Providing an environment for children to grow spiritually in the Catholic faith as well as intellectually, physically, and emotionally is a major parish goal. Every spring, Our Lady of the Lake School will hold an application for admission process. At this time the previous year’s wait list is dissolved. Students wishing to be considered for the upcoming year must reapply. A $100 application fee per student must accompany the application. This fee is not refundable under any circumstances. The application fee for students on the previous year’s waiting list will be carried over for those wishing to reapply.

Our Lady of the Lake School bases admission on the following criteria:

1. Current students enrolled in grades K-7 at Our Lady of the Lake School. Current students will have the first opportunity to re-apply for the next academic year. Active involvement in Our Lady of the Lake Parish must be maintained and may be verified. Our Lady of the Lake parishioners who change parishes after they have been admitted will be asked to complete an “Out-of-Parish” subsidy form to verify their active status at their new parish.
   
   
2. Siblings of current students enrolled at Our Lady of the Lake School.

   While siblings are not automatically granted admittance, it is our priority to keep families together in the school provided all other criteria for active involvement are substantially equal. Siblings of any newly enrolled student will not receive current family status until the next application period. If there is more than one sibling waiting, for a particular grade, they will be ranked according to the date of initial application.

3. Parish families with active Our Lady of the Lake Parishioner status.

   These families will be accepted according to:

   1. Longevity of parish membership.
      • If you have been registered at Our Lady of the Lake for less than one year please indicate on your application your previous parish data. The information may be considered in any admission decision.
      • Consideration will be given to those families who have previously applied and were not admitted.
   2. Lottery if needed. (announcement will be made for those families wishing to attend.)
      
      
4. Catholics from other parishes.

   Applications from these categories will be considered after all Our Lady of the Lake parishioners.

5. Non-Catholics.

   Application for this category will be considered after all Our Lady of the Lake parishioners.

• The family is registered in the parish. Registration will be verified through the Parish Office.
• The family worships with the parish community on a weekly basis. In order to verify parishioner status envelopes should be used whenever attending mass regardless of contribution.
• The family contributes time and talent to parish or archdiocesan activities/ministries. Indication of this involvement must be indicated on the application.
• The child currently in the 1st – 7th grade must regularly attend Our Lady of the Lake Religious Education classes, if not currently enrolled in Catholic school.
• The family uses parish envelopes and contributes a fair share of their weekly income (Parish Sacrificial Giving Program suggests 5% of weekly salary. The minimum envelope contribution is $520.00 per year or $10.00 per week). Parish envelope contributions will be verified as of December 31 for the just completed calendar year. In order to verify parishioner status, envelopes should be used whenever attending Mass regardless of contribution. Families who have extenuating financial considerations may request a waiver of the contribution requirement from the pastor. This request may be submitted in writing along with the application or by scheduling an appointment with the pastor. This waiver must accompany the application. Families who do not meet active parishioner status will risk losing current family status as well as active parishioner status for the application process.

• To receive priority consideration for placement, a completed application must be received by the application deadline. The following items must accompany the application before the admission decision is made:
  
• Birth certificate or Baptismal Certificate, (a copy is acceptable) for those applying for K or 1st grade.
• A signed and completed release that allows the principal and the teachers of Our Lady of the Lake School and the sending school personnel to exchange information.
• A copy of all records from the sending school including academic, behavioral, testing (academic, emotional, and psychological)
  
• The entire application will be reviewed.
  
• When space becomes available in a grade these additional steps will complete the process:
  
• An introduction meeting with the principal, parent(s) and the child will be scheduled.
• If necessary an Our Lady of the Lake School teacher conference with the child or an observation of the child in current classroom.
• Possible further assessment by Our Lady of the Lake School.
• A final admission decision will be made by the principal in consultation with the pastor.

All first year student applications to Our Lady of the Lake School will be processed in the manner outlined above prior to an admission decision. In addition, for Junior High Students, a writing sample at the time of the interview may be taken. It is important to note that if crucial information about your child is withheld at the time of application you may risk the chance of losing your place or if you have been admitted and such information is discovered, you may be asked to leave the school.

All transfer students, regardless of time of year admitted, will be on academic and behavioral probation for a nine-week period of time. Periodic conferences will be held between the teacher, parent, student (if age appropriate) and the principal to monitor the progress. A decision for continued enrollment at Our Lady of the Lake School will be determined by the principal and the teachers at the end of the nine week time.

Children entering Kindergarten must be five (5) years of age by September 1st of the entering year. Children entering First Grade must be six (6) years of age by September 1st of the entering year. A copy of the child's birth certificate must accompany Kindergarten and First Grade applications.

The Catholic schools of the Archdiocese of Portland admit students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available at all schools. They do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of their educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school administered programs.

If a family chooses to withdraw a student during the school year, the parents are to submit this decision in writing and include the date of the child’s final day. Prior to that date, it is expected that all financial matters have been cleared, including, but not limited to, tuition, endowment pledges, library fines, Extended Care bills and hot lunch bills, and any outstanding fees. In addition, all books need to be returned to the homeroom teacher. If any books are missing an appropriate amount will be charged. The Administrative Assistant- Business Operations of the school will determine this amount.