So, this year is 1st grade for my kids, and we've moved to Manhattan (next county over, different school district), so I'm shopping for the supply list and LOSING MY MIND!!!! I finally found the right school, the right LIST (which was a PITA!) and today I'm at Walmart looking for the supplies. Well, they want 16 count Crayolas, the store only has 24... they want some kind of manuscript paper I have never heard of and can't find, it has to be FISKARS scissors, not off brand, etc. I finally stopped a lady with a kid a little older than mine, but her kid goes to a different city, so she didn't know what the mystery items were. Why can't they just let me pay $x per child and THEY buy the freakin' supplies? At least this year they don't seem to be community property for most items, like the binders, so if I buy them their favorite characters they won't go to another kid. (This worked in Mads' favor last year, I bought generic and she came home with a Princesses binder, I felt bad for the kid whose mom bought her that.) I need to call the school AGAIN to make sure, before I buy and put names on stuff. I'm so frustrated, because I only got half the list, because I don't know what the rest is, or can't find the SPECIFIC brands asked for. GRRRRRRRR! Ok, I'm better now... just needed to vent a bit about that!!!

By Jackie on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 - 03:54 pm:

Oh how frustrating.. That is kind of ridiculous that they want 16 instead of 24 crayons, actually very odd...

Lucky though at my kids school no specific brands are mentioned, so it was very easy to complete the list.

By Debbie on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 - 04:07 pm:

I had the same problem last year. I ended going to three different stores to get my dks their supplies. This year, they started a program through the PTA where you can just pay, and they provide the supplies off the list. They are at school on orientation day ready to pick up. I jumped on this. I already paid at the end of last year for them. I think it was actually cheaper then what I paid when I bought them myself.

By Cat on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 - 06:04 pm:

I only bought about 1/3 of what's on Randy's list this year. Last year I bought everything and half of it wasn't even used. I bought the basics and if he needs anything else I'll go 2 miles down the road to Wal-Mart and get it. I don't even have a supply list for Robin (starting high school tomorrow!), so I got him the basics, too. I've long stopped playing the public school games. We even skipped registration this year for Randy. It was a waste of time last year and Randy didn't feel well anyway. Yeah, I know, I'm a rebel! lol

By Tarable on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 - 06:16 pm:

I love it.. ours is more expensive but the PTA/PTO do the school supplies as a fund raiser and have them there for the kids the first day of school (we don't even have to bring them home). It is wonderful! But I am paying I think around $50 a kid (I know if i bargain shopped it would be about 40) and they are in middle school. In elementary school it was about the same and they supply everything except the BIG 3 ring binders (what in my day was called a trapper keeper but now is way fancier and has a zipper or velcro) and a backpack.

All my friends that have high school kids say they never have a list just buy some paper, pens and pencils and maybe a notebook for the first day and if they need anything specific for a class they will let you know when they need it.

By Kate on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 - 06:46 pm:

What happens if you don't buy Fiskars? I mean, that's on my list, too, but I bought the kind I wanted, which were nicer than the Fiskars. Scissors are easy enough to purchase for a whole class and reuse them each year for each new class.... I mean, if the teacher is going to be that picky about it she should buy them all and have them identical, pass them out at the beginning of the year, and then collect them at the end....

I HATE community property. It's so unfair!

By Insaneusmcwife on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 - 06:49 pm:

Trapper keepers...what ever happened to those and those folders that go inside with the times tables and measurements on them..they get rid of all the good stuff. I don't really like the new fancier ones. Ds goes though at least 2 a year for some reason those metal rings quit working and they are pretty expensive.

We too did the school shopping thing yesterday and it took ALL day. We had too had to have specific name brand things...It took me forever to figure out what a pink pearl eraser is. But I am officially done. I spent $100 on school supplies between the 2 of them and I only got off so cheap because we had the 2 reams of printer paper, calculator and I had bought ds a new backpack and folder last year about a month before school got out so he will be using those. I wish the schools here offered the school supply packages. I think it would be way less of a headache. I am willing to pay the extra $10 to not have to do the shopping.

By Insaneusmcwife on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 - 06:54 pm:

I have a question about all that community property stuff...What happends to it all? We never get any of it back. I understand the baggies, paper, pencils, crayons get used up but what happens to the scissors? and the left over markers & crayons and such? Nothing is ever sent back home at the end of the year.

By Enchens on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 - 06:55 pm:

Wow. I hear ya! I'm buying school supplies for the first time off a list this year for D who is going into kinder. I was able to find half of the items on the list, thankfully, but not without runnning all over the store with both kids. By the time we got half of the items, the three of us were too tired and cranky to finish. I don't want to go back. Maybe dh could finish??? lol Maybe not. The list is specific on some items. And it's just like with you, Crystal. The specific items are the hard to find ones. Ugh!

