School fees
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Topic: School fees
Posted By: minik8e
Subject: School fees
Date Posted: 10 June 2010 at 2:33pm
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Ok, so I'm waaaaaay ahead of myself, but I got some info from a local primary school today that I had made some enquiries into, and it has a list of their school fees. It is an integrated school, rather than a public school, so I knew that there were fees, but I know that most public schools have "donations" that are expected, plus the cost of stationery etc. The fees that this school charge INCLUDE stationery costs.
So I'm kind of curious to find out approx how much those of you with school kids pay for fees/donations/stationery etc so I can figure out whether the integrated school is actually a heck of a lot more expensive than most public schools... TIA!! |
Replies:
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 10 June 2010 at 2:48pm
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The school Andrew is at ask for a donation of $50 a year (which I am happy to pay), works out to $12.50 a term and we will pay 3 terms of that this year. Stationery I will usually buy from Warehouse Stationary and for Andrew is has been about $20 from there and I may have to get a few school only items. We also have to pay for things that come to school or they go away to, I don't mind that either as he learns out of the classroom too. All up I think that Andrew's schooling costs us about $250-300 a year. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 10 June 2010 at 2:55pm
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Not getting too ahead of yourself Kate, a woman I covered maternity leave for enrolled her daughter for the local catholic school when she turned 1. What school is Andrew going to Becks? ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">   [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: RedHeadDuck
Date Posted: 10 June 2010 at 2:57pm
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I don't even have a baby yet... But I've been thinking about this stuff (but at the time comparing schools from this town, from my parents town etc, cos I don't know where we'll be either!)
So I don't think your getting ahead of your self either! 
But sorry, I'm no help! |
Posted By: lilfatty
Date Posted: 10 June 2010 at 3:00pm
Wow .. the school ive been looking at is 10k per year ..  (and thats the discounted pay in full price lol)------------- Mummy to Issy (3) and Elias (18 months) I did it .. 41 kgs gone! From flab to fab in under a year  http://www.femininefitness.co.nz/category/blog - LFs weight blog
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Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 10 June 2010 at 3:02pm
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I thought that was pretty standard / average for private school actually on the cheap side. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> [/url] Angel June 2012 |
lilfatty wrote:Posted By: Snappy
Date Posted: 10 June 2010 at 3:14pm
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Janaya is at a Catholic school. We pay $370 odd dollars a year in school fees, then there is the donations, fundraising, stationary costs (Approx $70) and regular activity fees.
Her uniform is the killer  Especially when she continues to lose her $70 jersey, and puts holes in her $90 pinafore. The sports uniform is also a must, and that cost us $75.
------------- Mummy to two beauties... Formerly Kaiz. |
Posted By: pickle
Date Posted: 10 June 2010 at 3:16pm
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we go to an intergrated school and i think the fees are about $700 this includes a catholic diocease donation of about $250 plus a $50 for some other donation. Our stationery is all done through the school which i think is great and costs about $40. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: freckle
Date Posted: 10 June 2010 at 3:18pm
I so hear ya on the uniform snappy - DD1s kilt alone cost $300 and a week later she had ink on it 
Her primary school was about $80 a year, plus another $40ish stationary, $20 photocopying charges, then all trips etc as they come up (which was often!) ... ------------- mum to 3 lovely girls :D |
Posted By: julz85
Date Posted: 10 June 2010 at 3:20pm
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wow , that is alot of money . i went to 12 schools ( 7 primary, 1 intermediate , and 4 high schools ) and when i think about it i hate to think what my mum must of spent on uniforms ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 10 June 2010 at 3:35pm
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Definitely not a head of yourself we have been talking about this too despite not knowing where we will be 2-3 years from now. We even though about it whilst I was pregnant!
DP is adamant she will go to the same school he went to which is a Catholic school. I know from his youngest BIL who goes there (it's 5-13 years) that the uniform is the killer especially as they have a summer and winter uniform for the girls only. The boys where the same thing all year!
And there is a sports uniform too... You also have to pay dues to the Catholic Schooling Board. $344. School donation is $110 and for years 1-2 it is $192 which goes up $5 every couple of years so year 7-8 students pay $207 a year for school outings and materials. So a new entrance would pay $344, $110, $192 a year which is... (My maths has escaped me) a lot not including uniforms... The school I went to you just paid school donation and a set fee for the year and that was it. No uniform. Oh I haven't included stationary either. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Cassie
Date Posted: 10 June 2010 at 3:39pm
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Gosh we only paid school fees at the start of the year and I'm having a hard time remembering! I'm pretty sure that the 'donation' was $80, and then stationary was about $40, plus the cost of school trips which is probably around the $20 mark so far this year. ------------- ~Cassie~   
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Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 10 June 2010 at 4:03pm
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Jake goes to an integrated one, and the fees are about $300 pp per year, Im sure you must get a family discount with more than one child at school but not sure.
