Principal's News

Dear SMCM Community, Wominjeka!

2027 Planning and Financial Sustainability

Over the past few months, Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) has been working closely with school Principals and Finance Business Partners to review enrolments, operational costs and school budgets in preparation for 2027.

While St Mary of the Cross MacKillop has always maintained a stable and well-managed financial position, this is not the case for all Catholic schools across Melbourne. As part of the wider MACS system, we have been asked to consider not only the financial sustainability of our individual schools, but also the long-term sustainability of Catholic education across the Archdiocese. As a result, all MACS schools have been required to review their operational costs and make necessary adjustments for the 2027 school year.

In today's newsletter, I have included information outlining our 2027 School Fee Structure, including the transition from a flat family fee to a tiered fee structure. These changes reflect the broader financial adjustments being made across MACS schools to ensure Catholic education remains sustainable into the future.

I recognise that any increase in school fees may place additional financial pressure on families, particularly at a time when many households are already managing rising living costs. With this firmly in mind, I have carefully reviewed our expenses, reduced costs where possible and to minimise the overall financial impact on families.

Throughout this process, the best interests of our students, families and wider school community have remained at the forefront of every decision. My priority has been to balance responsible financial management with our commitment to providing the high-quality learning experiences, programs and opportunities that our students deserve.

I am pleased to share that, through careful planning, considered decision-making and ongoing negotiations, I have been able to maintain our current class structure and staffing arrangements, with minimal changes to our school programs for 2027. This is an important outcome and one that reflects my commitment to protecting the quality of teaching and learning at SMCM.

I understand that changes to school fees can raise questions, and I encourage families to read the information provided to better understand the reasons behind these decisions. Thank you for your ongoing understanding, trust and support as we continue to make decisions that strengthen our school community, both now and into the future.

Below, I have included a communication from the Executive Director of MACS, Dr Ed Simons, which provides further context regarding the financial decisions being made across Catholic schools in Melbourne.

2027 School Fee Structure

Please take the time to read the attached letter, which provides a detailed breakdown of our 2027 school fee structure, including an explanation of our transition from a flat family fee to a tiered family fee structure.

Under this new model, families will pay a set fee for their first child, with reduced, stepped fees for each additional sibling enrolled at the school. The letter outlines the reasons for this change and how the new structure aims to provide a fairer and more financially sustainable approach for our school community.

2027 Camp Program 

Over the past few years, the cost of school camps has continued to rise significantly due to increasing provider and venue costs, including transport, accommodation and program facilitation, as well as additional staffing costs associated with camp allowances and time-in-lieu requirements. 

Alongside these financial considerations, increasing Child Safety, supervision and risk management requirements have placed greater responsibilities and demands on schools when planning and facilitating overnight camp experiences. 

We have also observed a growing number of families choosing not to participate in school camps for a variety of personal reasons, prompting us to reflect on how we can provide  meaningful, inclusive and accessible experiences for all students.

After careful consideration of these factors, we have made the decision to revise our school camp program from 2027 onwards. Our revised program will consist of an extended-day camp experience as an introduction to camping in Year 4, followed by an overnight camp experience in Year 5. The costs of these are outlined in the 2027 Fee Structure attached above.

We remain committed to providing students with opportunities to develop independence, resilience and  confidence through experiences beyond the school. These changes will allow us to maintain the educational and social benefits of our camp program while ensuring experiences remain safe, accessible and affordable to our school community.

Our Year 4 students had a fantastic camp experience at Kinglake on Monday and our Year 5 students are looking forward to their overnight camp at Dromana next week!

The 2027 Fee Schedule will be sent home with students in the coming weeks, along with the required Direct Debit forms to complete before the end of this school year. Annual accounts for school fees and levies will be issued at the start of the school year.

As always, any family experiencing financial difficulties is invited to contact us confidentially. Families with Health Care Cards are especially encouraged to make themselves known, as concessions may apply.

Congratulations to Racha, Ibrahim, Issa (Samaritans Homegroup) and Zach (Rose Homegroup) on the safe arrival of their new baby brother Elias.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Tatiana, Jim, Sofia and Jacob (Curious Homegroup) on the sad passing of Tatiana's father and Jacob's Dedo. 

A reminder to families that Monday, 2nd of November, is a school closure day and Tuesday, 3rd of November is the Melbourne Cup Public Holiday. 

Enjoy the extra long weekend!

Claire

Principal

claire.pitcher@smcmeppingnth.catholic.edu.au