School donations....abundance mentality....generosity, hospitality and partnership

Kia ora

As you know, funding for schools is not sufficient to cover all the associated costs. As an example, this year our budgeted expenditure just on property (including depreciation and cyclical maintenance provision) is 48% of our total grant money from the Ministry.  Our operations grant from the Ministry is sufficient to keep our school ticking over but it does not provide very much additional expenditure for what schools are all about - teaching and learning, or essential expenditure such as ongoing teacher professional development.

The Board has been very fiscally responsible and we have not spent all the grant money we have received from the Ministry over the last three years, carefully putting funds aside to ensure that we have money available in the case of emergencies or of needed developments etc. However, this does point to the fact that, as a school, we are completely reliant on funding from other sources to excel at our core business of teaching and learning. This is where school donations come in, along with the other revenue flows we have developed such as music lessons, ENCORE rental on Saturdays, hall hireage, grant applications etc.

Though funding for schools is tight, I have always had a view that schools can suffer from having a "poverty" mentality which can become a self-fulfilling prophecy because it creates a downward spiral. I prefer to have an "abundance" mentality which reflects itself not just or even mostly in the things we are able to purchase or attain for children's learning, although it does include this; but also in the way we treat people - our sense of being generous to others and of always being hospitable. We really want Amesbury School to be known as a place where people - parents, staff, students, community members and visitors - experience warmth, openness and generosity of spirit. 

The purpose of this ramble, is to let you know that school donations are important to schools to assist higher levels of resourcing, and I would like to say a big thank you (on behalf of Board and Staff) to the families who have supported the school in this way. 72% of families to date have paid the donation. This amounts to $16,000.00. Last year, school donations were used to purchase musical instruments and sporting equipment. This year, school donations will be used with other funds that are raised to begin the development of the school grounds. 

Further, we appreciate all families for the way you support a broad curriculum. We are aware that we are always asking for funding for trips and activities and you do it so uncomplainingly (at least to us!). Thank you so much for investing in your children's education in this way.