SCHOOL FEES POLICY and PROCEDURE - 2009
Our Lady of the Assumption School exists to provide a Catholic education for its students that is pastoral in its process and is committed to excellence in education.
The system of School Fees is a necessary consequence of the shortfall of Government assistance to cover financial costs involved in meeting the goals of the School in a safe and healthy environment.
School Fees cover basic and specialist tuition costs, building and maintenance expenses. The School Board reviews these fees annually.
In choosing a Catholic school for their children, parents and caregivers undertake to meet the cost of their education through the payment of school fees..
¨ When accepting enrolment of their children in Prep, parents and caregivers undertake to pay a fee of $300.00 - to come off Term 1 fees - by a given date the previous year. If payment is not received by the given date enrolment will be cancelled.
ALLOCATION OF FEES
TUITION FEES supplement the shortfall in Government assistance to pay teachers’ salaries, and meet running costs such as rates, water, electricity, telephone, school maintenance etc.
ACTIVITIES AND EXCURSION LEVIES pay for most excursions, additional specialist teachers, swimming lessons, art/craft supplies, photocopying, dance instructors, computer leases and resources, student stationery, library resources and travel to interschool sport.
P&F LEVY is invoiced every 2nd year. Following community consultation the P&F decided to apply this levy in alternate years to our school fete. If paid by Term 1 fees due date a discount of $20.00 will be given.
BUILDING FUNDS are used to refurbish classrooms and other School buildings. The building fund which is a voluntary contribution is tax deductible.
CONCESSIONS
¨ Fee concessions are determined on a just and equitable basis.
Catholic families with special circumstances must make their situation known to the Principal in writing. An appointment will then be made for an interview with the Principal where each situation will be assessed on an individual basis.
¨ Reductions in fees are looked at in terms of the financial needs of the family concerned, the responsibility of the family concerned to full fee paying parents and the efforts the family concerned have previously made to pay their fees.
¨ Concessions granted for a fee reduction will terminate at the end of each school year. Concessions are not ongoing from year to year. Families who have previously applied for a concession must reapply, in writing to the Principal, on or before 31 January each year.
¨ Children from different faith traditions will be accepted at the School on a full-fee paying basis only.
¨ Parents/Caregivers are expected to advise the Principal of changes in their circumstances which may result in a deterioration, or improvement, in their ability to meet the cost of their child/rens education.
Methods of Payment
1. Payment may be made at the School Office from Monday to Friday between the hours of 8:30 am and 3:30 pm.
Note: The School Office is closed for 4 weeks during the December/January holidays.
2. Payment may be made by post to:
Our Lady of the Assumption School
P O Box 140
ALDERLEY QLD 4051
3. Payment may be made by the following methods:
- Cash / Money Order / EFTPOS
- Cheque
- Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard, Bankcard)
Note: The Credit Card can be presented at the office, or details can be mailed or phoned to the Office
- Internet Banking – details available from office
- Direct Debit from your bank account or Visa Card
Note: Contact the office for relevant forms
PROCEDURE FOR THE COLLECTION OF SCHOOL FEES
¨ Accounts for fees are forwarded to parents/caregivers at the beginning of each term and are due as per the payment schedule. It is the responsibility of parents to advise the school office, preferably in writing, if a change in their situation affects their ability to pay fees by the due date. The only time parents will be approached by school personnel is if they have not notified the school office that they are experiencing difficulties.
If fees remain unpaid at the due date a reminder is sent home requesting payment within fourteen (14) days. At this stage parents are invited and encouraged to contact the School Office if they are momentarily unable to pay the fees. If no response is received, one further reminder will then be forwarded.
¨ In the event of the fees being left unpaid, and the school not being contacted, overdue accounts will be referred to a Collection Agency.
It should be noted the Collection Agency is an independent facility.
Once your account has been referred to the Collection Agency
all correspondence and communication must be directed through them.
¨ Where it is deemed that parents are unwilling rather than unable to pay, the Collection Agency will be requested to institute proceedings to recover the outstanding amount. This action would only be used as a last resort after all other avenues of an honourable settlement have failed.