Voluntary contributions

[The[cookie]Doctor]

As a kid, my parents couldn't afford it. They would let the school have the entire EMA (not sure what that would be now) when it came in mid-year as the contribution we could give. In year 12 my school tried to blackmail them into paying school fees by not allowing me to have a school diary but then they told me that i could not use a non-school one - - also told me I was not allowed to buy tickets to my own valedictory dinner unless my school fees were paid. I ended up having to do voluntaryh work in the library to get my tix. Bt ridiculous if my parents could legitimately not afford it.

I intend to pay my kids' school fees but i agree an itemised list about what it goes towards and then an option to pay not straight away or in installments would be nice.

[onthefly]

I don't feel the need to be given a full run down. I just assume it goes toward essential school stuff The school has lots of extra programs for kids & parents, espeically for helping kids and families with extra needs. It may not be relevant to my kids, but I'm happy to help pay for it.
we're at a public school in a low socio-economic area. It was $35 for my son this year. I'm assuming it will be more when he's full time.

[~clover~]

I always plan on paying, but I never think of it when I have the money
Honestly, this year I'm not sure I want to. I've never had to spend the amount of money I spent this year on supplies. Its only $90 for the 3 of mine, so not much, but I've heard here they go as far as threatening debt recovery? No experience with that yet.

[~*familyof3*~]

We choose not to pay ours last year. Yep bad people here but after seeing what they had in their list of what the money went to we choose not to.
Now ours were $60 for kindy $70 for yr 1-4 and more again for years after that. On top of that they were also asking for the same for the p&c. Now this is why we choose not to. The school was a independant public school so we the parents ran the p&c we ran and completly funded the canteen to the point where us parents had to donate all food items and things to start the canteen up.

We were also asked to pay $1000per child at the school so they could get air con in the class rooms,they used the lil funding that got to air con the office and staff room.
Year 6s were also made to buy a apple mac yes thats right......it was on our book list. On top of this we also had to buy supplies for teachers,which was supposable what the vol fees were for. We supplied their pens markers ect. We broght all work books ect.
Theres much more but have gone blank now. It was alot and realy did add up. We also had fundraising every other week. A giant school production that we had to supple things for and then buy tickets to watch. I have no problem with fees for the most part but this was beyond a joke in fact most of the parents were mad there were huge fights at school meetings . wasnt good

pls excuse the spelling mistakes on my galaxcy

[Phteven]

On top of this we also had to buy supplies for teachers,which was supposable what the vol fees were for. We supplied their pens markers ect. We broght all work books ect.

Well if people don't pay their voluntary fees they have to provide the supplies somehow so adding them to the book-list seems fair as does extra fundraising.
Most teachers spend quite a lot through the year on supplies for their classroom

[~*familyof3*~]

Thats the thing tho they wanted the fees plus all that and it just adds up its to much to be honest. That sort of money is a joke. Like i said we dont mind the fees but when its fees and more fees and then supplying the teacher and more more for air con and then an apple mac.......no thats just not right and familys can not afford that.

pls excuse the spelling mistakes on my galaxcy

[~ Mylitta ~]

In year 12 my school tried to blackmail them into paying school fees by not allowing me to have a school diary but then they told me that i could not use a non-school one - - also told me I was not allowed to buy tickets to my own valedictory dinner unless my school fees were paid. I ended up having to do voluntaryh work in the library to get my tix. Bt ridiculous if my parents could legitimately not afford it.

When I was in year 12 we had to pay a higher fee rate. This was meant to cover staff to sit in exams (although over $200 extra per year 12 student would surely be a lot more than paying an extra staff member for a few exams as our school only offered about 10 VCE subjects...). Then our school decided that rather than spend extra money on staff we would have to travel to a different local school and sit our exams with them. Of course the two schools were sort of rival schools, so the atmosphere was less than inviting. Nice way to make your year 12 students feel relaxed and secure during their super important exams! I ended up demanding back the extra that I paid and they agreed to do it. It probably helped that earlier in the year a window had broken on my head and it was not the legally required safety glass. I ended up having to have a resultant cyst removed by a plastic surgeon. They were pretty happy that we didn't sue them so were probably more willing to give me the fee back, lol.

[Nai]

I pay mine and the library fund - but I have one child at school and the fees aren't much to be honest. I think (from memory) the contribution was $75, the excursion/incursion fee was $85 and the library fund was $125 so $285 all up of which $125 is tax deductible. Seeing I pay $235 per week for 3 days of childcare it really is a drop in the ocean!

The class does so many excursions and so many amazing things for that money that I have no issue in paying it at all. The school has one big fundraiser and a few small ones throughout the year which I have no qualms supporting as they allow the school to provide so many additional activities and experiences for the kids.

[chody47]

DD is obviously not as school yet, but I will pay these contributions when she starts school. Not only do I know the benefits as I am a teacher, but compared to our current childcare costs, it will seem like paying next-to-nothing!

[Olive]

We pay all fees, I think we have a high % of parents that do (I think around 90%), our for this year were around $230.
Our annual fair raises between 23-30k a year too.

[Traveller]

Most of our fees are compulsory (about $250 per child) but that includes the booklist and the rest is for excursions, incursions, etc. There is an additional building fund and an IT fund which are about another $80 per child and I don't pay as I literally can't afford it. Most people pay according to the school newsletter though. I'd like to say I will pay when the twins are in school but I suspect the money I will be saving in daycare fees will quickly be absorbed by dance, theatre and swimming lessons that I have not been able to send the kids to so far.

[chody47]

Most teachers spend quite a lot through the year on supplies for their classroom

Yep At my school we have quite small class budgets and I have to spend a reasonable amount of my own money to buy things for my classroom....even things as simple as glue sticks (which seem to run out ridiculously quickly and are reasonably expensive when you have to buy numerous) so kids can stick their sheets in their books. These coming holidays for instance I need to go and buy more coloured pencils and art supplies for my class, most of which will come out of my own pocket