By Debbie on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 - 07:36 pm:

My boys get their unused stuff back at the end of the year. They only do certain things as community property. The sissors, folders, pencil sharpeners, etc., they use what they bring. They only do community property with things like pencils, erasers, glue sticks, etc.

By Tunnia on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 - 07:46 pm:

I hear you and feel your pain!

I finished the back-to-school shopping yesterday (started three weeks ago) and, not counting clothing or bookbags, I spent just under $200 for two children in classroom supplies only!!! The lists were soooo long and everything is very specific. Dd's list was 42 items long and ds's a little less. I don't know about other places, but here we also have to buy a lot to be given to the teacher. These are to be used by the teacher only and/or to be shared with the entire class, but I also have to provide the necessary items for just my child as well. A few of the items listed to be given to the teacher are: several boxes of tissues, several rolls of paper towels, dry erase markers, hand sanitizer, computer paper, disinfecting wipes, reams of loose-leaf paper (dd's list asked for 7 reams and ds's 5), pencils (ds's list asked for 6 dozen), a couple of packages of construction paper, highlighters, and a few items I can't remember. If this year is the same as previous years, which I expect it will be, I will get one or two notes during the year asking for more of those items to be sent in because they are running low.

I am involved at the school enough to know that many families don't even bother buying supplies for their dks because they know that other families are sending in so many items and that the supplies will be collected and given back out. I have even had a child come home with a note that I needed to go buy them another item because there weren't enough to go around even though I was one that originally sent the item in.

99% of the items my ds takes to school (he is still in elementary) is collected by the teacher and then handed back out. I can't count how many times I have sent in decent stuff for my dks to use and then the teacher turns around and gives them a cheap version that someone else brought in. It makes me so mad every time it happens. One year, when dd was in elementary, I put her name on things and I heard about it from the teacher and was told that I was not to do that. Oh, and nothing comes home at the end of the year. If there is any extra, the teacher keeps it. They also keep all the scissors so I have to buy new scissors every single year.

As for the PTA supply packages, our school used to do that and people were crawling all over each other trying to get their hands on the limited supply of packs. They quit selling them several years ago though. I have no idea why. Every year, they have to post that they do not have them any longer because people are still asking for them.

By Annie2 on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 - 08:39 pm:

I think the elementary school lists are so long!
The jr. high list is shorter for two of my kids; two are in high school and will learn from their teachers what they need on the first day of school.
My two jr high kids need to have 8 different colored folders with the prongs and pockets. I cannot find orange. Off again tomorrow to find orange folders. My ds wants paper my dd wants plastic ones.
Never mind school clothes....

By Debbie on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 - 09:12 pm:

For those of you where it is still really hot when school starts, do you buy school clothes now? I don't buy anything new, but a pair of shoes. It is so hot now, my kids just wear t-shirts and shorts the first 2 months of school. I don't buy new clothes until it starts to get cold.

By Dawnk777 on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 - 10:11 pm:

My kids don't start for another month, but even still, I don't usually buy the cooler weather clothes, for a while after that yet. It's still pretty warm, in September.

I took my kids out and bought the folders/notebooks/paper/pens/pencils. That's pretty much what they need. Emily will have a few more things to buy, when she finds out who her teachers are tomorrow, so we know what extra things to buy, that are unique to that teacher. I'm kind of sad to not be buying crayons and glue anymore.

By Jackie on Wednesday, August 6, 2008 - 06:51 am:

Debbie, that is a good question. Here in Va beach, it is still hot when school starts. My kids end up wearing shorts for a long while until it gets cooler out. I don't buy too many back to school clothes. If their clothes are in good condition from last year, and still fit, then they wear those. I do buy them things from time to time, if I find a good sale. So the kids do get new clothes, just not all at once, and not at the start of school.

By Tarable on Wednesday, August 6, 2008 - 09:27 am:

As for back to school clothes they really only get a new outfit for the first day since I hae girls. But they wear the same thing they have been wearing all summer until Oct. I guess I have bought a few new shirts for one because my oldest has grown so much this summer that her t-shirts were stating to get too short and her school is really picky about the dress code.

I agree with Jackie the prices I am paying for clothes for my kids since they are both in juniors sizes is way too much to go out and buy a bunch at once I like to but a little at a time but I won't be buying my oldest any new jeans until i have to since I think she is still in a growth spurt.

By Tayjar on Wednesday, August 6, 2008 - 10:05 am:

I stopped going to Wal-Mart for our supplies. I go to Staples and it's one stop shopping. My kids are older though and need items that Wal-Mart doesn't carry or they are the cheap brand that breaks easily. I pay a little extra for the quality but it lasts for 2 - 3 years versus getting new each year. Wal-Mart by me just carries all of the off-brand junk that breaks the first week.

Last year, I spent $400 on supplies. We have to buy alot of weird items, like jump drives, cds, reams of colored copy paper, special calculators, etc. This year we can reuse some of the electrical items so that will be a huge savings.

