibility for the enrolling student are required to read and sign these Conditions of Enrolment, and agree to be bound by any revision of these conditions as deemed necessary by the College and notified to you.
A. This 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, and the participation of every student is required in the spiritual and religious life of the College. Exemptions from this vital dimension of the College’s life for any reason would be unacceptable.
B. The College recognises our legal obligation to ensure the ongoing health and safety of students and staff. It is therefore important to give careful consideration to conducting and documenting risk assessments. All details of a student’s learning, physical, medical, emotional and social needs must be disclosed prior to enrolment acceptance. The College is unable to effectively assess its ability to care for a student and his learning needs if we are not made fully aware of those needs at the outset. Any test results and any government funding being provided for any special needs programs must be fully disclosed, to allow us to assess our capacity to care for a student. The Headmaster must be confident that the College has the human and physical resources to cater for any specific learning, emotional and/or social needs which a student displays. Appropriate levels of adjustment are negotiated with the parents and Headmaster. These needs must be fully documented in the application with supporting evidence provided. Failure to provide clear and accurate documentation may lead to the termination of a student’s enrolment. Where any disclosed learning, physical, medical, emotional and social needs change or where any arise during the student’s enrolment, it is a requirement that parents notify the College immediately.
C. The College expects full participation in events integral to the life of the College including liturgical celebrations, retreats, Champagnat Day, College swimming, cross country and athletic carnivals, walkathon, camps and excursions. Apart from medical reasons supported by a doctor’s certificate, or unavoidable family emergencies, attendance is required.
D. Co-curricular activities are integral to the curriculum of the College and are important ways in which the gifts of every student can be nurtured and shared. Sport participation is 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 strongly encouraged. It is a condition of enrolment that if a student plays rugby, football, Australian Rules, cricket, basketball or hockey he does so for the corresponding Marist Club. Participation in the chosen activity may also be dependent on the student meeting College expectations during school time.
E. Membership of this College community implies specific relationships between students, staff, and parents that are founded on our core Gospel beliefs and values of faith, love, justice, compassion and hospitality. Acceptance, trust, 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 related to discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment and bullying will be dealt with according to established College policies.
F. Smoking, drinking alcohol, vaping, possessing marijuana or other illegal or dangerous drugs are regarded as extremely serious breaches of College and personal discipline. No student may engage in these activities while at school, while travelling to and from the College, in College uniform or while engaged in any activity organised or sponsored by the College. For the more serious of these offences, the penalty would be termination of enrolment.
G. Regular attendance and punctuality at the College and at all classes is required. Parents must provide a note and a medical certificate if necessary when students are absent for legitimate reasons. Should there be a need for extended leave during term time, a letter seeking such leave should be forwarded to the Deputy Headmaster well in advance of such leave. Exams often go to the last day of the term. Likewise, students who take days off school to complete assignments or due work are doing a serious injustice to those students who meet deadlines. The practice is unacceptable and will incur penalties. Religion is a compulsory subject for all students who enrol at Marist.
H. It is a requirement of enrolment that students complete all set work. The completion of set assessment tasks, assignments and examinations is mandatory.
I. The College fees, levies and other charges are determined each year by Marist Schools Australia. It is compulsory for school fees to be paid by way of a Direct Debit Request (DDR) arrangement on an annual, quarterly, monthly or fortnightly basis. A family that accepts an offer of enrolment from the College agrees and acknowledges that the family is able to and will fulfil their fee commitments.
J. College fees, levies and other charges are paid as a condition of a student’s enrolment at the College and will continue to be payable at all times. In the event that the College is required to deliver services in an alternative mode, including online delivery, for any reason, fees, levies and other charges will continue to be payable.
K. In rare cases, provision exists for extensions of time for payment or some consideration of amounts, but only when the Headmaster is contacted by parents to explain circumstances 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, to ignore fee accounts or to fail to contact the College promptly if problems affecting payment arise. Enrolment may be terminated in the face of ongoing discourtesy and without the development of a sustainable repayment plan agreed to by the Headmaster.
The signatories to this enrolment are jointly and severally liable to pay College fees, levies and other charges, regardless of any private arrangement in place between family members. This joint and several liability operates irrespective of any personal arrangements made between the signatories. For clarity, this means that the College may choose to take recovery action against an individual signatory rather than against all signatories at the same time.
