Admissions Policy
PURPOSE: At Chrysalis Montessori School [CMS], all enrolments will be conducted fairly and with respect for the rights and dignity of individuals. CMS is committed to a transparent and fair admissions process that is consistent with our mission, vision and values to ensure a ‘best fit’ for the students, their families and the School. Ensuring the ‘best-fit’ for the School is foundational to the creation and maintenance of the Chrysalis community.
POLICY: The admissions policy and enrolment procedures comply with the School Education Act 1999, the Public Health Act 2016 (WA), the Disability Discrimination Act 2004 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005.
Chrysalis Montessori School provides education for children between the ages of three and twelve years and is based on the principles and practices of Dr. Maria Montessori.
In keeping with these principles, children can be admitted soon after their third birthday. They will need to be fully independent with toileting to commence at CMS. In most cases, children are enrolled in the 3-6 year age range. The school admits students of any nationality, ethnic origin and religion.
Each child enrolled is expected to attend CMS till graduation. Withdrawing a child before the completion of the Program may disrupt the child’s educational development and upset the balance in the class, creating a gap which is often impossible for the School to fill.
CMS aims to balance classes by age, gender and Montessori experience, as such places are offered based on the following criteria (in order of priority):
- Availability of a place for a particular age and gender
- Demonstrated commitment to Montessori education, CMS values and intent to stay at CMS till graduation
- Sibling of an existing primary school student
- Sibling of an existing Children’s House student
- Previous attendance at the Chrysalis Montessori Playgroup
- Previous attendance at a Montessori Playgroup or School
- Willingness to be involved in the school community.
On enrolment of the student and their entitlement to attend school, the parents shall become members of Chrysalis Montessori School Incorporated and be entitled to all rights and responsibilities of members.
Enrolment of the student is dependent on compliance with the student code of conduct, parent code of conduct and maintaining good financial standing with the School.
ENROLMENT PROCEDURE: Prospective parents are encouraged to attend one of the school’s Open Days held three times a year, in Terms 1, 2 and 3. The purpose of the Open Day is to allow prospective parents an opportunity to observe and understand the education offered at the school. An information pack containing application forms will be available at the Open Day.
The application form can be downloaded from the Chrysalis Montessori School website or by contacting the front office. The forms must be submitted with a $110 non-refundable application fee before the child is placed on the school’s waiting list, along with the required forms stated below.
- Birth Certificate or Birth Extract
- AIR Immunisation history statement
- Citizenship/Visa Details
- NAPLAN Results, Previous educational plan (if applicable)
- Specialist educational and medical reports (if applicable)
- Copies of residency orders, Parent Responsibility Orders, Contact Order, Parenting Plans or Court Orders.
- Medical Assessments
Please note that a completed application form does not guarantee a place at the school.
An observation parent-only morning in the classroom for 40 minutes can be arranged on submission of the application form. The classroom in which the observation is held is not necessarily the classroom in which a place will be offered.
For three-year-old places, an interview morning is conducted with the applicant families when the child turns two and a half. At the interview morning parents are expected to bring their child along. The process is initially with the Bursar and then with the Principal.
For primary age children, the Principal conducts an interview with the child, accompanied by the parents, and the Bursar.
Student intakes are mainly in Term 1 and with a smaller intake in Term 3 of each year. Generally, places are offered at least a term before the child would be due to start.
Children must be toilet-trained before they can commence at Chrysalis Montessori School.
If parents wish to accept the offer of a place, they must complete the enrolment forms sent to them and return them with the non-refundable enrolment fee.
After a place has been accepted, an orientation morning for the child is conducted in the term before the child’s commencement. This is to assist the child’s transition into the school by giving the child the opportunity to meet the teacher and students of the class and to become familiar with the classroom routine. Before commencement, an introduction welcome folder is given to new parents, which includes the school handbook and other information relevant to the child’s commencement.
Start dates at the school are usually staggered so that each new child has a teacher to assist them on their first day. The start date is communicated to parents in the letter of offer.
An introduction session will be organised by the class teacher for new parents before or shortly after the child starts, to help familiarise them with school procedures and policies, the Montessori equipment in the classroom, the staff and other members of the school community.
Parents who decline an offer of enrolment will automatically be taken off the waitlist, unless approved by the Bursar to stay on for a further year.
Children’s House transitions to Junior Primary requires a $1000.00 deposit to secure a place in Junior Primary. This fee will be credited against your child’s term fees in the year they transition. Deposits not received may not guarantee a place for your child in our primary classes.