M  E   M    O                                                                                                                                                        TO: All Parents & Guardians FROM: Reverend Father Levelt Germain, Administrator & Daphne C. Lewis - Principal Date: February 8th, 2008 The purpose of this letter is to inform you of the Tuition Rate for the 2008-2009 school year.  As you are well aware, the cost of living is always increasing and amoung many other things the cost of Education.  Our Lady of Grace continues to provide quality Catholic education at a reasonable rate.  Without external financial help, many Catholic schools, including Our Lady of Grace School are unable to meet their expenses.  Continuous repair work on the school building and repairs to the gym/auditorium, rising heating costs, and the increased cost of teacher's salaries and health insurance has raised the bar of expenses that the school has to meet as a daily demand, in order to provide the best environment conducive for learning for our children.  It is therefore necessary for Our Lady of Grace School to increase the tuition rate for the 2008-09 school year.  Be reminded that Catholic schools do not receive direct financial assistance from the government and we rely solely on tuition and fundraiser's to operate our school and we applaud you wholeheartedly.  As we prepare to star our fifty sixth year of shaping the minds of tomorrow, we would like to thank you for choosing Our Lady of Grace School to fulfill your child's elementary educational needs.  We do encourage you to make optimum use of the Empire State Child Credit (form IT-213) which can be utilized for the 2007 tax year.  This tax claim allows for up to $330 credit for each child between 4 and 16 years of age.  Thank you so much for your continued support and cooperation.