General Policies:

1.  The TRIP program is sold both in the office and bi-weekly during the school year, except for holidays. The office sales are limited to certain vendors and are available on demand.  Summer TRIP schedule will be published in May.

2. In order to become a TRIP participant, you must read all polices and agree to the terms. You must also fill out a registration form and sign it to indicate you agree. Return it to the GCS office and you will be assigned an account number.


3.  You may direct tuition credits to any of the following places:

• Your personal tuition account

• Another family’s tuition account (this may be anonymous)

• The general tuition assistance fund (TAP Fund)

• Your church’s education fund

4. The percentage earned on your account will be held in TRIP’s bank account. This money will be paid quarterly to the GCS office. You will receive a TRIP statement when this occurs. Any discrepancies must be brought to the attention of the TRIP coordinator within 45 days of the statement date.

5.  All bi-weekly certificate orders must be accompanied by checks made out to GCS TRIP, no cash is accepted. Please check your order carefully when you make it out, to avoid errors. TRIP does not buy back certificates ordered in error. Also when you pick up your order, please verify you have received the correct certificates.

6. Family and friends are encouraged to help you with your tuition credits. Either have them set up their own account or they can order through you. Please submit only one order with one check, as it is easier for our volunteers.

7.  The money paid to the TRIP program is non-tax deductible because participants receive dollar for dollar value.  Checks returned for non-sufficient funds will be charged the service fee that the bank charges us.  All bi-weekly order forms and payments are due in the school office by Tuesday at 12:30 pm.  No late orders are accepted.  Please put it in the box marked "TRIP" in the office.  You will need to choose where you want to pick up your orders (this will continue until you tell us you want to change).  You may pick up orders at GCS on Tuesdays or you may choose to pick up orders at Byron Bank on Wilson and Rivertown Parkway after 11:30 am on Tuesday during their regular business hours.  You may choose to have us mail them to you, by providing a self addressed samped envelope (but remember that these certificates are cash and we are not responsible for lost or stolen mail).  IF A SNOWDAY FALLS ON TUESDAY, ORDERS ARE DUE BY 11:00 AM ON WEDNESDAY AND PICKUP WILL BE ON WEDNESDAY ALSO.

8. The gift certificates are the same as cash. Neither GCS nor the TRIP program will be responsible for lost, stolen, damaged or misplaced certificates. Every order mustl be signed for when picked up. When picking up orders at the bank, you must show your driver’s license or other identification. We do not allow children to pick up TRIP certificates, but another adult may pick them up for you at GCS.

9. The TRIP coordinators reserve the right to make any changes without notice to you. Merchants do not always give notice before making changes and we must pass these on. We will give as much notice as possible when changes are made.

10. TRIP keeps 1% of all credits to go towards TRIP expenses and the remaining money to be given to GCS Boosters Club.

11. TUITION CREDIT TRANSFER POLICY

Accumulated tuition credits can be transferred to the Christian School of your choice. A $20 transfer fee will be deducted.

You must complete a “GCS TRIP Tuition Credit Transfer Form” before a transfer will be made. Transfers are made once a quarter (the end of November, February, May & August). The account number at the new Christian School will be required to complete the transfer.

Parents of children leaving GCS and going to Calvin Christian School Assoc. who wish to keep participating in GCS TRIP may request TRIP to transfer tuition credit quarterly on an ongoing basis without the usual $20 transfer fee.

Balances under $20 will not be transferred and will be donated the GCS Boosters Club, unless you designate them to another GCS family.

12. VOLUNTEERS are always needed in the TRIP program. We are a completely volunteer-run program. Please consider volunteering an hour or two weekly, bi-weekly or monthly.

13. GIFT CERTIFICATE PROGRAM
See the order form for a complete listing of the merchants that participates in the TRIP program. You will always find the most current order form in the school office.

V.I.P. TRIP (Vendor’s in Partnership)
The Grand Rapids School Assoc. has a generic gift certificate that can be used in a variety of local businesses. V.I.P. TRIP can be ordered using the regular order form and comes in a $5 and $25 certificate with a3 ½% tuition credit. A complete list of V.I.P. vendors is on the back of the order form and on the Vendor Detail List.

14. GCS TRIP VOUCHERS

GCS TRIP has contracted with local businesses that offer products and services that are higher in cost and/or less frequently purchased. Instead of purchasing a gift certificate, the family will use a GCS Voucher for these businesses when making their purchase. Voucher forms can be found on the TRIP table located in the school office.

A list of businesses that participate can be found on the TRIP bulletin board and by the order box in the office.  Details are on the Vendor Detail List. Each business sets its own percentage or dollar amount of rebate for each purchase.

Pay for your purchase in full, as you normally would. Complete the GCS Voucher form with the salesperson and have them sign it. Leave the white and yellow copies of the voucher with the business. Take the pink and gold copy home. Put the pink copy in the TRIP order box at school. Keep the gold copy for your records. The business will send the white copy along with a check for the rebate amount. Credits will be entered into the computer once a quarter and will appear on your quarterly statement. If you do not see your voucher listed, please contact a TRIP coordinator.