The uniform cost me $206 for 3 pr socks, 3 long sleeve shirts and 2 shorts and I got an almost new jersey from the uniform shop for $10 Summer uniform probably similar, haven't bought that yet, no sports kits till year 3 I think. Shoes were $40 and stationary was $35. Charlys unifrom will be the pinifore, which is $90 but thats for summer and winter, long sleeve blouses for winter and short for summer and a jersey and socks so probably works out the same. She will inherit Jakes jersey if it lasts and sports kits too. ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: jazzy
Date Posted: 10 June 2010 at 4:03pm
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Our fees are $200 approx per child, uniforms $350-400 per child (not including replacing the lost items (grrr), stationery $40-$55 plus top-ups
Then there are school photos, trips, visits from outside groups, concerts, dances, fairs, we have mufti days & gold coin days, book fairs & it adds up. Also they make calendars & cards at the end of the years so you buy the packs oh & last yr I had to buy a picture my child did. So far this term I have spent between 2 kids just over $70 on trips, special days, fund-raisers & we have a fund-raiser next week that will be about $25 per child
If I was to add up all the money we spend on fund-raising it would well & truly pay for fees with some left over...no wonder some don't pay them. |
Posted By: jazzy
Date Posted: 10 June 2010 at 4:06pm
I think that's pretty cheep as the one we were looking at was about that a term per child but so far good old public school is proving to be ok so far.
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Posted By: minik8e
Date Posted: 10 June 2010 at 4:43pm
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Hrmmm...the school I'm looking at is $344 per child to Catholic Schools Board (which I may be able to get a rebate on), plus $300-320 for first child (includes stationary) and $235-255 for second child, also including stationary. These fees include stationary, RE programme, IT donation, activity donation which covers all bus trips for field trips, hall hire (not sure what this is about as they have a hall at the school), Kiwi tennis/golf coaching and special character donation of $60.
Soooo...that sums up to between $1200-1300 per year, plus the cost of the uniforms... |
Posted By: minik8e
Date Posted: 10 June 2010 at 4:46pm
| Now, I'm getting myself confused, is it stationEry or stationAry?? I thought with an a was when it was a thing that is staying in one place, and e was exercise books etc....? |
Posted By: kiwigal
Date Posted: 10 June 2010 at 4:54pm
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My son is decile 9 and donations are $37.50 a term or $150 a year. I think when I brought him his entire uniform a couple of years ago it was close to $400. So far the polo shirts and jerseys have lasted really well and will be buying more in a few months as they are starting to get short. The cargo pants last him 2 years as they make them so long and he is very hard on them with the amount of times of being on his knees, falling over we get lots holes in them not great at $45 a pop. Stationery every year is about $30-$35 + the cost of sneakers, sandals and socks. Plus they have fund raising mufti days, cake stalls etc. |
Posted By: kiwigal
Date Posted: 10 June 2010 at 4:56pm
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It is with a E |
Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 10 June 2010 at 4:56pm
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It's an e, so oops my bad for putting an a! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Flutterby
Date Posted: 10 June 2010 at 4:59pm
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Holey Moley school fees are heaps. I went to a few primary schools and only one of them had a uniform but I wonder how much mum and dad had to pay for those.
Cody will more then likey be going to our local small country school, they have a uniform and hopefully the fees won't be too much. It is ridiculous how uniforms cost so much when the kids can just end up loosing items e.t.c. I think the main expense for us in the winter will be when the kids go skiing. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: minik8e
Date Posted: 10 June 2010 at 4:59pm
| That's what I thought!!! But I started to second guess myself because the school's information booklet spelled it with an A...and you'd think a school would get it right!! |
Posted By: kiwisj
Date Posted: 10 June 2010 at 5:41pm
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Kate that would put me right off the school!
