Roman Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of New York base their educational purpose and all their activities on the Christian teaching of the essential equality of all persons as rooted in God’s love.

Thus, with discrimination so repugnant to their nature and mission, Catholic Schools in this Archdiocese do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin, and gender in administration of educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school administered programs. All students are required to participate in religion classes and attend school religious services. Academic assessment in this area will be included on the report card for all students.

This policy is subscribed to by all Catholic elementary and secondary schools in the Archdiocese of New York whether owned or operated by the Archdiocese, the parishes of the Archdiocese or religious communities within the Archdiocese.

Parent/guardians must complete the school application form and provide all required documents and fees. Following an interview, evaluation of the materials, and class visit by the prospective student, the parent/guardian will be notified about the status of the child.

St. Frances de Chantal Parish School gives preference in admission first, to siblings of currently enrolled students; second, to students in our Religious Education Program who are seeking admission to our parish school; third, to Catholic students who belong to another Catholic parish; fourth, to non-Catholic students. Adherence to school financial policy may impact acceptance or re-registration. Adherence to school discipline policy may impact acceptance or re-registration. Parent/guardian cooperation may impact acceptance or re-registration.             ~ Parent/Student Handbook ~

A PARISH SCHOOL

St. Frances de Chantal School is a parish school and therefore a vital part of the overall mission of our parish, which is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to help make the kingdom of God present in our community.  A primary way we do this is through the workshop life of the parish, especially the celebration of the Eucharist and the other sacraments of the Church.

All learning that takes place in our school occurs in an environment that is shaped by the Gospel message.  We teach our children about our Catholic faith and also about the responsibilities we assume by virtue of our baptism to live out our faith.  An important part of that responsibility is to participate in the celebration of the Eucharist every Sunday and holy day of obligation.

The Eucharist, which celebrates the dying and rising of Christ, is central to our Catholic faith.  Jesus left us the Eucharist as a source on nourishment and strength to enable us to live our baptismal commitment.  Jesus tells us in St. John’s Gospel that he is the Bread of Life and that “unless you eat of the flesh of the Son of Man and drink of His blood, you do not have life within you.”  When we do not regularly participate in the Eucharist, we cut ourselves off from the very source of our spiritual life.  When our children do not participate, they are missing a crucial part of their religious formation.

Parents are the primary religious educators of their children.  The school helps to reinforce the values that children learn at home in the context of family life.  We certainly instruct children about attendance at Mass, but that message must come first and foremost from the parents and be reinforced by the example of regular attendance of Mass by the parents themselves.  Parents who do not make it possible for their children to attend Mass each week are being negligent and are not being faithful to the commitment they made on the day of their child’s baptism to insure that their child will learn and live the faith into which they were baptized.

We call upon our parents to take most seriously the obligation we have as Catholics to attend the weekly celebration of the Eucharist and to work along with our school in instilling the importance and value of the practice in the lives of their children.  Children in our school who are not of the Catholic faith are encouraged to worship regularly in their respective faith traditions and will be required to participate in all liturgical functions that take place during the school day.