I wait and buy school clothes until after labor day. DD is on the softball team and has to wear either her uniform or a special t-shirt everyday for the first 2 weeks of school and DS wears t-shirts year around.

Tunnia - that happens at our school too. I get so tired of having to buy items over. I now mark my kids' names on everything, even on each crayon. I don't believe in the community supplies rule. I do send extra in with a note to the teacher to let the kids who are in need use these supplies. It's my way of helping but without my kids sacrificing their supplies.

By Dandjmom on Wednesday, August 6, 2008 - 11:46 am:

Annie2 and anyone else that needs to find certian/specific items. If you have a Staples in your area , check there paper each week. they have 1 cent and 5 cent deals there is usually a limit of 2 per person. but i just either pay seperate or I take my dd with me and she pays for her limit.
My ds is going to a new school Pre-K, yes there will be a lot of items that will become community property, I admit i too so hate to visit school and know that I have bought nice items for my kids to bring in but when the teacher passes them out they seem to get the cheapest,crappiest one of all. So I admit this year when buying the school supplies)( not finish) I opted for off brand instead of Elmer's I got target brand. I still hav ve to ge the baggies and instead of Zip lock I will get baggies form the dollar store.
the one item on the list that has me steaming mad is the two change of clothes that must stay at the school ( they have to be a complete uniform) mind you this is his first year at this school so we have to purchase them brand new. even they have to have a certain color sock. so I have to buy him 7 complete uniforms.

By Kate on Wednesday, August 6, 2008 - 12:13 pm:

Dandjmom, can't you buy him three or four of the pants and maybe four or five shirts at most?? You'll do laundry thruout the week and pants can be worn two or three days in a row depending on whether or not they spill. You can have a complete set stay at school and then still have two or three pants at home and three or four shirts at home....I would think that is plenty with laundry.

By Crystal915 on Wednesday, August 6, 2008 - 03:28 pm:

I'm so glad I'm not the only one!!!! And for those of you who have even worse lists, my sympathies!! I bought some school clothes now and will buy more later, because my budget was limited. This is all SO frustrating. I almost wish they had uniforms, it would be easier for me!!! We did get some community property stuff back last year, but who knows what happened to it between a move and the summer!!

By Dandjmom on Thursday, August 7, 2008 - 08:45 am:

I wish that was so. Now I can get away with that with my daughter she is 12. but he is 4 and using pants, glue and crayons, I don't see him not getting messy on a daily basics. I can't do laundry through out the week ( wish I could) I live in an apartment and the laundry mat is 4 to 5 blocks from my house so laundry is reserved for every Sat. I did think about ordering me a wash board and use just for his pants and just buy enough shirts, and rotate 3 pair. We would start out with 3 new pair after that first day of school I would just wash him out a pair each night hang to dry and then when we got home the evening I cold just iron them and wash the pair that he is currently wearing. I'm sorry didnt' mean to run on with this. But thanks for the advice. Oh i made myself tired just thinking of that. I think I would save a lot of time and energy if I just bought them for the whole week.
I found some with the snap at KMART that he can do

By Marie on Thursday, August 7, 2008 - 09:04 am:

My 2 first graders do the community share thing but I make sure that everything thing that they take to school has there name on it. We have a rough time getting our 4 in school the cost is outragious and I feel like I shouldn't have to buy for every other student in that class. I buy whats the cheapest and I dont buy name brand if the teachers want name brand then they can buy it. I have to buy 16 boxes kleenex thats 4 per child and I have to buy 4 packages of aaa and aa batteries which I can't figure out why. And my 1st graders they have to have 16 glue sticks 48 pencils. I am thankfull for staples. I went everday this week to get there sales you are only aloud 3 of each sale item. So I go everyday to get it. But I have bought 46 of the sprial note books and paid little over 3.00 for them there folders where .15 each you were aloud 10 but you got an instant savings of.15 that made them free so I got 30 folders free. pencils I paid .50 for 24 and I think I got 10 boxes of them but if you have a staples go look because they have been cheaper than wal-mart. Saturday here they are having a back to school bash at a local thrift store all summer they have a program to stuff the bus. But they are giving away over 2000 backpacks full of school supplies so I think we are going to go down and see everything little bit helps and this year it seems the roughest. good luck all.

By Dramamamma on Sunday, August 10, 2008 - 10:51 am:

Brendan is going to a new school this year, I go and register him tomorrow actually. I read on the schools website that next Friday and Saturday I can go to a certain school in the district and purchase his supplies pre-packaged. I told his dad and he's going to give me the $32.50 for a second grade package.

We have bought SOME school clothes but because we don't get cold for a while we won't go for more until later. He picked out a lunch box last time we were at walmart and next weekend we will get a new backpack. I'm actually VERY happy that is new school is more relaxed on the dress code, his last school had where he had to always have collars on, now he can wear a t-shirt as long there is no character on it. I'm thrilled!