I always remember "stationery = e for envelope" ------------- SJ Callum - Dec 2008 Daniel - Oct 2010 |
Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 10 June 2010 at 5:52pm
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We only paid about $100 I think which included swimming for a term & stationery ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com"> 
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 10 June 2010 at 5:55pm
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I was in school uniform from when I was 5 till 17. Mum always found school uniform cheaper than ordinary clothes - as she'd buy size big enough to last 2 years - and she used to make the summer one - and the same cardigain/jumper got used all year round.
winter we had skivvies, shoes and socks summer - good old roman sandals boys are cheaper as they had grey shorts all year round - with grey shirts in summer and skivvies in winter. Our local school has polo shirts for boys and girls and they can both wear shorts or pants, or skirts if they want to. My high school had a second hand uniform shop open at the beginning of each term. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: jazzy
Date Posted: 10 June 2010 at 6:31pm
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I think uniforms are better as there is no competition at school over who is wearing what & it saves the good stuff.
Our school is the same for boys & girls who can also have clots (I think they are called). They used to be sold at postie plus but have been changed to an expensive supplier & the tops that used to cost between $15-$25 are now $38 (that is the cheapest price for anything) & DS2 came home with marker marks on one that I can not get out
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Posted By: freckle
Date Posted: 10 June 2010 at 6:47pm
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Yeah I agree uniform would be cheaper than not CJ... but teenagers can be irresponsible and go through lots due to losing or ruining it! I plan for DDs stuff to last a couple of years but never does... It was definitely cheaper at primary school though... ------------- mum to 3 lovely girls :D |
Posted By: Rachel1982
Date Posted: 10 June 2010 at 6:49pm
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you can't claim a donations rebate for the fees you pay to the Catholic Association or whatever it's called (if your child goes to a Catholic school).
It is a fee, not a donation :) ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 10 June 2010 at 6:54pm
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Andrew is at Central Normal. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: amme_eilyk
Date Posted: 10 June 2010 at 7:10pm
| I have been considering schools too lol. I would prefer a country school like I went to, and home schooling is always an option. |
Posted By: lilfatty
Date Posted: 10 June 2010 at 7:12pm
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Yeah 10k is relatively cheap for a private school .. and it only goes up to 16k when they get to year 6 so not too bad .. I knew there was a reason we should have stopped at one .. $20k a year for primary school is a lot of shoes Mummy wont be able to buy. ------------- Mummy to Issy (3) and Elias (18 months) I did it .. 41 kgs gone! From flab to fab in under a year http://www.femininefitness.co.nz/category/blog - LFs weight blog
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Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 10 June 2010 at 7:18pm
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My mum only ever brought 2 uniforms for myself and the only reason it was 2 was because in 5th or 6th form the school decided that juniors and seniors would have different uniforms instead of the same. Mum told me from the get go this is expensive sh*t, if you wreck it or loose it, tough sh*t you won't be getting any more in a hurry.
Gotta love going to a small town primary school, no uniform it was great. |
Posted By: minik8e
Date Posted: 10 June 2010 at 7:19pm
The funny thing is, that it's my old school, and some of my favourite teachers (who are fantastic still) are still there....and I turned out mostly ok  LOL and spelling is usually one of my strong points!!
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Posted By: kiwigal
Date Posted: 10 June 2010 at 7:52pm
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Spelling was my strongest point. I remember at primary getting a certificate for spelling. |
Posted By: scribe
Date Posted: 10 June 2010 at 8:09pm
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I was hopeless at spelling in primary school, I still vividly remember getting a D for it in standard 3, but I've made up for it since, especially since working as a sub-editor!
I think that's pretty good for an integrated school, minik8e. The one we're planning to send C to is about $2.5k a year per child, and that's also a state-integrated private school, rather than a 'proper' private school (probably like lilfatty's). |
Posted By: Renee & Lauren
Date Posted: 10 June 2010 at 8:59pm
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this is our first school yr but this is what we have had to pay so far
$135 for school fees $60 for stationery (so far) and that is it so far ------------- http://lilyslim.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 10 June 2010 at 9:01pm
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I agree, uniform is better as kids aren't sitting there staring at what everyone else is wearing iygwim.
Also they aren't going so and so is wearing this I want it too! Primary must have been a nightmare for my parents! lol The only downer with uniform is when they change it mid year or whatever... I went through about 5 uniforms at college, because it was poorly made. Also with uniforms, it's waaayyy cheaper for girls if they sell 'kitsets' that you sew up yourself! Where I went the skirt was $80 for the smallest size and went up $10 for every size up to about size 16/18. But the kit set was $70. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: kiwi2
Date Posted: 10 June 2010 at 9:50pm
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Hey kate
My daughter is in year nine and her school is $16k per year. But that is just basic tuition. The uniform set us back $1200 stationery another $100 plus, the bus $1600 and all the extra bits like mandatory fieldtrips at $20-50 each. Most months there is approx $100 per month in extra stuff. So budget for more rather than less. We looked at an intergrated school and that was $6000 for basic tuition but she was 97th on the wait list for that one. So although we are looking at highschools here the two prices sort of give you a comparision. |
Posted By: minik8e
Date Posted: 10 June 2010 at 11:08pm
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*cough* $16K?!?!?!?! Wow, how do you afford it??!?!!! That's probably close to half the net income we get per year....and for one child!!!
