Category Archives: School

Getting to Know More About Schooling and School Fees

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Many people are interested in migrating with their families to the beautiful country of Australia. However, if you want to do so, you need to learn a few things about this country, and one of the important things is to get familiar with the school fees structure in this part of the world.

In Australia, there are Public or Government schools and Private Schools, which also include church-established schools. Although children can go for kindergarten, compulsory schooling starts from the age of five. Here, it is important to mention that if you are in Australia, even on a temporary basis, and want your child to attend a government school, you will still have to pay preset school fees. But it is essential to understand that charges will be different for different years. Moreover, there will be a change in fees with a change in state or territory, which is because the state or Territory Minister of Education usually sets the fees in Australia. Although they may differ a lot, you may have to pay anywhere between $4,000AUD and $9,000AUD to make your child attend a school for a year.

You also need to keep in mind that there are some cases where school fees are waived. For instance, if you are an international student and are on a South-Australian government-endorsed scholarship, you won’t have to pay tuition and school fees for your children. However, you should also bear in mind that if your child is going to study in Australia as an international student, you would have to deal with overseas tuition fees. To get to know more about it, you need to contact your respective state or Territory Department of Education. By doing so, you will be able to get latest information about the tuition fees policies. In this way, you can make a better decision and get yourself in a position to let your child attend a public school free of cost.

Another important point that needs your attention is that if you have migrated permanently to this part of the world, you are Australian citizen and required to pay taxes. In this case, you don’t have to deal with schooling expenses of your children – if of course you opt for Public schools. You have to pay fees if you choose to send your children to non-government schools. And do keep in mind that private or non-government schools have their own fee structure, which is why you need to contact the relevant schools to get correct information.

The fact of the matter is that like all other countries, Australian schools also charge specific fee to permanent and temporary residents. However, the structure can be difficult in different states, and that’s the reason why it is important that you get familiar with schooling system in different states before going any further with your immigration. If you don’t proceed in the right way, the amount of money you need to spend to fulfill your children’s schooling needs may set you back. So, don’t let this come as a surprise and learn more before moving on.

Portland Schools Lead The Way For Healthy Kids

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Portland Schools started to make some significant changes to the diet of its children in 2006. At that time, Portland Schools eliminated all soda, sports drinks and junk food from vending machines in the schools. This was part of the district’s wellness policy in response to some federal nutrition mandates for schools receiving federal subsidized lunch money. But the Portland Schools went even further than just taking the junk food out of vending machines.

The Wellness Advisory Committee recommended significant changes to school lunch menus, advertising and fundraising sales. And Portland Schools listened. Fundraising items like doughnuts and candy cannot be sold until 30 minutes after school ends. Lunches at Portland Schools include more local and fresh produce, often grown at the school itself. And the district removed any ads for soda or sports drinks and replaced them with healthier images. Why does this put Portland Schools ahead of the curve?

The Oregon House voted, 46-11, to ban the sales of most junk food in all schools by fall of 2008. The mandate is expected to pass in the senate and has the approval of Governor Ted Kulongoski. Rep. Scott Bruum, R-West Linn, has stated that studies show that obesity in this country has tripled in the last three years. National attention given to the statistic of 1 in 6 children being overweight, and of a huge increase in childhood and Type II Diabetes also added to the sense of urgency.

The fact that Portland Schools have already addressed the issue is helpful in more ways than one. The current bill doesn’t affect school lunches, as that program is federally mandated. Also, other Oregon districts will now face a financial loss from partnerships with Coke from having the vending machines in schools. Portland Schools have already dealt with that.

Sugar, sodas and junky food have also been shown to have a severe impact on the behavior of many students. Some react with sugar highs, other with lethargy from a lack of protein and healthy whole grains, fruits and vegetables. The Portland Schools’ model has an answer for that. Abernathy Elementary School really made the grade for good nutrition. It was one of many Portland Schools to make changes, but the alterations there were huge. The school started a made-from-scratch kitchen, a hands-on school garden, and many educational programs. Portland Schools funded the pilot program through grants and district support.

If the largest school district in the Pacific Northwest made these changes voluntarily, many parents are asking what’s taking the rest of Oregon so long to catch up with Portland Schools. Of the opposing votes to last week’s bill, some representatives said they were against letting the state make decisions for individual districts. Well, Portland Schools seem to be making their own decisions, and the parents and teachers seem pretty happy about it.