The ACS Tuition Reduction Plan exists to make Christian education more affordable to more families. Families may buy down their tuition through using Scrip and participating in select fundraisers.
Please read about each opportunity and select the one or ones that work for you.
The Scrip Program
What is Scrip?
Scrip is nothing more than gift certificates from local businesses! There are no gimmicks or hidden fees in this great program that raises money for our school. Local businesses agree to sell the gift certificates to the school at a discounted price. The profit is earned when you purchase them at face value.
- Scrip is gift certificates you buy from ACS to make purchases from local grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, department stores, and specialty stores.
- You do not have to spend any extra money over what your budget allows - simply use Scrip certificates to pay for your every day purchases. Even if you start simple and order just your gas and grocery money with Scrip, you will see how easy and practical the program is.
- There are no extra costs or hidden fees for you to use this program. You will receive certificates equal to the full amount you pay. The school receives the profit at the time you buy the certificates because they were purchased from the individual business at a discounted price. Each business determines the profit given to ACS.
- Keep in mind that all the small dollar amounts can add up to a significant amount. It might not seem worth it to order a small certificate with a low percentage, but if you are faithful to use it whenever possible, you will see the difference that the small amounts can make when added together.
Why use Scrip?
Most of us go to the grocery store and gas station on a weekly basis. We occasionally eat out or order pizza for a night at home. Our kids want us to rent videos for them. These are just a few of the reasons for our purchases we make weekly and/or monthly. We all have these types of expenses figured into our budgets. Rather than handing your money to the business for these purchases, why not buy gift certificates to use instead? Part of the profit the school receives is then used to reduce your tuition account!
When you need a birthday, wedding, or Christmas gift, why not give a gift certificate to one of the stores on the Scrip program? If you prefer to give an actual gift, then you can still use Scrip to buy the gift.
For those of you who are self-employed or are part of a family-owned business, consider purchasing your office supplies or other items you need from one of the businesses on the Scrip program.
Ask family members and friends to use the Scrip program also. See if they are willing to purchase grocery and gas certificates from you. If they have a charge account at JC Penney or Kohl’s, ask if you can get Scrip for them when their bills come due.
When you or your family members need to replace appliances, furniture, or other larger priced items, shop at American, Best Buy, or Van Vreede’s.
If you or someone you know will be doing a remodeling project, use Home Depot, Fleet Farm, Menards, Lowes, or one of our flooring vendors.
The list goes on and on as to how you can make Scrip work for you. The bottom line is: The more you choose to use the Scrip program, the more you will reduce your tuition!
How to get Scrip?
Now that you realize what Scrip can do for you, there are a few guidelines to follow.
- Orders for the week must be received in the office by 8:30 a.m. on Monday morning. It will be available for pick up on Wednesday afternoon.
- Scrip can be ordered in advance over a dedicated Scrip line in Appleton at 731-7816, or it can be ordered by form through the school office. All orders over $300 must be paid at the time the order is placed on Monday morning.
- The school also has a variety of on-hand Scrip from many popular businesses. You can stop in the school office during normal business hours. There is a maximum of $100 per business that you can purchase of on-hand Scrip per week. If you need more than $100 from a particular business, you will need to order it by the 8:30 a.m. deadline on Monday morning.
- Because we are financially limited to what we can keep on-hand, there will be times that a particular business might get sold out and not be available until the following week. To guarantee that you will get what you need, it is advised that you place an order rather than rely on the availability of what is on-hand.
- We do our best to fill all orders that we receive. However, on occasion there may be businesses that have back-orders on their Scrip. If that happens, we will get the rest of your order to you and fill the back-order as soon as it is received.
Scrip Facts!
ACS families who took advantage of the TRP program raised approximately $20,000 worth of Scrip profit from Jan. 1 - Dec. 31, 2007, $12,600 of which was returned to their tuition accounts, and $7,400 of which was profit for ACS!
If you have any questions about the Scrip program, call Lori Kelly at 731-3311.
TUITION REDUCTION PLAN (TRP)
2008-2009 FACT SHEET FOR ACS FAMILIES
We are excited to offer the following fund-raisers as ways to reduce tuition in 2008-2009. The profit for each one is listed -- 60% of this amount is applied to the family account while 40 % is applied to the cost of running the program.
Additional fund-raisers will be determined at a later date.
| Scrip (year - round) | Based on % offered by the businesses |
| Entertainment Books (late August-December 15) | $5.00 per book |
| Home Interiors Candles (September) | 50% of selling price |
| Vande Walle’s Boxed Candy (November) | 50% of selling price |
| Vande Walle’s Candy Bars (March) | 50% of selling price |
We are asking all families to support ACS programs by volunteering a minimum of 10 (ten) hours in any of the following activities. Many of these activities generate income for the school that is vital to our budget. Some save the school money because we do not have to hire someone to do the task, so we need parents to be involved in helping them to succeed.
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Plan Guidelines
- The Tuition Reduction Plan (TRP) will run year - round.
- Families will receive three reports, Aug. 31, 2008, Dec. 31, 2008, and April 30, 2009. The amount earned on the report can be deducted from the following month’s tuition payment OR it can be left on your account to be used at a later date. (Note: A family may choose to have all its earnings accumulate for the entire year to help offset their next year’s tuition or registration fee.)
Statements will be sent one to two weeks after the closing date.
*Per government regulations, additional income tax rules apply.
ACS has the option to make changes to the above selected fundraisers and events as deemed necessary, either by adding other alternatives or canceling some. Any changes will be done in the best interest of the school and families.
Cash Back for ACS!
The following are great ways to earn extra money for ACS and all of its ongoing expenses. These “little extras” do add up! Thank you in advance for taking the time to be a part of these programs!
Pick ‘N Save We Care Program
Pick 'N Save will donate a percentage of what you spend at any of their stores. All you need to do is register your Advantage Plus Card, the one you use at the registers to receive sale prices, with our school's account number. If you have not yet registered Appleton Christian School on your card, please stop at one of their Customer Service desks. Our school account number is 032800. If you do not currently own a card, consider applying for one. Not only will it save you money by giving you the weekly sale prices, but ACS will benefit also. Thank you!
If you have any questions about this program, contact the school.
Target – Take Charge of Education Program
Target also has a fundraising program that benefits our school. There are two ways for the school to earn money from this program.
- Apply for a Target Guest Card - this is a Target charge card to purchase only at Target stores. Specify Appleton Christian School to have 1% of your purchases donated to the school.
- Apply for a Target Visa Card - this is a Visa card accepted wherever Visa is accepted. Purchases made at Target with this card earn 1% while purchases elsewhere earn ½% for ACS.
"Cash Back for Schools" Programs
Continue to save the following items! Bring them in with you when you pick up your kids or when you pick up your Scrip each week. These all earn $$$ for ACS!
- Used inkjet and toner cartridges
- Family Christian Stores Ministry Builder Stamps
- General Mills Box Tops
- Milk Tops/Labels (Kemps, Morning Glory, Kwik Trip)
- Campbell’s UPC Codes
Office Depot Back 2 School Program
Office Depot will donate 5% of what you spend back to ACS! Simply mention Appleton Christian School when you are checking out at the register, and they will look up our school's ID number in order to credit ACS. Thank you for helping in this way!