School Finances

Accessible, Affordable, and Exceptional

The Seven Sorrows Difference

At Seven Sorrows, we believe that education and Faith go hand-in hand.  We support our families and work toward providing an affordable tuition that allows your child to thrive in an environment of excellence and love.


We encourage every family to explore an education at Seven Sorrows BVM Catholic School.

Impact Report

Tuition Rates.

Catholic Discount.

To QUALIFY for our Catholic K5-8th gr. discount rate, all parents/legal guardians must be a registered parishioner within the Diocese of Harrisburg. 


To RECEIVE the Catholic discount, a signed and sealed Verification of Parishioner Status (VOP) form must be on file from your Pastor prior to your tuition plan being activated.

Simple Tuition Solutions (STS)

Seven Sorrows partners with Simple Tuition Solutions for all our payment plan needs.  We strive to maintain transparency as well as offer a variety of ways to meet your individual budgets.

  • NSF Fees - Don't get caught!

    Avoid NSF Fees

    Non-Sufficient Funds (NSF) fees can add up quickly. Understanding how STS payments work can help you avoid unexpected charges.


    If you use a bank account (routing and account number) for automatic payments, NSF fees may apply if there are insufficient funds. Credit card payments are declined immediately if they cannot be processed, so NSF fees are not incurred.


    How It Works

    STS will attempt to process a payment up to 3 times:

    First attempt: If successful, there is no fee.

    Each declined/kicked-back attempt: $35 NSF fee


    Maximum per payment: $105 (3 attempts)

    After three unsuccessful attempts, STS moves on to the next scheduled payment.


    Example: With a weekly payment plan, multiple unsuccessful payments can result in NSF fees accumulating quickly.


    When you make a payment, any outstanding NSF fees may be collected before your tuition balance, leaving less of your payment available toward tuition.


    TIP: Know your payment schedule and make sure funds are available on your scheduled payment dates. If you anticipate an issue, please communicate with us as soon as possible.


  • Payment & Billing Setup

    Current Families: Your STS account will roll over with your current settings. Please review and update your information, including banking details, before we activate the new school year.


    New Families: Once enrolled and your STS account is active, log in to your dashboard and locate the Payment & Billing box.


    Click Payment & Billing to:

    Choose a payment plan that fits your budget.

    Select your automatic payment date.

    Enter your banking information.


    Notes & Tips:

    Your banking information is not visible to SSBVM.

    Payment dates can be adjusted after your plan is activated.

    11-month payment plans must be set up by mid-June.



  • Payment Plan Options

    All tuition must be paid in full by May 31, the end of each academic year.


    Pay-in-Full Plan

    Pay by September 30

    Receive a 5% discount


    Semi-Annual Plan

    Payments in August & February


    Quarterly Plan

    Payments in September, November, February & May


    11-Month Plan

    Must be set up before your first July payment

    Payments begin in July: 1st, 15th, or 30th

    Spreads payments over 11 months for a lower monthly payment


    10-Month Plan

    Standard payment plan

    Monthly payments August–May


    Semi-Monthly Plan

    Payments twice a month, August–May


    Weekly Plan

    Weekly payments, August–May


    Please choose a payment plan that fits your budget to help avoid costly NSF fees.


  • Past Due Policies

    Seven Sorrows is committed to our school and families. We work to keep tuition as affordable as possible while responsibly managing the resources that allow our school community to thrive.


    To support this commitment, the following policies apply to past-due balances:


    Tuition

    Families with a tuition balance that is two months past due will receive a letter from our Finance Team requiring full payment within two weeks for the student to return to school.

    This includes any NSF fees incurred through STS.


    Incidental Billing

    Incidental charges are due on the 20th of each month for the previous month's usage.

    If an invoice remains unpaid on the 25th, payment must be made before the student can continue using that program. This includes cafeteria lunches.


    Incidental Billing

  • FAQ

    What is the code for Seven Sorrows so I can set up my tuition account or apply for financial aid?


    If STS is asking you for a school code, you are likely in the wrong section. Once you complete the admissions process and move to Enrolled status, log in to your STS account.


    Select Payment & Billing to choose and set up your tuition payment plan.


    Select Financial Aid to complete your financial aid application.


    If school doesn't start until the end of August, why am I paying tuition in July or August?


    Seven Sorrows operates on a 10-month fiscal year, August–May. Tuition is collected monthly so your balance is paid in full by the end of May.


