Helping One Another

Waadookodaading

Ojibwe Language Institute

Enrollment & Attendance

Enrollment Process

Information and applications are available at Waadookodaading, located in the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe School. Families interested in enrolling their children at Waadookodaading may call our office at (715) 634-8924 x1283.

Waadookodaading establishes an enrollment process and utilizes public media to inform the community. Attendance and participation is mandatory for families of potential students:

  • 1. Open House
    Orientation for families, overview of the school, expectations, and committment. Open house dates will be announced every year, usually in the second week of March.
  • 2. Screening
    Parents/guardians bring their children to be screened for gross motor, fine motor, and literacy skills (Dial-4). Families also have an interview and discussion with staff. Screening dates will be announced every year, usually in the last week of March.
  • 3. Lottery
    Students are entered into a lottery for the available 12 seats. The names are chosen at random at a public board meeting every year (if needed), usually in the first week of April.
  • 4. Confirmation Of Acceptance.
    Once invited to attend Waadookodaading in the fall, parents are required to inform the school in riting of their confirmation of acceptance no later than July propr to the beginning of the school year.

ENROLLMENT ELIGIBILITY

Children are generally eligible to enroll in Kindergarten only. Unless a child meets language proficiency requirements as established by the Board, children are not accepted into older grades. Enrollment is limited by available classroom space and the number of teachers employed by the school. Each class has a capacity of 12 students. Waadookodaading is striving to maintain a maximum student-teacher ratio of 12 to 1 to assure quality education and maximize the Ojibwe language acquisition of our students

ENROLLMENT CRITERIA

  • Kindergarten
    Students enrolling in Kindergarten must be age 5 by September 1.
  • Other Grades
    Discretion of director, as per late entry guidelines (to be established by the board).

PRIORITY FOR ENROLLMENT

All families of potential students are required to attend and participate fully in the enrollment process. Children in the custody of a Waadookodaading staff member are given first priority for enrollment. Siblings of current students have second priority for enrollment (siblings as defined by tribal law). Children of WOLI board members will have third priority for enrollment. Students who are tribally enrolled have fourth priority for enrollment.

  • Children of Waadookodaading staff.
  • Siblings of currently enrolled Waadookodaading students.
  • Children of WOLI Board members.
  • Children who are tribally enrolled.
  • All other applicants.

LATE / TRANSFER ENROLLMENT

Parents/caregivers wishing to enroll a student / transfer after the normal enrollment period for a valid reason as determined by the Board, the Parents/caregivers may do so if there is classroom space and staff available and the student meets other requirements such as language proficiency or other requirements as otherwise set by the Board.

Attendance

Due to the nature of language acquisition and the number of hours of language instruction required to achieve proficiency, Waadookodaading has adopted a very strict attendance policy. It is unacceptable to take up a spot in a classroom and not attend regularly. This prevents other families the opportunity to learn. Waadookodaading will follow LCO School attendance and truancy policies with the following exceptions and restrictions:

  • FIRST WEEK
    If a student does not attend school during the first week and does not have a doctor’s note, their continued enrollment in the school will be reviewed.
  • ABSENCES OF 1-2 DAYS DO NOT REQUIRE A DOCTOR'S NOTE.
    If a student is going to be absent for the day, guardians MUST call the school by 9AM that morning to notify administration. This phone call must be made or it will be considered an unexcused absence and will be referred to LCO School truancy officer.
  • ABSENCES OF 3 OR MORE DAYS REQUIRE A DOCTOR'S NOTE
    Absences consisting of 3 consecutive days or 3 days in any given week require a doctor’s note. Absences of this kind which do not have a doctor’s note will be considered unexcused absences and will be referred to the LCO School truancy officer for follow up.
  • LATE / TARDY
    If a student is going to be late for school (tardy) a phone call MUST be made by 9AM that morning to notify administration.
  • STUDENTS WITH MORE THAN 10 ABSENCES
    Students with 10 unexcused absences will need to meet with the director to discuss and review their child’s continued enrollment in the school.