TEXT BOOK AND RESOURCES HIRE SCHEME

ABOUT THE SCHEME

Welcome to the Trinity Bay High School Text Book and Resource Hire Scheme. Our school community has operated a full hire scheme since 1990. The scheme operates solely to benefit students and parents by substantially reducing the financial burden of purchasing expensive resources. It is a non-profit scheme that provides each child with textbooks and classroom resources for the entire school year.

Please note that this is a voluntary scheme; however, close to 100% of families elect to join, due to the convenience and reduced financial commitment.

The scheme allows students to be exposed to a wide range of resources that they would otherwise not be able to afford. For example, a student studying English would have access to many textbooks, novels, scripts, magazines and the internet, all at minimal cost to parents.

NOTE: Some textbooks are issued to students for the year. Students may have access to class sets as required. These books can be taken home when being used for assignments or home study.

For your convenience EFTPOS facilities are available at the school. Credit card payments can be made by mail or telephone.

BENEFITS OF THE SCHEME

• The school attracts a sizeable discount for bulk purchases of textbooks.
  
• By processing these books with a protective contact covering, the school will have the use of these texts for a minimum of three (3) years.
  
• Some texts such as Mathematics and Science will be required by the students for the whole year and will be allocated accordingly.
  
• Other texts, such as readers in English, will be needed by students for only part of the year and can be shared in sets by different classes.
  
• We offer to all Year 8 students a broad and varied curriculum. Textbooks and resources are needed for each of the subjects offered, and the scheme offers a considerable saving to parents.
  
• Some expensive Year 9 textbooks (eg. Study of Society $32) are bought as a class set for use by every student within the Study of Society period.
  
• Additional class sets of texts and readers for students of different ability levels can be purchased under this scheme. At this stage of the year, the ability level of each student is an unknown factor.
  
• Students who are required to change from one level of a subject to another (eg. Extension Mathematics to Core Mathematics) will be able to do so without any additional textbook cost to parents.
  
• The scheme is not a new one. Most schools have a similar scheme in operation, some for the past ten (10) years. It has proven popular with parents, with a very high percentage of students taking part.
  
• Books not allocated to students can be taken home by arrangement with staff.
  
• Excursions involving buses and major expenditure will not be funded by the scheme as participation in these is voluntary.
  
• Students doing subjects which require a loan of cameras/video cameras can access these if they have a signed parental form and fully paid school fees.

WHAT DOES THE SCHEME PROVIDE?

• Access to all textbooks required by students for as long as they are needed to undertake study at Trinity Bay State High School.
  
• All photocopied notes to complement resources.
  
• Purchase of audiovisual software to enhance student learning.
  
• Computer software and access to technology to be used in the classroom. It also provides the maintenance of a considerable amount of technological equipment.
  
• An I.D. card for each student free of charge. This includes a photograph and is required for borrowing.
  
• An equitable amount of material for practical subjects e.g. wood, metal, paint and significant consumable material. This is partly paid for by school grants.
  
• A school diary and staff directory, discipline policy and organisational procedure.

WHAT IS NOT PROVIDED?

• Writing Materials Stationery, biros, pencils, folders, rulers and calculators are not provided. A list is issued to help parents purchase this equipment.
  
• Practical Subjects With Considerable Costs Subjects such as Furnishings, Engineering, Art, Craft, Film & TV, and Home Economics, have subject specific charges to cover the cost of materials provided to students which are subsequently consumed or taken home as a finished product.

WHEN DO I PAY?

The school’s budget is formulated on the presumption that hire charges will be paid in term 1. Resources (ie. new textbooks) are ordered and payment committed in the previous year. It is thus important to us that payment is made in a quick and timely fashion.

You will be invoiced on enrolment; we ask that full payment be finalised by 30th June each year. The office and Resource Centre are open for your convenience in the week prior to the commencement of school in January from 7:45am to 2:00pm and 4:00pm to 6:00pm.

WHAT IF I LEAVE?

Students who leave during the year receive a pro-rata refund of their scheme payment. This is calculated on a forty-one week school year.

WHAT IF TEXTBOOKS ARE LOST?
These need to be replaced. The contract signed by parents indicates that textbooks always remain the property of the school and that those books negligently lost or damaged must be replaced at parental cost.

WHO RUNS THE SCHEME?
The scheme is run with the consent of the school’s Parents and Citizens Association. School staff operate the fully computerised system in monitoring student use of textbooks. Their dedication ensures that the resources are maintained in good condition and that new resources are purchased economically.

HOW DO I JOIN?

• Parents sign a Contract Form agreeing to participate in the scheme.
• On enrolment your Hire Charge will be calculated and payment of this should be made at the school office. Cheques should be made payable to: TRINITY BAY STATE HIGH SCHOOL.
• Once payment is made at the office you will be directed to the textbook collection area.

PLEASE NOTE: Textbooks are generally issued to students on signing of contract and payment of fees or part thereof (see special cases).

SPECIAL CASES
Where a family is experiencing financial hardship you should contact the Principal or Registrar as soon as possible to allow special payment arrangements to be made. All contracts of this nature are absolutely confidential. A deposit of at least one third will normally be required.