L. Should a student cause damage to College property either through wilful disregard for such property or as a result of negligent behaviour as determined by the College, his parents/guardians accept full responsibility for costs of repairing such damage. Repair will be arranged by the College.
M. 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 or dangerous property and to take whatever necessary action (such as directing searches in lockers, desks, bags etc.) to deal with those suspected of threatening – by commission or omission – the good of the College community. Suspension and/or termination of enrolment 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
- the effective delivery of successful educational outcomes for other students
- the fair and effective discipline and administration of the student body.
N. The College has a clear and required uniform and grooming code; these must be fully accepted before enrolment can be validated. Hair is to be kept neat, tidy, above the collar, of natural colour, out of eyes, of even grade, no shorter than a hairdresser’s No.3 comb and all extremes avoided. College authorities have the final say as to what is, or is not, an acceptable College haircut. Students will be required to rectify unsuitable styles and may not be allowed to return to school until the style is acceptable to College authorities.
O. All Year 11 and 12 students are expected to actively and positively participate in the community service programme which is specially designed for the students. At the minimum, each student is expected to complete 20 hours of community service which he is responsible for arranging and engaging in out of normal school hours.
P. Senior students who wish to drive a vehicle need the permission of their parents and the Deputy Headmaster. This permission may be withdrawn if a student is found to be careless about the responsibility that goes with driving a motor vehicle. Students have the use of the student car park above Oval No. 1. If the area is full, any other parking must be on the street and not on College property.
Q. All students in the College are required to adhere to the College Code of Conduct and College policies as set out in the Student Diary with respect to harassment and bullying (Safe School Policy); behaviour and movement within classrooms, buildings and grounds; prohibited items including mobile phones and other electronic equipment; travel; absences, leave and lateness; lockers; use of the library; homework; assignments and assessment tasks; late submission of work; cheating in academic work; detentions; extra-curricular involvement and any other policies set out in the Student Diary. Each student and their parents are required to accept the conditions contained in, and sign, the Student ICT Use Agreement.
R. A student’s enrolment, and the Enrolment Agreement, will terminate in the following circumstances:
- Upon a student’s completion of Year 12;
- In the event that the parent(s)/guardian(s) of a student elect to withdraw a student’s enrolment, by providing 10 term weeks’ written notice of withdrawal;
- If the College terminates the Enrolment Agreement due to breach of a term of the Agreement, including:
- breach of student’s obligations under the Enrolment Agreement, including those obligations set out in these Conditions, the College Code of Conduct and College policies;
- Serious misconduct, including but not limited to breach of conditions E, F and M above;
- Provision of false or inaccurate information regarding the student’s enrolment; and
- Failure to pay fees, levies and charges as required by these Conditions or as otherwise agreed with the College.
S. If the parent(s)/guardian(s) of a student elect to withdraw that student’s enrolment prior to completion of Year 12, and do not provide the required 10 term weeks’ of written notice, the parent(s)/guardian(s) will be liable to pay fees for the 10 term week period following notification of withdrawal of enrolment.
T. If the parent(s)/guardian(s) of a Year 12 student who is eligible for an ACT Senior Secondary Certificate wishes to seek an early departure from school attendance for the student to undertake work or an apprenticeship, the parent(s)/guardian(s) are required to pay the annual fees, levies and charges in full, regardless of the final date of school attendance.
U. Upon termination of the Enrolment Agreement for any reason, any outstanding fees, levies and charges at the time of termination will remain due and payable. The liability of the parent(s)/guardian(s) of a student will continue following termination until those outstanding fees, levies and charges have been paid.
V. It is a requirement that families inform the College of any change to the student’s current details or family circumstances including the immediate provision of any family law, court or protection orders that relate to the student. While the College will recognise and endeavour to give effect to any family law, court or protection orders, it is not the responsibility of the College nor does it have any authority to enforce the orders or become involved in any disputes between parents, guardians or other family members.
W. In normal circumstances students will naturally progress from one year level to the next. On occasions however, progress cannot be guaranteed. If a student is deemed to display behaviour, attitudes and consistent application to work and effort which are continually contrary to the expectations of the College then that student will be required to undertake and successfully complete a period of probation before an offer of continued enrolment is made.
