Please note: It is essential that you attend an interview with the Principal before your child/ren may start school.
The following documentation will be required to complete an enrolment form:
Whilst Catholic schools receive some government funding to ensure that the school operates at a level which ensures the best possible outcomes for all students, it is necessary to charge modest fees. We are a not-for-profit organisation and more information about our fees and how the fees are spent are available by contacting the school office.
School Income
St Mary’s School has four main sources of funding, each is separate and targeted for expenditure in specific areas.
State and Federal Government Recurrent Grants
These grants are paid on a per capita basis directly to the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office. The Catholic Schools Office then has the responsibility of dispersing these funds to the schools in accordance with State and Federal Government Guidelines and Regulations. These funds are available to pay the salary of all teaching staff, prep aides and some auxiliary staff. Further to this the Catholic Schools Office is able to take a small percentage of the total funds for administration purposes.
School Fees
Fees are collected from all families and are paid directly into the school account. An annual budget is presented to the School Advisory Council for expenditure of these funds. The Council is an advisory body in all financial matters.
Our school budget represents the fees paid by parents to educate their children. The school collects fees, of which almost half is accounted for in the wages of ancillary staff. The remainder is expended on the following items: stationery, relief teacher wages, sporting equipment, instrument service costs, photocopier requisites, library, art and craft materials, cleaning and maintenance requisites, electricity, rates, insurance, telephone, in-service costs, and other miscellaneous expenses.
With Council support the school uses a collection agency for families who have not responded to the school with requests to settle accounts.
No student is permitted to attend a school camp unless their school fee accounts are in order or they are on a payment plan.
Fundraising by P&F, Tuckshop and other approved bodies
These funds are allocated in accordance with the priorities contained in the School's Strategic Plan and Annual Action Plan and any emergencies that may arise. These funds are one way the school can provide resources, such as playground and sports equipment, reading materials, science and mathematics equipment, major grounds improvement and much more.
School Building Fund
The school borrows money from the Diocesan Development Fund for major capital works with such borrowings being repaid via the School Building Fund. A portion of the Capital/Building Levy may be utilised for other capital educational purposes within the Diocese, for example the provision of Kindergarten and Outside School Hours Care.