Enrolment Information

St Mary's Catholic School enrols children from Year 1 to Year 6.

The maximum roll is 400, with preference given to those with a commitment to the Catholic Faith. Up to twenty students at any one time may be enrolled as 'non-preference'.

On enrolment, there is a Diocesan  Catholic Preference form to complete, with a preference card to be signed by your Parish Priest.

Students may be enrolled at any age and may begin school on/after their 5th birthday. All children in New Zealand must attend school before their 6th birthday.  St Mary's Ellerslie runs a new parent Orientation Morning once a term for the students who will commence school the following term. Some students may require additional class visits to assist their transition to school, this can be arranged through the school office.

Application for enrolment does not guarantee a place at St Mary's School. Enrolment applications must be emailed or dropped in to the school office. Enrolments are reviewed and places are offered to applicant families twice a term.  Depending on a number of factors, applicants may be offered a space on the  'Waiting List' rather than immediate acceptance.  We recommend that you plan ahead and begin the application process well ahead of your child's 5th birthday.

Attendance Dues and  Other Financial Commitments

In accepting the conditions of enrolment, parents undertake to pay attendance dues as determined by the Proprietor and approved by the Ministry.

An updated statement of accounts are sent out electronically at the beginning of each term. The end of year financial Tax Receipt is available for download from the parent portal from mid-April each year. Please keep your Tax Receipts in a safe place for your annual accounting and tax returns.

As the child begins school, the parent/caregivers will be asked for payment of the term fees (see document below). This can be paid through internet banking or the school office. 

Compulsory Attendance Dues - Parent and Caregiver Responsibilities

• Attendance Dues are a compulsory payment under the terms of the Education and Training Act 2020 (Act) and are a condition of enrolment. Attendance Dues are charged for all students who attend Catholic integrated schools in New Zealand.

• Attendance Dues are collected on behalf of the school’s Proprietor, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland. The Attendance Dues are forwarded to Auckland Common Fund Limited, a company established by the proprietors of Catholic Integrated Schools in the Diocese of Auckland responsible for the collection of Attendance Dues.

• Under the Act, Attendance Dues are used for servicing and repaying loans to develop new building projects in the proprietors’ schools as well as paying for building insurance and compliance costs, collection, and administration.

• At the time you enrol your child at a Catholic School, you are required to sign an agreement stating that you accept that you will pay the Attendance Dues and that you understand that payment of the Attendance Dues is a condition of enrolment and the continuing attendance of students at the school. Attendance Dues are not a donation, and they are not tax deductible.

• Payment of Attendance Dues should be made in full at the beginning of the academic year or, in agreement with the school, by instalment (weekly, fortnightly, monthly or per term) during the academic year. The Attendance Dues cannot be paid in full at the end of each academic year.

• Failure to pay the Attendance Dues may put your child’s place at the school at risk.

• Overdue accounts may be referred to a debt collection agency by the Proprietor.

• The agreement is legally enforceable and the person who signed the agreement remains legally liable for payment of the Attendance Dues. Responsibility for payment of Attendance Dues may be transferred to another Parent/Caregiver provided that the new Parent/Caregiver first signs a novation agreement accepting responsibility for payment of Attendance Dues, on terms acceptable to the school and the Proprietor.

• Any civil agreements between parents/caregivers do not take precedence over the signed legal agreement.

• The agreement may not be varied or terminated by the Parent/Caregiver without the prior written consent of the Proprietor.

• Financial assistance with Attendance Dues is available to families of preference students in cases of genuine financial difficulties. Part of the criteria for receiving this assistance is that regular payments have been made at an affordable level.

Attendance Dues Financial Assistance

Financial assistance is available to assist families who may need financial support with the payment of Attendance Dues for preference students attending Catholic schools in Auckland Diocese, both primary and secondary. Families facing financial difficulties can contact their school office, their Parish Priest or the Revenue Manager on 09-360-3069 at the Catholic Diocese of Auckland for further information.

Application forms for this assistance are available from school and parish offices, or can be down-loaded from the Catholic Diocese of Auckland Website: https://www.aucklandcatholic.org.nz/acfl-attendance-dues-financial-assistance/

Special Character and Building Contributions 

• The Catholic Special Character contribution is a voluntary donation of $12.50 per term ($50.00 per annum) per student. This contribution provides the main source of funding for all services provided to  St Mary's Catholic School Ellerslie by the Catholic Education Services Board. No contributions are made by the Government for these services. The Catholic Education Services Board assists schools to provide a Catholic education for your child through the preservation and enhancement of the Catholic Special Character in our schools.

• Other Financial Contributions eg, Building Contributions collected on behalf of the Proprietor are permitted under the terms of the Education and Training Act 2020. These contributions are eligible for a taxation rebate.

Please contact the school office admin@stmary.school.nz if you require further information or need any assistance.

Application Pack 

When you apply for a placement at St Mary's Ellerslie, you will need to email or bring to the school office the following paperwork:

• Enrolment Form (including Catholic Diocese page)

• Preference Form

• Baptism Certificate (original to copy)

• Birth Certificate or Passport (original to copy)

• Visa - if applicable (original to copy)

• Immunisation Certificate (or print out of immunisation records from your G.P.)

Please contact the office for an Enrolment Pack (admin@stmary.school.nz) or download the relevant documents below:

Tax Returns

Board Letter 2023   Board Letter 2022     Board Letter 2021     Board Letter 2020.     Board Letter 2019.     Board Letter 2018

When you recieve your Tax Year Statement (early April) you are able to claim a percentage of donations back from the IRD.  When you process this application, remember to also supply the Board letter from that tax year (see above).  Please check the IRD website for more information.