2023 School Fees

First, we are immensely grateful for the parental support that enables us to provide the high standard of education that we do. Attendance dues, donations and levies are essential in order to maintain, and continue to improve, the standard of education at Sacred Heart Girls’ College. As a State Integrated school, our land and buildings are owned by the Mission College Trust. This Board is the proprietor/owner and is responsible for maintaining and developing the site and its facilities. Our current building, refurbishment and modernisation project has been made by possible by generations of parents, grandparents and the wider community, who have faithfully and generously contributed to the future of our School and Catholic Education for the young women throughout the Waikato.

The Government does not fund our school to the same level as other schools, nor does it provide any additional resourcing towards the maintenance or operation of the buildings or dedicated spaces related to the Catholic Character of our school. Therefore, as we plan for our next stage of refurbishment – Contemplative/Sacred space, staff lounge and professional learning space and a student café – this is considered by the Government as non-integrated buildings and, therefore, the expectation is that families who attend our school should be able to make up the shortfall through the Attendance dues and donations schemes. Our Trust Board, and our Mission Sisters, believe that these spaces are just as vital for the growth, development and formation of our young women as any other space in any school. Indeed, we believe that we honour the dignity of our community when we provide such spaces that reflect our Catholic Character and Mission Charism.

The Proprietor’s building donation and Catholic Character levy are also used to repair, maintain and renovate the grounds and buildings and to support the Catholic Character aspects of the school such as Retreats, the Creative Arts Centre, scholarships, trips and outdoor experiences, including overseas. Overall, the cost of attending our school and contributing to the development of our Catholic Character and our building programme, is approximately an additional $25 per week.

Our other Board, the Board of Trustees, uses the donations requested from families to provide additional staffing, high quality equipment and resources to support a broad curriculum experience for all our students. Some examples include high-spec computers, financial scholarships, additional teachers, two full time Guidance Counsellors, a full time Director of Sport Development, Strength and Conditioning Coach, additional mini-bus. The Government funds schools based on a formula that does not take account of what’s required to provide a full range of enriching experiences, in and out of the classroom. Again, we are deeply grateful for the support of our whānau so that we can continue to offer the holistic, high quality learning experience for our students today and into the future.

All donations qualify for a tax credit. Families are able to claim back 33% of the total donation paid as a tax credit. The school sends the account payer a letter at the end of each tax year outlining the donations paid to the school. Further information in relation to claiming tax credits can be found on the IRD’s website.

We are also mindful of the current financial situation that many families are facing. We certainly do not want to add to any financial difficulties some families may be experiencing. However, we can support you in a variety of ways and our advice would always be to commit to the attendance dues first, through regular, automatic payments, and come and talk to us for further assistance. We understand that bus fares, lunches, stationery and other incidentals require immediate attention, however, these are also the very things we can help families with. Please talk to us, or email us, accounts@shgcham.school.nz, and if things are really difficult, make an appointment with me, pa@shgcham.school.nz and we will do our best to ensure your daughter continues to benefit from her education at Sacred Heart.

If you are reading this, and you have the financial ability to support our families, because you have connections with Sacred Heart and want to see our young women flourish, please get in touch with us and we will be happy to provide you with some suggestions for your donations.

To finish, a reflection from Euphrasie Barbier, founder of the Mission Sisters, who also relied greatly on the generosity of her families, so that the children of less affluent parents could also benefit from education:
‘When charity and union of hearts reign in community, the Lord is there.
Guard this precious treasure well’.

Ka nui te mihi ki a koutou.

Catherine Gunn
Principal