Tuition 2012-2013

March 1, 2012

Dear Parent:

Registration for the 2012-2013 school year will begin with our annual St. Joseph Elementary and Middle School Open House on Sunday, March 4, 2012.  We are excited about the upcoming school year and look forward to continuing to offer the best Catholic education possible. Please note that we have presented the tuition rate differently this year in order to show how the parish subsidizes the overall cost of the school:

Over the past few months the School Advisory Council and Administration carefully reviewed current school operations, financial information, budgets and projections for student enrollment.  We also benchmarked our curriculum, school activities and tuition against other Catholic schools in the area to ensure St. Joseph School continues to offer the highest quality education while ensuring the fairest and most equitable tuition possible.

The net tuition increase for the 2012-13 school year is $150.  Every effort was made to minimize this increase while addressing the needs of rising operating costs such as salaries, healthcare, structural repairs, maintenance and building improvements.  In addition, faculty and staff were provided a modest cost of living adjustment for the first time in over 3 years.

St. JosephSchoolis blessed with a community of dedicated families who make many sacrifices for the sake of Catholic education.  In these difficult economic times, we want to re-emphasize our open-door policy concerning financial aid.  Last year $182,200 was awarded to students as financial aid or scholarship for the current school year.  At St. Joseph, we are committed to the philosophy that no family be denied the opportunity to attend our school for financial reasons.  As a staff, we are dedicated to making the information for and the process of applying for aid as accessible and easy as possible. Enclosed with your registration packet is a list of tuition assistance opportunities that exist for most St. Joseph school families.  The applications and informational links for each of these may be accessed from the school website at www.stjosephschoolsylvania.org.

*PARISH SCHOLARSHIP REQUIREMENTS:  In order for a student to be awarded a 2012-13 Parishioner Scholarship, a family must meet the criteria listed below and commit to the following:

1.      At least one parent and all children attending St. Joseph School must be Catholic and currently registered in the Parish.

2.      Worship regularly (weekly) as a family at St. Joseph.

3.      Participate in one or more of the many volunteer opportunities St. Joseph Parish/School has to offer.

4.      Contribute financially to the support of the Parish to the best of your ability.

REGISTRATION: In completing the enclosed Registration Form, you are asked to select either “Tuition With Scholarship” or “Tuition Without Scholarship” for the coming year.  It is important to have carefully read the criteria as set forth above.  The completed registration form must be returned to the school office no later than Friday, March 9, 2012. 

TUITION PAYMENT: There are two options for paying tuition and fees:

1.  Prepayment– Tuition and fees (workbook and activity fees) are due to be paid in full for the coming school year by July 1, 2012.

2.  Tuition & Fees Payment Plan– Ten automatic payments through the St. Joseph Monthly Payment Plan beginning in July and ending in April 2013.  Payments can be made on the 5^th or the 20^th of the month.  If you choose to budget through our payment plan, you will authorize your bank to automatically transfer your monthly payment from your checking or savings account.  Please be assured that St. Joseph will not have direct access to, or any knowledge about, that status of your bank account.  Your bank makes the payment for you directly to St. Joseph Parish on the day you authorize.  There is a fee equal to 4.5% of the amount financed for a family using this option, with a minimum fee of $75.00.  Financing fees will be rounded to the nearest dollar amount and will be added to your account due, with the payment spread over ten months.

EVEN IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN THE ST. JOSEPH MONTHLY PAYMENT PLAN LAST YEAR, YOU NEED TO REAPPLY FOR THE PLAN THIS YEAR.

WORKBOOK AND ACTIVITY FEES:These fees are determined in March and April and will be announced by May 1.

Thank you for your dedication to St. Joseph School – we recognize the sacrifice each family makes to send their child (or children).  Please don’t hesitate to contact any one of us with further questions or concerns.   Our doors are always open to discuss ways we can help your family gain the most from the gift of Catholic education.

 Sincerely,

Rev. Msgr. Dennis Metzger                  Sally A. Koppinger                  James R. Floyd, Sr.

Pastor                                                  Principal                                  Business Manager