Fees
Shearwater is a not-for-profit organization – hence all fees are used on your child’s education. We believe in giving the children the best we can which, in some areas, will actually mean we will spare no expense! But we’re also very conscious that for most parents, school fees are an important part of their budget and so we aim to strike a balance. Most certainly we strive to be as clear as possible as to how your money is used by the School, so please find below a detailed explanation of all the components of your children’s fees.Please note that these fees apply to Australian residents only. For fees for Full Fee Paying Overseas Students, please contact internationalstudents@shearwater.nsw.edu.au
Enrolment fee
An enrolment fee must be paid before your child can be registered on a waiting list or placed in a Class. An enrolment form that is not accompanied by a fee is not valid. $35 of this fee is non-refundable, and the remainder is only refundable if classes are full and there is no place available for your child.Enrolment Fees in 2009
| Playgroup | $20 | |
| Preschool and Kindergarten |
First Child | $100 |
| Siblings |
$50 each | |
| Primary School (Classes 1 - 6) |
First Child | $250 |
| Siblings |
$100 each | |
| High School (Classes 7 - 12) | First Child | $500 |
| Siblings | $250 |
Holding fee for leave of absence
If your child is away for an extended period during term, written notice addressed to the Administrator must be given to the Office beforehand. A $600 fee per term is required to reserve your child’s place in the Class, if they will be away for the entire term.Private tuition fees
Please note that any private tuition (eg Curative Eurythmy, Music sessions, etc.) will be charged as agreed between teachers and parents and billed separately.Distance Education fee
For study by Distance Education, courses currently cost $800 per year. Shearwater will subsidise 50% of this, providing the student completes the course. In the case of withdrawal from a course, the family will be liable for the full cost.
Building Maintenance
Payable for students in PreSchool to Year 12. This is a levy of $40 per term per family to provide for the maintenance and upkeep of the school buildings.
Accident Insurance
This is a compulsory charge levied on all children at Shearwater. The cost is $4.00 per term per student. Details of cover are available at the School Office.
Notice of withdrawal of a child
The school requires 4 weeks written notice to withdraw a child from the school. A fee of $250 will be charged in lieu of notice.
Fund raising
Parents and friends’ fund raisingAs with all privately funded schools, considerable help is required from all parents to assist in raising sufficient funds to enable the School to cover costs. Each year we hold events such as The Bush dance, Trivia Nights, etc. The funds raised in this way are vital and it is hoped that all parents will respond generously to this obvious need.
Building Fund Donation (OPTIONAL)
The total cost of the new Building Stage 6 is being funded by a 20 year loan. We are asking parents to contribute to the costs of these building works by way of a donation to the Shearwater School Building Fund of $50 per family per term. This fund is a Deductible Gift Recipient for the purposes of Australian Income Tax legislation. Therefore any amount donated to the school building fund should be tax deductible. Your school fees invoice serves as your receipt for Tax purposes. If you would not like this donation added to your invoice, please contact the office.
Investments
In an expanding school like Shearwater, we are always planning new buildings, dreaming of new projects and... borrowing money! Maybe you would like to support the school with a direct investment? (Minimum amounts of $10,000 for 12 months). And, with indicative rates starting at 8%, this might be of interest to you ... please think about it! (Contact Stan Stevens in the School Office for more details.)
Payment of fees
Collection of feesThe School endeavours to keep educational fees to a minimum affordable level commensurate with the quality of education it provides, in order to maintain the running of the School. It is essential that fees be paid at the end of the first week of each new term. Unpaid fees create a serious cash flow obstacle for the School and it is an unpleasant task to chase parents for unpaid fees. Enrolling your child at Shearwater Steiner School is a commitment to fee-paying education. Please give serious thought to your ability to maintain this contract for twelve years before proceeding with enrolment.
Methods of payment
At the end of each term we begin the process of invoicing everyone for the next term’s fees and you should receive same by post during the school holidays. Please note that it is now also possible to get your invoices or a statement of your account via e-mail... so if this paper/mail free possibility is convenient for you please get in touch by email to accounts@shearwater.nsw.edu.au
Fees are due in full at the beginning of each term. If you wish to pay by installment, Paysmart, which is a direct debit from your nominated bank account, is the only method offered.
Please note: Unpaid fees will attract a late charge of $50 per $1000 overdue, and dishonoured cheques will incur a $35 fee to cover bank/administration charges. Please do not to send cash to School with your child. We will not take responsibility for cash that does not arrive at the Office.
Discount for advance payment of fees
We are offering a discount of 5% on fees, if the full fees for 2009 are paid by 10th December 2008. Please let the office know well in advance if you want an annual invoice drawn up to include this discount.
If fees for the whole year are paid in full by the start of Term 1 2009, a discount of 2.5% will apply.
Fees in 2009
Fees for Playgroup and Pre-SchoolPlaces in Play and Pre-school are reserved for a full term & fees are payable in one lump sum, at the beginning of each term – no discount is given for missed days.
Playgroup
1 day $100 per term ($12 per day)
Siblings can attend playgroup free of charge. No other household discounts apply.
Pre-school
1 day $150 per term
2 days $300 per term
3 days $450 per term
4 days $600 per term
5 days $750 per term
FEES FOR KINDERGARTEN – CLASS 12
The following are the charges per term for your first child in the school. Fees include tuition, materials (in the Primary School only) and the majority of costs for camps. There may be additional charges for excursions or camps, which will either be covered by class fundraising or extra contributions by families, and is determined by the Class Guardian.
Kindy: $950.00
Class 1: $1045.00
Class 2: $1050.00
Class 3: $1100.00
Class 4: $1190.00
Class 5: $1340.00
Class 6: $1280.00
Class 7: $1350.00
Class 8: $1375.00
Class 9: $1550.00
Class 10: $1650.00
Class 11: $1415.00
Class 12: $1315.00 (No Camp for Class 12)
Household Discount
15% discount per term for the second child
30% discount per term for the third child
50% discount per term for the fourth child and subsequent children
In order to spread the payment of fees, the fee structure for Years 11 and 12 have been calculated over 8 terms, which includes Term 4 for Year 12 when students sit their HSC examinations. (Invoices will be forwarded each term.)
To encourage responsible use of resources, the School has decided it will no longer provide High School students with all their stationery requirements. From 2009, High School students will be issued with a list of essential stationery items which they must provide.