OMG seriously, why did no one tell me about the cost of schooling BEFORE we had twins?!?!? (I'm just kidding, by the way...I wouldn't change them for the world!!!).
I do like uniforms, mainly for the reasons already mentioned... |
Posted By: LittleBug
Date Posted: 10 June 2010 at 11:25pm
Same here. Gosh, we definitely won't be going private.
I don't understand how schools can call a fee a donation if you are still made to pay it? ------------- Chloe (4 years) and Oliver (3 years). |
Posted By: minik8e
Date Posted: 10 June 2010 at 11:34pm
| I'm the same LB - this particular school has "donations" included in their "fees". As far as I'm aware, your children can't be penalised due to the non-payment of a "donation" because they're not compulsory. There was a major media focus on this exact subject last year, where another integrated school suggested to a mother that she sell her house to pay "outstanding" school donations. |
Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 11 June 2010 at 7:39am
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In 5 years time your income will be higher as you'll be qualified and most likely working full time.
The guys at work bring in the fundraiser chocolate which goes towards paying for school camp - I know a few of them have covered the entire cost simply by selling chocolate. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 11 June 2010 at 9:32am
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Some schools will often print a form of what you owe and include the donation in the total so you pay it without realising.
Kate I remember that lady, but it was a private school and she had spent money on other things like holidays but claimed she couldn't afford the donation. Other parents didn't see why they should have to fork out for her kid iygwim ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 11 June 2010 at 9:49am
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I remember that story as well, I think if you are sending your kid to a private school then there is an expectation that you pay the fees/donations etc - otherwise why should everyone else have to subsidise your child. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: _H_
Date Posted: 11 June 2010 at 10:30am
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My mum worked at a private primary school and i believe it was about $14K per child (it was cheaper for any extra kids in the family) plus uniform and stationery. most kids did after school activities (sports, music, a language etc) through the school so that was even more
the biggest problem with kids that went to that school was there was no college like it for them (here primary is year 1-8 and college year 9-13) so in looking at schools you may want to look at what ages that they do and what school your child (children) can go to for high school (college) 
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Posted By: sweetpea
Date Posted: 11 June 2010 at 1:25pm
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I too have wndered about this and we aren't even trying yet Thats a whole other story. If you can check out schools websites they might have fees ifo on them thats what i did and give you something to comapre them too as well.
On the whole donation front yeah they aren't meant to be compulsory at a public school anyway but i remember my high school refusing to sign leaving certificates if they hadn't been paid. ------------- http://daisypath.com"> 
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Posted By: tictacjunkie
Date Posted: 21 June 2010 at 12:39am
| Sorry I didn't see this sooner. Ours go to public, it's $30 donation for one child, or $50 for family (no limit) per year (incl swimming), no fees, no uniform, stationery for yr0-2 is approx $45, yr3-4 is approx $60, not sure about the older years yet. Excursions, activities etc are approx $20 per child per term. Camps are more. Friends who have their kids at local catholic school have found their trips etc cost a lot more because the school assumes the parents are on higher incomes. |
Posted By: sunnyhoney
Date Posted: 21 June 2010 at 10:56am
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Holy cow re some of the fees/donations!
We plan to try homeschooling. The cost of going to school + all the extras is just one of the many reasons. I don't understand how some parents afford the costs, especially if they are (for whatever reason) on one or limited income. ETA I also think it is rude over the whole donation vs fee thing. If you have to pay it then it is a fee. ------------- Mum to: Joy Emily 1.05am 27/09/07 7lb 3oz Austin Paul 12.47pm 18/04/10 10lb 8oz |
Posted By: tishy
Date Posted: 21 June 2010 at 12:29pm
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Well one twist on the donation thing is I'm pretty sure that if it's a donation then it's tax deductible. If it's a fee it's not so some schools might label it as a donation for the benefit of the parents.
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Posted By: tictacjunkie
Date Posted: 21 June 2010 at 4:38pm
| Yep to the tax deductible, I think you can get about a third of it back if you can be bothered filing for it. We don't for our unicef/Spca ap's but I guess I should! & re Homeschooling, I was homeschooled for awhile & from memory it was actually quite costly. |