    If you prefer to spread payments over a longer period and reduce your monthly payment, you may choose the 11-month plan, with payments beginning in July.


    Am I required to pay the full year's tuition if we move or transfer?


    No. You are responsible for the prorated tuition for the time your child(ren) attended school, based on our 10-month fiscal-year calculation.


    Please note: If your child leaves during a month, the full month of tuition is due.

    More Q & A's

  • STS Chat Support

    Did you know STS has a chat feature for tech support questions?


    If you're logged in to your STS dashboard, look for the Chat button in the bottom-right corner of your screen.

    Start Chat

Incidental Billing.

How Does it Work?



  • What is Incidental Billing?

    Incidental Billings are supplemental invoices, separate from tuition, created through Simple Tuition Solutions (STS) for charges from the previous month.


    This billing method is used for:

    Cafeteria charges

    Optional programs

    Volunteer requirements


    Volunteer fees are different: They are billed once a year in May and only to families who have not completed and logged the required volunteer criteria.

  • Auto Pay

    Incidental Auto Pay must be set up separately from your tuition payment plan. If you do not enable Auto Pay for incidentals, you will need to make these payments manually when your invoices are due.


    You can choose the same or different payment methods for each. For example, you may use your checking account for tuition payments and a credit card for incidentals, or use the same payment method for both.

  • How Incidental Billing Works

    For optional programs, such as the cafeteria, charges are billed through your STS account after the service is used.


    Example: Cafeteria

    During the first week of each month, we review your usage from the previous month.


    An Incidental Billing invoice is then added to your STS account. The balance is due on the 20th of that month.


    For example:

    September usage → Due October 20

    October usage → Due November 20

    November usage → Due December 20


    This same process applies to other optional programs. You will be notified in advance whenever this billing method is used for a program you sign up for.


    TIP: Be mindful of your monthly tuition and incidental billing due dates so you can plan accordingly.


    Questions? Please contact Lisa Fortunato.

    Contact Lisa

  • Can I add money upfront?

    Because STS is an invoicing system, we cannot accept payments before charges are posted. Your balance will be due on the 20th of each month.


  • Volunteer Requirement & Fee

    Each family is expected to complete the required 20 volunteer hours or approved alternative criteria and log them on our website.


    On May 1, we will review volunteer records. Families who have not met the requirement will be assessed a $200 volunteer fee, billed as an incidental charge to your STS account on May 20.


    Families who complete and log all required hours or criteria will not be charged.


    Please note: The $200 is not a tuition credit or deduction for completing your volunteer requirement. It is a fee assessed only when the requirement is not fulfilled.

    Log Hours

Financial Aid.

Because your child matters to us.

Your tuition is within reach.

Seven Sorrows seeks to make tuition as affordable as possible supporting your child's Catholic education. We work tirelessly throughout the year securing aid through our EITC program and other outside resources.


  • How do I apply?

    Once you move from Admissions to Enrollment status, your STS dashboard will display a Financial Aid box.


    Click the box to:

    Complete the financial aid application.

    Upload all required forms.


    Once submitted, STS will review your application and verify your financial need to determine your eligibility for need-based financial aid.


  • Reporting Income

    Do you live with your parents?


    Do you have older working children who live in your household?



    Learn More

  • Financial Aid Requirements & Timeline

    To be considered for Financial Aid:

    A completed, verified, and qualifying application in STS.


    A payment plan that is ready to be activated in STS.


    Catholic families: A current-year, signed and sealed VOP form on file.


    Award Timeline

    Financial aid awards begin being reviewed in June and continue throughout the summer and into the new school year.


    Due to the number of families applying, the review process takes time. We begin with 11-month payment plans first.


    The 11-month plan begins in July and spreads payments through May, lowering the monthly payment.


    Outside Financial Aid Programs:

    We do not control the timeline for outside programs. We will notify you as soon as we receive information about your award.


  • Need STS Tech Support?

    Did you know STS has a Chat feature for your tech support questions?


    When you're logged in to your STS dashboard, click the Chat button in the bottom-right corner of your screen.

    Start Chat

Volunteer Hours

May 1st - April 30th

Save $200

Volunteering fosters stronger home-school relationships, boosts student confidence, and improves academic performance. It allows parents to model community engagement, support teachers, and gain insight into their child’s environment. 


Log Hours Diocesan Clearances

  • What are Parent Volunteer Hours?

