by Hope
We are now into the second week of the school year and we are slowly getting adjusted to the new schedule. Getting up early, exercising, volleyball practice, starving children, and long nights of homework. That is our new normal!
(And by starving children, I mean that when I pick Princess up at 6pm from volleyball, she is starving. But I’m in the car for 40 minutes to get her so it’s taking some special planning to time dinners to be ready quickly once we get home. But we are making it work.)
Costs of the New Private School
I thought I would give you an update on the new school and volleyball costs that I was worried about previously…
- Volleyball costs NOTHING! Not a dime. Compared to the public school cost of $300 this is amazing. (Yes, I know we are now paying tuition, but I had assumed there would be some sort of cost.)
- They feed them…all the time!
- Lunch is included in the tuition, which was a pleasant surprise, but I found that out before school started.
- They give the volleyball team girls money after each away game to eat on the way home…they stop at a restaurant and give each of them money as they get off the bus to buy themselves food.
- During home games, they can go to the dining hall and eat dinner between games and they prepare them a snack between school and the game.
- They have textbooks and assign them Chromebooks. I know most schools have one or the other, but during our brief stint in the public school, neither of my kids EVER got a textbook to use to study. And while they had computers in the classroom, they were, well, lacking. And they couldn’t take them home. Princess now has a really nice, touchscreen Chromebook for her assignments that is hers to use during the year. And she has textbooks. I LOVE this!
- Activities…every freaking weekend! Yes, they take them to Atlanta Braves and Falcons games, go paddleboarding, white water rafting and so much more. Every non-holiday weekend, they have things planned that students can sign up to participate in and most of them are free of charge. Holy Cow! I want to go back to school just to go on some of these adventures.
Not What We Expected
And aside from the financial implications and educational benefits, it is not at all what I (the BAD community expected.) People are SO NICE! So inclusive. Because of the uniforms and inclusiveness, the have and the have nots are not as obvious would expect.
First day of school in her new school uniform.
And because of the boarding and international student presence, the racism and teasing Princess (and Gymnast) had seen as so prevalent at the local public schools is non-existent. There are kids there from EVERYWHERE, all countries, all backgrounds.
This school truly does live up to what I was told was its goal which is to provide a phenomenal education to the Northeast Georgia Mountain kids and more.
Don’t get me wrong, Princess is being challenged to her very core with the 4 honors classes, playing a sport, and a variety of other special requirements…but just wow! I am so impressed and so happy we made this switch. As I predicted, this is going to be life-changing for her and definitely prepare her for the next step in her journey.
Hope is a resourceful and solutions-driven business manager who has spent nearly two decades helping clients streamline their operations and grow their businesses through project management, digital marketing, and tech expertise. Recently transitioning from her role as a single mom of five foster/adoptive children to an empty nester, Hope is navigating the emotional and practical challenges of redefining her life while maintaining her determination to regain financial control and eliminate debt.
Living in a cozy small town in northeast Georgia with her three dogs, Hope cherishes the serenity of the mountains over the bustle of the beach. Though her kids are now finding their footing in the world—pursuing education, careers, and independence—she remains deeply committed to supporting them in this next chapter, even as she faces the bittersweet tug of letting go.
Since joining the Blogging Away Debt community in 2015, Hope has candidly shared her journey of financial ups and downs. Now, with a renewed focus and a clear path ahead, she’s ready to tackle her finances with the same passion and perseverance that she’s brought to her life and career. Through her writing, she continues to inspire others to confront their own financial challenges and strive for a brighter future.
At this point, I’m planning to put all income from this work going directly into savings. Not to be touched. In fact, that’s how I have it set via direct deposit, so I don’t even see it or have to touch it. That worked well for me last spring when I first started this.
