I remember that story as well, I think if you are sending your kid to a private school then there is an expectation that you pay the fees/donations etc - otherwise why should everyone else have to subsidise your child.

If she didn't want to pay then she should have sent her kid to state school where its not compulsory to pay the donation. Still schools can't run on nothing.

minik8e wrote: kiwisj wrote: Kate that would put me right off the school! I always remember "stationery = e for envelope" The funny thing is, that it's my old school, and some of my favourite teachers (who are fantastic still) are still there....and I turned out mostly ok LOL and spelling is usually one of my strong points!!

Spelling was my strongest point. I remember at primary getting a certificate for spelling.

Andrew is at Central Normal.

minik8e wrote: Now, I'm getting myself confused, is it stationEry or stationAry?? I thought with an a was when it was a thing that is staying in one place, and e was exercise books etc....?

It is with a E

My son is decile 9 and donations are $37.50 a term or $150 a year. I think when I brought him his entire uniform a couple of years ago it was close to $400. So far the polo shirts and jerseys have lasted really well and will be buying more in a few months as they are starting to get short. The cargo pants last him 2 years as they make them so long and he is very hard on them with the amount of times of being on his knees, falling over we get lots holes in them not great at $45 a pop. Stationery every year is about $30-$35 + the cost of sneakers, sandals and socks. Plus they have fund raising mufti days, cake stalls etc.

lilfatty wrote: Wow .. the school ive been looking at is 10k per year .. (and thats the discounted pay in full price lol)

I thought that was pretty standard / average for private school actually on the cheap side.
I know parents paying 15k for private primary school in Welly.

Not getting too ahead of yourself Kate, a woman I covered maternity leave for enrolled her daughter for the local catholic school when she turned 1.

What school is Andrew going to Becks?

I've no idea where we will even be living in 5 years time.

The school Andrew is at ask for a donation of $50 a year (which I am happy to pay), works out to $12.50 a term and we will pay 3 terms of that this year.

Stationery I will usually buy from Warehouse Stationary and for Andrew is has been about $20 from there and I may have to get a few school only items.

We also have to pay for things that come to school or they go away to, I don't mind that either as he learns out of the classroom too.

All up I think that Andrew's schooling costs us about $250-300 a year.