St Margaret’s SchoolBerwick Grammar School

Valuing the past,inspiring the future

Since its founding with 18 pupils in 1926, St Margaret’s School has had a proud history of providing its students with an education based on achieving their personal best. Since 2009, this same principle has been in place at Berwick Grammar School.

Students and staff at our school require contemporary and innovative facilities to ignite curiosity and inspire learning. To ensure this, we seek your support for three exciting building projects: new classrooms at St Margaret’s Junior and Senior School and a gymnasium at Berwick Grammar School.

Your participation in this capital fundraising drive is integral to our continued growth and success, and will benefit present and future generations of students and staff immeasurably.

From the Principal‘We seek to discover, encourage andnurture the talents of our students, to empower them to embrace life’s challenges and opportunities.’

Mr Doug Bailey, Principal

Gifts to buildings which will be used as learning spaces are fully tax-deductible. There is even the opportunity to spread your tax deductions as you wish. Please join me in this effort by studying the Table of Gifts and Tax Concessions included in this gift prospectus, and decide which level of support best accommodates your family’s circumstances. Gifts of all sizes are most welcomed, as together, we proceed to build the future of our wonderful school.

I thank you in anticipation of receiving your philanthropic support for these vital projects.

Mr Doug BaileyPrincipal

‘It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.’ Mother Teresa2

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I am proud of the heritage and tradition of St Margaret’s School, and the growth of Berwick Grammar School. I believe we provide an education which is equal to any in Australia. Our goal always is to empower students with the knowledge, skills and confidence to reach their true potential in life, whatever that may be.

We are now embarking on the next stages of the schools’ development: replacing some of the oldest classrooms with state-of-the-art facilities at St Margaret’s School, and a first-rate gymnasium at Berwick Grammar School.

As with all independent schools, tuition fees, per-capita government grants and building fund donations on fee statements are applied to day-to-day running costs and maintenance. To replace old buildings and build new facilities, we must seek the support of our schools’

President of Council

communities. The option of borrowing is prohibitive due to high interest charges. Thus, we seek your support for the projects outlined in this gift prospectus.

In asking for your generous financial support, I ask you to consider a five-year gift pledge made specifically to the project of your choice. Alternatively, you can elect to split your gift between the schools. Together, we can ensure that St Margaret’s School and Berwick Grammar School provide the highest level of excellence in education now and in the future.

Mr Philip BattyePresident of CouncilSt Margaret’s and Berwick Grammar School

‘It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.’ Mother Teresa ‘We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.’ Winston Churchill

‘Together, we can ensure that St Margaret’s School and Berwick Grammar School provide the highest level of excellence in education now and in the future.

Mr Philip Battye, President of Council

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Queensferry HouseA new Junior School precinct will be created atSt Margaret’s School. The area will incorporate new state-of-the-art classrooms on two levels, bag storage facilities, bathrooms, offices and a Year 5 and 6 adventure playground.

Foot traffic will be directed via a marked pedestrian crossing (with flashing lights) adjacent to the Fairy Walk with an emphasis on safe, off-roadway movement among freshly-landscaped grounds.

The new classrooms will include data projection and interactive whiteboards with fibre data connectivity to allow new technology mediums, as well as climate controlled environment and lighting conducive to quality learning.

Ms Carole ReedHead of St Margaret’s Junior School

Queensferry House and Hills classrooms St Margaret’s School

Hills classroomsThe girls of St Margaret’s Senior School are 21st Century thinkers who need 21st Century learning spaces. The Hills classrooms, which were built in the 1960s, have served the educational needs of the past. Their redevelopment will better serve the needs of the future.

Two new fully equipped science laboratories will better promote scientific thinking and understanding. Six new general-purpose classrooms will include data projection and interactive whiteboards with fibre data connectivity to allow access to a new world of thinking and learning. The redevelopment also provides the opportunity to update the student’s locker rooms and bathroom facilities.

This new precinct will be designed to provide better traffic flow to both the Senior School Library and the VCE Centre. The landscaped grounds around the new building will include an interactive scientific garden which will be equipped with the tools for further scientific exploration of the natural world.

Mrs Fiona WilliamsHead of St Margaret’s Senior School

indicative concept plan

indicative concept plan

indicative concept plan

Queensferry House

Hills classrooms

Gymnasium Berwick Grammar SchoolAt Berwick Grammar School, the extensive co-curricular program which includes sport, drama, music, camp and the Year 9 Endeavour Program are integral to the holistic education we offer to our boys. These programs encourage a healthy balance between academic studies and co-curricular pursuits.

The gymnasium will be located east of the Performance Centre. The design will incorporate an entrance foyer for trophies, honour boards and other forms of recognition. The foyer will lead to a large open gym that features sprung flooring to minimise the risk of injury, and extensive retractable seating to maximise floor space. Basketball, badminton, handball, indoor soccer and volleyball court markings and equipment will be incorporated in the construction.

A fitness and conditioning suite will house the existing cardiovascular and weights equipment and fitness testing apparatus. Additional features will include an indoor running track, an expansive rock-climbing wall and exterior seating overlooking the oval. Staff offices, storage facilities, classrooms and change facilities will be included.

