Fees / Costs/ Payments
PLEASE MAKE SURE to read the section
about owing money.
Fees are due ASAP (date TBD)
GUITAR FAIRSHARE FEE: ALL Covington music students are required to pay a $30.00 Fairshare Fee. This fee helps cover individual needs for the guitar program such as: district fees, region fees, UIL fees, solo and ensemble judges, clinicians and master classes, student rewards and incentives, method books, locks, extra activities for the students, etc. You may pay this fee directly or use fundraising profits.
INSTRUMENT FEE: Any student that does not rent/purchase their own instrument will be charged an Instrument Fee of $30.00 per year. This allows students to take home a “school-owned” instrument every day. With the increasing cost of maintaining instruments in playing condition, these fees will be used for repair purposes. Students will not be allowed to take home school-owned instruments unless this fee is paid or parents/guardians have spoken with Mr. Hall to discuss alternate payment plans or other options. Please note that the Instrument Fee does not cover theft or major damage. Students and parents/guardians will be responsible for the replacement of an instrument if lost or damaged beyond repair.
PURCHASING A GUITAR: A good option for you and your student is to buy an instrument from Westbank String Shop, String and Horn Shop, or any local music store. Students that have their own guitar are encouraged to leave their personal guitar at home and use a school guitar in class. This option prevents students from having to transport their guitar back and forth from school. It is crucial that you include Mr. H in the decision of which instrument to buy; it is his job to help you find a quality instrument and avoid cerain bad instruments. Please e-mail ernesto.hernandez-trejo@austinisd.org or call the Orchestra/Guitar Hall at 512-841-3724 for any questions relating to instruments, purchases, and fees.
This year, Westbank String Shop is offering a guitar, guitar bag, footstool, tuner, extra set of strings, and Hinsley Book for $250!!
FUNDRAISING: The Strings program depends on the support of its family and community. All guitar students are highly encouraged to participate in the annual strings fundraisers. Student profits from the fundraisers will go toward each student’s end-of-year trip. Also, money can be used toward supplies such as replacement strings, cases, music, and books. Please note that if a student is no longer a part of the Covington Strings Program, he/she will forfeit the use of strings fundraising money. Also, money from profit cannot be turned over to the student or his/her family.
IF YOU CANNOT PAY FAIRSHARE FEES please contact Mr. Hall in person, via e-mail, or phone to find a solution. REMEMBER, MR. HALL WILL NEVER LET THE ISSUE OF MONEY KEEP A STUDENT FROM SUCCEEDING IN THE COVINGTON FAA STRINGS PROGRAM! There are the options of talking to Mr. Hall, payment plans, participating in fundraisers, and in some cases volunteering in order to pay off class fees. If no effort is made, however, by the parent or student to pay or contact Mr. Hall about options, then that student will not be allowed to use a school-owned instrument, and we must find them a different class.
IF A STUDENT OWES ANY MONEY to the Strings Program, it is school policy that they will be put on an “Obligation List.” This list will prevent students that owe money to the school or school organizations from participating in some field trips, extracurricular events, school dances, and will also result in the administration withholding their report cards. WHEN TURNING IN MONEY LATE, PLEASE DO NOT SEND CASH. Pay with Check, Money Order, or School Cash Online.
Please make guitar payments with cash, checks, or School Cash Online. Checks should be made payable to “CMS Strings,” and please include your child’s name in the memo portion. WITH CASH, PLEASE DO NOT BRING COINS. All money turned in is non-refundable!
RECEIPTS: When you make a payment to a teacher or volunteer, it is CRUCIAL that you ask for a receipt. If you do not receive a receipt, please keep your payment. Without a receipt, it is not possible to determine whether or not the payment was made.
School Cash Online
Payments with a Credit Card!
Covington MS has made it easy for parents to make FUNDRAISER, TRIP AND CLASS FEE payments from the convenience of their own home!
Follow these 3 easy steps below to get started!
- Go to the address below or click the School Cash Online link on our website.
- Take a few minutes to register and add your child to the newly created account.
- Review and purchase your child’s back to school items using direct online payment.
Register at: www.austinisd.schoolcashonline.com
FYI – The browser supported by the KEV Group is Mozilla Firefox, which can be downloaded for free at www.mozillafirefox.com.
PAYMENT CLARIFICATION:
School Payments
(CMS Strings Account)
|
Covington Strings Booster Organization
(CSBO)
|
Payments made by cash, check or School Cash Online |
Payments made by cash, check, venmo, or CMSstrings.org/donate |
Trip Payments |
Fairshare/Instrument Fees |
Fundraisers |
Membership Fees |
Donations |
T-shirts |
|
|
School Payments can be made with cash (no coins!), checks (payable to “CMS Strings”), or credit card (School Cash Online - see above) and MUST be given directly to Mr. Hernandez or Mr. Hall
Booster Club Payments can be made with cash or check (payable to “CSBO”) to our Booster Lock Box (orchestra room), to any booster club officer, or by Venmo (@CovingtonStrings). T-shirts and membership fees may also be purchased on the CMS Strings website - www.CMSstrings.org