School Activities Contribution and Attendance Dues

St Joseph's School does not qualify to be a member of the Government funded donations scheme. Accordingly we do ask for donations...

Activities Contribution

An annual activities contribution of $180 covers your child’s class trips and other education outside of the classroom. This amount is a donation payable directly to the school at the beginning of each year. Examples of activities we can provide thanks to this donation include:

• Swimming lessons & Surf Safety
• Guest performers
• Trips to concerts and performances
• Cultural awareness
• Extension activities and competitions

The following biennial curriculum enhancements are not covered under the activity donation (and are user pays):

• Senior Ski trip (Odd Years) approx. $80
  
• Year 7/8 Camp (Even Years) approx. $300
  
• Year 5/6 Camp (Even Years) approx. $130
  

Attendance Dues

The Integration Act allows for Attendance Dues to be levied on parents whose children attend Catholic Schools.

A proprietor may charge Attendance Dues at a maximum level approved by the Minister of Education. The payment of Attendance Dues in a Catholic Integrated School is a requirement on the condition of enrolment provided in the Integration Agreement for each school. The income from attendance dues can be used only for the costs associated with the provision of school land and buildings.

It is important to realise that Attendance Dues are the only means the diocese has of repaying all Education Loans whether they be from the Diocesan Catholic Development Fund or Religious Orders. Attendance Dues are a charge payable to the Proprietor and a condition of enrolment at integrated schools. Dues are not a donation, and they are not tax deductible. Note: attendance dues in the Diocese of Christchurch are the lowest in the country.

Catholic integrated schools are financed partly by the government and partly through Attendance Dues paid by parents/caregivers to the Proprietor. Attendance Dues fund the borrowing required to provide those new classrooms that are not funded by the government. Attendance Dues are also used to pay other building-related costs, insurance on school buildings and to repay loans. These loans have been incurred to provide some of the school facilities being used by this generation of students.

Attendance Dues are collected on behalf of the Diocese by the local parish. The parish makes no money through this process (in fact it costs them money). Families are also encouraged to join the Parish’s planned giving programme where you can make tax-deductible donations to support the running of the local parish. Families will be provided with automatic payment forms at the time of enrolment.

Attendance Dues per Term (2024 amounts)

Attendance Dues per child = $107.50 +GST 

Special Character Contribution = $15

• Total amount per child = $138.63 per term or $554.50 per year