March 4, 2004

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As we anticipate the beginning of the 2004 -2005 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.

Our total projected budget for the 2004-2005 school year is over $900,000.00. The members of our school board, 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. Financial support for our school comes from the following sources: Nativity Parish support ($70,000.00), Nativity Parent Association Contribution ($50,000), School Board fund raisers ($10,000), tuition and school fees, other fund raisers, trust fund income and donations. Additionally, a very small amount of federal money is received which can only be used for very specific materials or services. Finally, the State of Mississippi provides us with some money to purchase textbooks. This past year, however, the amount was reduced to $7.00 per child.

In preparing the tuition and fee schedule, our school board 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 increased between 7% and 10%. We are very pleased that our overall tuition increase this year has been kept to 4%. This equates to an average of an additional $10.00 per month. We feel that this modest increase will give the school the necessary funding and at the same time not tax families too greatly.

You will notice an increase in our registration and general fees. These fees include such things as registration processing, student insurance, and of course textbooks and workbooks. The average cost of a workbook (soft cover book) is $11.00 while the average cost of a hard back textbook is upwards of $40.00. The reduction in the amount of money given to us by the state has contributed to our need to increase these fees. The cost of paper, supplies and other materials continues to increase each year as well.

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 with your child.

If you know of a family considering enrollment in our school, please encourage them to attend our Open House this Sunday and/or to call the school office for more information. We have a special incentive ($100.00! drawing) for you to attend and to bring a new family or two to the Open House.

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, maybe 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 8th. Registration for new families who are members of Nativity BVM Parish begins on Tuesday, March 30th. Registration for all other new families begins on Wednesday, March 31st. Although we have had two classes of each grade in past years, the numbers of students registering may effect the number of classes we will have in each grade. Your completed (paid) registration will ensure that your child has a place reserved for the 2004-2005 school year.

As always, I am more than willing to meet with you regarding any questions or concerns that you may have. 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 board for their hard and dedicated work and to each of you for your help and support of our school. We have certainly walked through this year, hand in hand with one another and hand in hand with God. May God continue to bless all that we are and all that we do.

/s Sister Mary Jo