Admissions Policy
Visitors are always welcome! Call 585-663-6533 for any questions or to schedule a tour!
HOLY CROSS SCHOOL accepts children of any race or religion – as long as they fully participate in religion classes and celebrations. At the time of registration and if there are openings, students meeting academic requirements are admitted in the following order:
- The family has a child currently attending a Diocese of Rochester Catholic school.
- The number of years the family enrolled children in a Diocese of Rochester Catholic school.
- The family is a registered member of Holy Cross Church.
- The family is a registered member of any Diocese of Rochester Catholic parish.
It is the policy of HOLY CROSS SCHOOL Preschool that children entering preschool in September are fully and completely toilet trained. This includes both the three and four-year-old preschool classes. Completely toilet trained includes:
*Recognizing the need to use the toilet without frequent reminders.
*Being able to remove the necessary clothing to use the toilet.
*Cleaning private areas with toilet paper after using the toilet.
*Dressing self before exiting the bathroom.
*Washing hands after using the toilet.
The use of a “Pull-Up” or similar brand of underwear is not a substitution for being toilet trained. Please let us know if there is any reason your child needs to wear a “Pull-Up” during the school day.
HOLY CROSS SCHOOL is aware that at this young age, accidents sometimes happen. In the event of an accident the following procedures will occur:
*The child will take his/her fresh clothes into the bathroom to change. Your child will be given a plastic bag to put his/her wet clothes in.
*If a change of clothes is not in the child’s backpack, the child will be taken to the nurse, and a relative/guardian will be contacted to bring a change of clothes.
*In an accident involving feces, a relative/guardian will be called to change the child as we do not have the proper facilities to clean them thoroughly.
*If accidents are frequent, we would ask that you re-evaluate your child’s readiness to be enrolled in preschool. Your child’s teacher can help you in that decision making process.
- Age Requirements
New York State Law requires children entering Kindergarten must be five years of age on or before December 1 of the entering year. Similarly, children entering a pre-school program for four-year-olds must be four on or before December 1 of the entering year. The same rule applies for three-year-olds.
- Immunization
The Diocese of Rochester and its Affiliated Employers follow New York State Public Health Law which requires every student entering school to be immune to diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps, rubella, poliomyelitis, hepatitis B, varicella and meningococcal in accordance with Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations and the NYS Public Department of Health Immunization Laws and Regulations. All students entering preschool must also receive the pneumococcal and Hib vaccines. Exemptions may be granted for medical reasons only. Religious exemptions are no longer allowed per New York State Law.
- Nondiscrimination
Title IX – Nondiscrimination, Harassment, and Bullying: Diocese of Rochester and its Affiliated Employers personnel must follow regulations of Title IX and the guidelines of the nondiscriminatory policy of the Federal government. Diocese of Rochester and its Affiliated Employers will not discriminate in the administration of their educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and financial aid programs, athletic and other school-administration programs. It is the responsibility of the principal (Title IX Coordinator), teachers and staff, students and parents/guardians to create an environment free from harassment, bullying and discrimination.
All students have equal educational opportunities at HOLY CROSS SCHOOL without regard to any legally protected category under federal or state law. Moreover, harassment against students on the basis of a protected category will not be tolerated.
If you believe you or another person has been discriminated against, harassed or denied an opportunity on the basis of any protected category, please promptly contact Sr. Laurie, the Title IX Coordinator, at (585)-663-6533 to report your concerns. All concerns reported will be promptly and thoroughly investigated/ reviewed. Confidentiality will be maintained to the greatest extent possible under the circumstances. Retaliation against persons who raise concerns is strictly prohibited. If you believe you have suffered reprisal for raising concerns, please contact the Title IX Coordinator to report your concerns.
- Lead Testing for Pre-School and Kindergarten Students
New York State Public Health Law requires proof of lead testing for admission to preschool and kindergarten in order to be compliant with the New York State Lead Poisoning Act.
- Transfers
Any family wishing to transfer a student from one Diocese of Rochester Catholic School to another Diocese of Rochester Catholic School must receive approval from the Superintendent of Schools in consultation with the CFO before that transfer can take place. Students with past due balances will not be accepted at any other Catholic school within the Diocese of Rochester until the past due amount is resolved.
Proper Placement of Students
The Administration and Faculty of HOLY CROSS SCHOOL realize that the progress and growth of each child differs during their school career. Therefore, it is imperative that the proper placement is attained for each child. It would be unfair and improper for HOLY CROSS SCHOOL to admit or retain any student for whom the school did not have an appropriate program. To determine the proper placement of all students entering HOLY CROSS SCHOOL the following procedures are required:
- academic screening.
- review of previous school records.
- consultation with parents/guardians.
For continued proper placement of all students currently in HOLY CROSS SCHOOL the following procedures are followed:
- The faculty is required to monitor each child’s progress in relationship to the class norm. (This process is done through performance assessment, standardized testing and quarterly reports).
- The Administration and parents/guardians are to be informed of any student who, in the teacher’s judgment, is significantly below the class norm. (Further diagnostic evaluation may be recommended).
- Results of all evaluations will be shared with parents/guardians. The administrator, in consultation with staff and parents/guardians, will make appropriate placement.