    Seven Sorrows requires 20 parent volunteer hours each academic year for families with students in K5–8th grade.


    Volunteer hours must be logged on the Seven Sorrows website.


    Families who do not complete the required volunteer hours will be assessed a $200 fee, billed as an incidental charge and due May 20.

  • $200 Fee - Details

    Parent Volunteer Hours

    Families with students in K–8th grade are required to complete 20 volunteer hours each academic year.


    Meet 20 hours: 

    No fee will be charged.


    Fewer than 20 hours: 

    A $200 incidental fee will be billed.


    Volunteer Year: 

    May 1–April 30

    Earn hours by volunteering or meeting other qualifying criteria.


    Diocesan Clearances Required:

    For activities inside the school building or directly involving children.


    Diocesan Clearances Not Required:

    For activities outside the building or not directly involving children.


    Log Your Hours:

    All volunteer hours must be logged through the Seven Sorrows website.


    Incidental Billing:

    On May 2, families who have not completed 20 hours will be assessed a $200 incidental invoice, due May 20.

  • What Qualifies as Hours?

    Sample of hours & additional criteria opportunities:  (You may choose one or the other, or a combination of both)


    HOURS:

    PTT events

    PTT in-person meetings

    PTT board member

    School Board member

    Theater assistance

    Coaching/volunteering @ CYO Basketball  

    CYO Track Events

    Organizing the uniform closet

    Attending a field trip. 

    Church Festival

    Vacation Bible School 

    Fish Fry 

    Gala 

    Cafeteria/Recess Assistance

    Live Nativity

    Landscape clean-up.

    Etc.


    ADDITIONAL CRITERIA OPPORTUNITIES:

    Sell 200 Chocolate Easter Eggs during our fundraiser.


    Donate $250 or more to our Heart of Mary Fund.


  • Are Diocesan Clearances needed?

    Yes:

    Clearances are required for volunteer work inside the school building or directly with children.


    No:

    Clearances are not required for events outside the building or that do not involve direct contact with children.


    Clearances

EITC Program

Education Improvement Tax Credit


Turning your tax dollars you already pay into financial aid for Seven Sorrows.  When you advantage of these tax credits, you put your tax dollars to work at our school - and you change the life of another family!  It's a win-win for all!


For questions, contact RedefinED; info@redefiningeducation.org or

814-419-5505


Intro to Program

  • Step 1. Sign the Pledge Form

    You can leverage 100% of your annual PA state income tax to participate inthe EITC program. Determine your PA tax liablility and fill out the pledge form today.  

    Pledge Form

  • Step 2. Submit your check

    Toward the fall, you will receive an approval notification from the scholarhip organization, stating that you are eligible for the 90% tax credit.  At that time, you will make your tax credit eligible donation to the scholarhip organization.


  • Step 3. Receive your Credit

    After you subit your tax credit eligible donation to the scholarship organization, they will send you a K-1 to file with your taxes.  A 90% credit will be applied to your PA state income taxes.

  • Example

    As a W2 income earner, your tax liablilty was $5,000.  You give a tax credit eligible donation of $5,000 to the Scholarship Organization.


    Your $5,000 contribution turns into $9,500!


    The school gets the entire $5,000 to use for scholarships for students and you get $4,500 back int he form of a state tax credit/refund.

RAISERIGHT.COM

Earn Free Rebates.  Reduce Tuition.

Raiseright is a fundraising program that allows you to purchase online gift cards at face-value, earning rebates as you go!  75% of those rebates accumulate each month and are applied toward your next available tuition payment. 

  • Learn More


    PDF Info Sheet

  • RaiseRight.com

    Formerly known as ShopwithScrip.



    RaiseRight.com

  • Physical Cards

    The following physical cards are in stock at the parish office during open hours:


    Amazon

    Dunkin Donuts

    Giant

    Target

    Walmart


    We are no longer accepting backordered cards.


Let’s talk about your finances.

My name is Lisa Fortunato, and I have been a full-time employee at Seven Sorrows since 2009.


My two sons, Zach and Luke, attended Seven Sorrows. Because they are 10 years apart, I was a tuition-paying parent for 20 years!


I understand the financial sacrifice that comes with choosing a Catholic education. 


My goal is to help guide you through your financial commitment with compassion for your family’s budget while also being mindful of the stewardship needed to keep our school financially healthy for generations to come.

I’m here to help make the process as clear and manageable as possible.


Lisa Fortunato

School Finance Administrator