What's on your back to school shopping list?

[bumplett]

I was WRONG!!!

I'm paying $200 each - so $400 total!

And it is for "rental" of text books.

[Emjo]

DS1's list for kindergarten:

-backpack
-lunch bag
-indoor shoes
-2 boxes kleenex
-2 packs baby wipes

I think all of his regular supplies are covered by the program - it's a government funded special needs program for kids with severe speech delays. Truth be told I was kind of bummed as I LOVED school supply shopping as a kid and I was looking forward to it!

We don't provide class snacks but we have to send a lunch and 2 snacks each day. I'm glad they do it that way as DS is on a gluten free diet and if it was classmate provided snacks he wouldn't be able to have a lot of it.

[mommy4ever]

Does anyone else have to provide snacks for the class? Up to the second grade my kids school has the students bring snacks to stock the teachers pantry with. I'd rather just stick my kids snack for the day in her backpack and let the other parents worry about their kids however I guess some kids wouldn't get a snack

I've never had to do that. I'd not like it at all. Some families would send things I don't let my kids have.

We did have a teacher request $4 to get a snack stash in case some one forgot a lunch. She had cheese and crackers packs, juice boxes, and always brought a few fruit from home. I had no problem with that. But not a snack supply for the year for every one!

I have the lists. DS fees are $200 plus his supplies. Binders, papers, pens, pencils, we had to get a graphing calculator for high school, which he lent to some one(after I told him NOT to) and it was never returned. I had him replace it with his own money....surprise, he still has it. He's in grade 12. DD14 is going into grade 9. Her fees are $100 + course fees(depends on options taken), and she has a small list. Binders, paper, scientific calculator, pens, pencils. DD12 and dd7 are homeschooled again this year. I spend more on them, but I get refunded most of it, as our gov't provides some funding. It pays for books, outside lessons, supplies. So it's great. Ironically, it costs me less to homeschool, and we do far more...go figure! I stay within my budget, unlike the schools who blow their budget and then get money nonstop from the parents. My kids have been in both public and catholic schools, both do the same.

[Cricketlegs]

I only have one kiddo left in school right now(non college) and she is going to be a sophmore so...

One really good backpack to last the entire year

A few folders, pens, pencils. markers, notecards and kleenex really is all we need. It gets easier in high school.

We already bought the $100+ calculator last year so we won't have that expense this year.

Now her jeans run $100 to $150 a pop. She is TALL and these are the only ones that fit but she is also the first one to say that she is fine adding the ones she already has to the ones I buy. bunch of shirts, a few pairs of shoes, socks(a million!) and her base which is $30 but it is perfect for her and I only buy it every 6 months with a coupon on sale.

We will get her hair trimmed and call it a day.

[jas]

Nothing!! Yay!!! This is the first year since 1990 that I don't have to buy back to school items!!! I guess I should be sad but I am not.

[jennordhavn]

Don't have the lists yet, but for my 7th grader this is what she needed last year for 6th grade (private independent school):

2 - 2 1/2" binders
1 - 1 1/2" binder
1 - 1/2" binder
4 - 1 subject notebooks
2 - USB flash drives
Graph paper
Filler paper (wide ruled)
Calculator (basic)
Spanish-English Dictionary
Book cover
100 pg. composition book
Combination lock for gym locker
Athletic shoes w/ non-marking soles (for PE), shorts/sweats, t-shirt
Sketchbook
Pencil box
Pencils - 72 pack suggested
Erasers
Ballpoint pens
Colored pencils or markers
Highlighters
10 dividers
Ruler
Protractor
Expanding locker shelf
Backpack (not to exceed 15" by 15")
Lunchbox
Magnets for locker

Should be able to reuse the flash drives and a few other things this year.

[bumplett]

I told both of my boys that the bibles we bought for school last year have to last them til 12th grade. ((not like the story's going to change))



Also, big J's dictionary has to last all 4 years of high school, and he should be able to use it in college as well. I won't buy another one.

The scientific calculator we bought for HS had to be replaced for this year. Last year's #8 broke out, so he couldn't use it. Stupid overpriced piece of crap. I HOPE the new one can make it 3 more years.

This will be our 3rd year for backpacks & lunch boxes, and going strong. We should make it another year or two - I just wash them when I need to, and I've drilled it into little j's head not to drag his backpack on the ground. If he takes good care of it, it should make it a few more years.

He's never been one for 'character' stuff, so he doesn't mind not having a new one. I did let him pick out a new pencil box that was kind of different. He doesn't ask for much, so I don' mind.

I love my kids.

[Cricketlegs]

I should also add sarah will need her eyes checked and her script for both contacts and glasses.

Oh course only ONE eye has astigmatism so that cost extra! Blah!

She also has to get some shot boosters....dang lol!

[scrap_candles]

I know the school districts here have dozens of teachers to pay along with multiple buildings they have to operate so of course their budget is high but the state gives x amount of money to the schools per student and then they get property taxes, levys, etc on top of that. What I don't unerstand is how they are charging so much for the kids school fees now, along with all the "pay to play" sport fees (which just 6 years ago were free, and are now over $300 per sport) and they are using some of the same text books (history, biology, spanish, I know are the same) as they have for over 15 years and when I home schooled through the state virtual academy, they were able to get NEW textbooks, workbooks, and teacher guides each year, along with a computer, and all the science and art supplies sent directly to me for FREE! All we had to buy for school while they were homeschooling was paper, pens and pencils. And ink for the printer that the school sent with the computer. We still had a teacher we had to have a personal meeting with 4 times per year (2 were during state testing in the spring) the other were during field trips that were free except my gas and food. He had 3 online classes a day that they had to pay teachers for etc. The state gave the virtual academy the same money per student that was enrolled that it gave the public schools and they dont have so much overhead but really the quality of what they got was unbelievable! I think the schools around here have the same problem as our government, they just do not spend wisely at all.

[mommy4ever]

I should also add sarah will need her eyes checked and her script for both contacts and glasses.

Oh course only ONE eye has astigmatism so that cost extra! Blah!

She also has to get some shot boosters....dang lol!

I have an astigmatism, and it's considered a single vision lens, nothing special about it.

I just ordered glasses from clearlycontacts.ca on a promotion for free glasses I did pay a little as I like my UV and scratch coats. So $50 YEAH! Plus the contacts are $100 cheaper than costco.

[bumplett]

oh, I forgot about glasses - yes, I took little j to get 2 pair beore school starts, we went to america's best & got 2 pair for $69. (plus extra for transition lenses for one pair)