March 5, 2006

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As we anticipate the beginning of the 2006-2007 school year, one of our major tasks is to prepare a realistic budget for our school and to set the tuition and fees for our families. This year brings special challenges as we continue to recover from Hurricane Katrina.

Our total projected budget for the 2006-2007 school year is nearly $900,000.00. The members of our school advisory council, along with a CPA who volunteers his expertise, took a long look at expenses, revenue and projections for the new school year over several meetings. Our school's financial support comes form the following sources: Nativity Parish support ($75,000.00), Nativity Parent Association Contribution ($50,000.00), School Advisory Council fund raisers ($10,000.00), tuition and school fees, other fund raisers, trust fund income and donations. In the past, a very small amount of federal money is received which can only be used for very specific materials or services. Likewise, in the past, the State of Mississippi has provided us with some money to purchase textbooks. This past year, however, the amount was reduced to approximately $13.00 per child.

In preparing the tuition and fee schedule, our school advisory council members tried to be sensitive to the needs of families and their limited financial resources as well as to the needs of the school. In past years, tuition/fees have been increased between 7% and 10%. Knowing that the majority of our families experienced tremendous losses due to Hurricane Katrina and knowing that many, many people have donated to our Nativity BVM School Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund, we are proud to announce that there will be no tuition increase for the 2006-2007 school year. Tuition rates for this new school year will remain the same as last school year.

You will again have two options of payment for your tuition and fees: payment in full, on or before July 28th or through the FACTS TUITION PAYMENT Program. The FACTS program provides for monthly payments (10 payments - July - April or 12 payments June-May). You will notice in the tuition rates that there is an approximate 4% reduction in cost by paying tuition in full.

Accurate planning for personnel and materials is so critical as we prepare for a new school year. With that in mind, a $50.00 fee will be added for registrations received after May 2nd. Thus, the registration fee after May 2nd will $200.00 for the first child in the family.

Final registration will take place on Thursday, July 27th from 4-6pm and on Friday, July 28th from 10am until 1pm. We hope that the two choices of dates/times will be more convenient for you. Payment in full or the completion of FACTS forms is required at that time. Through the kindness of so many donors around the country, your child will have an opportunity to select a backpack and some school supplies at Final Registration.

Although our school was very fortunate, Nativity BVM School did experience significant damage from Hurricane Katrina. Through the generosity of the Imperial Palace Mississippi Charities, the restoration of our school is taking place. Much work has already been completed on the roof of the entire building and the gym floor is being replaced at the present time. The stage curtains, blinds and sound system have all been ordered. Window and fence replacement will take place in the near future. Over the summer months, the floor tile in both hallways will be replaced. As part of the restoration project in the gym, Starks Contracting has donated the renovation of the gym bathrooms to complete the project.

Renovations, however, do not stop there! We have also had the opportunity to apply for a grant to cover the cost of repaving our driveways and parking areas and to re-grade and refresh our playground areas. Over the summer months we also plan to renovate the bathrooms in the main school building and to "refresh" the cafeteria by lowering the ceiling and replacing the floor. In the following year we hope to lower hallway and classroom ceilings and refurbish the walls. Also being discussed is the installation of central air conditioning and the replacement/upgrading of classroom windows. Although we will be 50 years old in September, 2006, we hope to have a "new look" as we moved forward!

Thanks to federal funds available to our school following Hurricane Katrina, we are planning to upgrade our classrooms as well. Over the summer months, new textbooks will be purchased in several subject areas. Additionally, new classroom furniture has been ordered to replace our 50 year old classroom desks/tables. A state of the art computer lab is something that we look forward to having available for our students as we begin the 2006-2007 school year. We certainly look forward to the new school year with great anticipation!

I hope that you have been pleased with your experience here at Nativity BVM School and that you are planning to have your child return to our school. I trust that we have provided a quality education that includes a strong religious dimension for your child as well as for your family. It certainly has been our privilege to work with you and your child.

Several of you may be relocating at the end of the school year. Please call the office to see about completing the paperwork that provides for the transfer of student records. Although we regret seeing you move, we will do everything that we can to help your child make a smooth transition.

Finally, if your child will not be returning to our school for any other reason, please contact me personally. Maybe your concerns could help us in making changes to be a better school or to respond better to the needs of the children. If your reason is financial, may you would qualify for tuition assistance and I could offer information about that. Whatever your reason, I would like to personally speak with you in order to assist in making the transition to a new school.

Registration for our current families begins on Monday, March 6th. Registration for new families who are members of Nativity BVM Parish begins on Tuesday, March 21st. Registration for all other new families begins on Wednesday, March 23rd.

If you have any questions or concerns, I am more than willing to meet with you. Many of you know that I arrive early and stay late, Please just call and I would be happy to set aside a time to meet with you or speak with you over the telephone.

A big thank you to the members of our school advisory council for their hard and dedicated work and to each of you for your help and support of our school. A special thank you to our Nativity School Staff and to Father Tony and our Parish Staff for working so hard and so well during these challenging months. We have been greatly challenged this year, but we have been greatly blessed. May God bless the many people who have been so good to us and so good to our school and may He continue to bless us as we work together.

/s Sister Mary Jo