by Ghostly Ghoul
Member since:
September 13, 2007

School Supplies - Are you kidding me? Are they making crayon and glue sandwiches?

August 14, 2009 01:39 PM EDT (Updated: August 14, 2009 08:07 PM EDT)
views: 168 | comments: 62

Ok first let me say my daughter is in Kindergarten, in my days that meant a Backpack and an old shirt for a paint smock, that's all they asked for.  Today this is what is required for Kindergarten -

  • 2 boxes 8 ct crayons
  • 3 boxes 16 ct crayons
  • 1 pair of scissors
  • 3 glue bottles
  • 6 glue sticks
  • 1 large eraser  *see notes on this one*
  • 1 plastic pencil box
  • 1 spiral notebook (70 pages)
  • 4 pocket folders (with holes)
  • 2 boxes of tissues
  • 1 box sandwich bags
  • 1 box gallon bags
  • 3 pack highlighters
  • 1 3 ring binder
  • 1 bottle hand sanitizer
  • 2 pack loose leaf paper

So this is what I think is going on, they are taking the crayons melting them down, mixing them with glue then serving them in the sandwich baggies for lunch.  HOW IN THE WORD COULD YOU NEED 5 BOXES OF CRAYONS?!?!?  9 THINGS OF GLUE!?!?

Are they making a community box of supplies?!

What is a kindergartener going to do with highlighters?

Loose leaf paper, she can't even write her name yet!

3 ring binder, for WHAT?!?!

Ok now the eraser I understand but because of my troubles with this list I went out and bought the biggest one I could find, thanks Dollar Tree!

Now what really pisses me off here - they are asking for 16 ct crayons, not 24.  So do you know the only company I found that made 16 count?  Crayola, great company but $3 a box!  That's $9 just for those!

Now I am thinking about returning to work to help with bills and they want me to spend $9 on one set of supplies?!?  If it were the 24 those were on sale everywhere for 25 cents.

Unwilling to pay that much and because I still have time I went to other stores and looked around.  Meaning if i was at Kmart i looked i didn't search out Kmart that's a waste of gas.

Finally by sheer luck, I went to Family Dollar to buy a tent for the yard sale.  There they were - no price.  So I had the guy price check them before he rang them up, I didn't want to be surprised with a $3 price tag.  65 cents!!!!  Hot damn!  SOLD!

I think it was clear they wanted crayola but ask me if I care!  If I didn't them I was going to buy the 24 and say oh well.

So here is how I did.

  • 2 boxes 8ct crayons - 99 cents each @ Target - $1.98
  • 3 boxes 16 ct crayons - 65 cents each @ Family Dollar -   1.95
  • 1 paid of sissors - $1.99 at CVS got $1.99 in EB so sort of free.
  • 3 bottles of glue - 2 @ Staples for 25 cents one at Target for 20 cents. - 70 cents
  • 6 glue sticks - CVS used 99 cents in EB paid $1, got $1.98 in EB  - $1
  • 1 large eraser - $1 at Dollar Tree
  • Pencil Box - Recycled kind - $3 at CVS
  • Spiral Note book - 1 cent at Staples
  • 4 folders with holes - 65 cents each at Big Lots - $2.60
  • 2 boxes of tissues - 4 pack for $1 at Dollar Tree - $1
  • 1 box sandwich bags - $1 at Dollar Tree made in USA
  • 1 Box gallon bags - $1 at Dollar Tree made in USA
  • 3 pack highlighters - $1 at Staples (was a 5 pack I am keeping 2 for myself)
  • 1 3 ring binder - $3.99 at Target
  • Bottle hand Sanitize - $1 at Big Lots
  • 2 packs of Paper - 1.98 at CVS and 1.98 in EB so sorta free
  • Back Pack - BOGO at CVS so $5 each. (bought one for my son)

Now the pencils and stuff I did buy her that I thought would be on her list... well they weren't so I am not counting those... *sigh*

Total for Paige - $30.20 and $5.95 in Extra Bucks

Patrick is starting Pre School here is his list.