Mr Charles SwanepoelHead of Berwick Grammar School

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indicative concept plan

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Gift Intention FormEnclosed is a Gift Intention Form to make the process of giving easy. Please be assured your gift will be directed as indicated. There are several payment options available and a tax-deductible receipt will be forwarded to you prior to the end of the financial year. An explanation on how to spread your tax claims can be found on the Tax Concessions page.

Employer Matched GivingAlmost 400 global and local companies match their employees’ gifts to education. Please check with your company’s payroll office to see if your employer is a Matching Gift participating company.

Philanthropic givingPhilanthropy is a personal journey. We have all heard the term ‘philanthropist’, but what does it mean in practice? You do not need to be wealthy to be a philanthropist. A philanthropist simply is an individual who gives in line with their capacity for the greater good of society. The simple act of giving what you can, from your heart, makes you a philanthropist.

By choosing to give to St Margaret’s School and Berwick Grammar School you will help current and future generations of girls and boys. The reward is more than seeing new facilities built, as exciting and practical as this may be. The emotional fulfilment of knowing you will be helping others for generations to come is very special. We have all benefited from the endeavours and generosity of people who have given before us. Now it is our turn to help others.

Pledging over five yearsIf you believe you can give an amount in one year, please consider pledging that sum for each of five years as it will multiply the result of your giving fivefold. Should your circumstances alter over time and it becomes necessary for you to vary your gift pledge, please simply contact us to make new arrangements. In some cases, donors elect to continue to give over a longer period than they first intended.

Of course, giving is voluntary, yet we do ask you to challenge yourselves to ‘go the extra mile’ for our wonderful school, to help provide the best education possible. First-class learning environments help both staff and students to flourish. All giving amounts are confidential; no gift sums are published. Should you wish to discuss your gift, please contact us on 9703 8111. We are more than happy to discuss giving on a totally confidential basis.

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Table of Giftsto raise $6 million

St Margaret’s School Berwick Grammar SchoolTarget $3 million Target $3 million

From 7 Leadership Gifts From 7 Leadership Gifts1 Gift of $300,000 1 Gift of $300,0002 Gifts of $150,000 2 Gifts of $150,0004 Gifts of $ 75,000 4 Gifts of $ 75,000

From 24 Major Gifts From 24 Major Gifts8 Gifts of $ 50,000 8 Gifts of $ 50,00016 Gifts of $ 25,000 16 Gifts of $ 25,000

From 70 Special Gifts From 70 Special Gifts30 Gifts of $ 15,000 30 Gifts of $ 15,00040 Gifts of $ 10,000 40 Gifts of $ 10,000

From 130 General Gifts From 130 General Gifts60 Gifts of $ 5,000 60 Gifts of $ 5,00070 Gifts of $ 3,000 70 Gifts of $ 3,000

Gifts are fully tax-deductible and may be paid over five years. Gifts can be directed by donors specifically to St Margaret’s School or Berwick Grammar School or split as you wish.

Tax ConcessionsSaving through your gift to the school.Gifts to St Margaret’s School Building Fund and/or Berwick Grammar School Building Fund are fully deductible for taxation purposes under Section 78 (1)(a) XV of the Income Tax Assessment Act.

Payments made annually towards a pledge over up to five years may be deducted from the top of the donor’s gross income.

Gifts may be made in equal amounts or varied to obtain maximum concessions for donors.

Since 1 July 2003 taxpayers have been able to spread the tax deductions for cash donations (as well as donations of property) over/up to five years rather than just in the year the gift was made. This means that individuals or businesses can nominate a particular year or years in which to claim their tax deduction by making a written Election. Please seek further advice from your accountant.

Donors may make a personal or corporate gift. It may be made as a memorial gift to a loved one, or to commemorate a family member, or company sponsorship. A receipt will be issued for tax purposes prior to the end of the financial year.

The following table is based on the 2013/2014 tax rates and shows the ‘net cost’ to donors of their gifts to the St Margaret’s School Building Fund and/or Berwick Grammar School Building Fund.

Total Annual Marginal Tax Rates (5 years) 32.5% 37% 45%$300,000 $60,000 $40,500 $37,800 $33,000$150,000 $30,000 $20,250 $18,900 $16,500$ 75,000 $15,000 $10,125 $ 9,450 $ 8,250

$ 50,000 $10,000 $ 6,750 $ 6,300 $ 5,500$ 25,000 $ 5,000 $ 3,375 $ 3,150 $ 2,750

$ 15,000 $ 3,000 $ 2,025 $ 1,890 $ 1,650$ 10,000 $ 2,000 $ 1,350 $ 1,260 $ 1,100

$ 5,000 $ 1,000 $ 675 $ 630 $ 550$ 3,000 $ 600 $ 405 $ 378 $ 330

St Margaret’s School27 - 47 Gloucester Avenue, Berwick Vic 3806 www.stmargarets.vic.edu.au

Berwick Grammar School80 Tivendale Road, Officer Vic 3809 www.berwickgrammar.vic.edu.au