  • Back Pack from CVS BOGO deal - $5
  • Tissues to donate to class (4 pack from Dollar Tree) - $1

Total $6

Now I sit here and think - what about those families that haven't been watching the CVS and Staples sales flyers.  I did shop for some durning the Tax free holiday but still this goes for watching and waiting.  I'd hate to see what I would have paid if I hadn't.

My question - can anyone tell me what they are going to do with all this crap?!?  Should I write her name on her stuff?

Now if they are asking because kids often waste and break, isn't this the perfect time to teach them how to take care of stuff?  Mommy and Daddy can't afford to keep buying you stuff so take care of your one box of crayons, and then if they break them send home a note requesting another set.  Don't ask for all up front!  *grr!*

Anyone wanna go tubing?

Here is a picture of my Daughter's Supplies

See the eraser - ask for a large and give me a complicated list, and the smart @$$ comes out in me.
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Comments: 62

Brenda (square peg in a round hole) H. Aug 14, 2009, 1:43pm EDT
I'm so glad my school shopping days are over so now I can sit back and laugh. LOL. Its crazy what they want kids to have now. I LOVE that eraser.

Should I bring my own tube or do you have an extra I can borrow?
Ghostly Ghoul Aug 14, 2009, 1:49pm EDT
We can rent them! Have you ever been mountain tubing? I am seriously thinking about giving it a whirl, now that my sister isn't pregnant we can go together and see how much fun it is. :0)
Brenda (square peg in a round hole) H. Aug 14, 2009, 1:51pm EDT
Honestly, I have never been tubing in my life but it sounds like fun.
Ghostly Ghoul Aug 14, 2009, 1:54pm EDT
If you ever made it out my way I'd take it. I am told with mountain tubing trails you can do it all year round (provided the weather behaves). I've always done it in the snow but it would be great to do it in the fall when it isn't too hot or too cold. and you know i'd have video for Gather lol!
what about the special "learning how to write" paper ? ? ?

there does seem to be some things there that a kindergardner probably won't use until 1st Grade....
Austin H. Aug 14, 2009, 2:04pm EDT
The baggies are for sending things home in, and sometimes not so good things home in. The crayons are going in a big box with all the rest. The glue is going in the same place, storage, The tissue, well we all know where thats going.
Ghostly Ghoul Aug 14, 2009, 2:35pm EDT
I am ok with the baggies, the tissues and so on. But 5 boxes of crayons! 9 glues! seriously?!?
Austin H. Aug 14, 2009, 2:04pm EDT
sniff sniff
Austin H. Aug 14, 2009, 2:05pm EDT
Oh and don't forget the apple for the teacher
Ghostly Ghoul Aug 14, 2009, 2:35pm EDT
Not sure I can afford one with this list...
Loretta E. Aug 14, 2009, 2:05pm EDT
I can tell you from my experience that they take the supplies you bought and give them out to children in the class that don't have any....then in a couple of months send a note home asking for more supplies. This bothers me....I have 3 children that I need to buy supplies for...I don't mind helping someone if I can afford it, but don't force me to supply for the class...I have learned to buy enough supplies now while the prices are cheap...I give my children their supplies as needed...they don't need 6 glue sticks now, ect. I hope what I have learned will help you
Ghostly Ghoul Aug 14, 2009, 2:32pm EDT
Yea that is my beef, I'd be happy to help those in need if you ASK me. Don't make me buy them all, I highly doubt I will buy anything else this year. I feel I have bought all the my daughter could possibly use. Might sound mean but I can't afford to buy other people's supplies.
Jenysie Jane Aug 14, 2009, 2:35pm EDT
I agree!!
A lot of it, i that the schools are cutting budgets, and not providing much of these supplies anymore. :(
Ghostly Ghoul Aug 14, 2009, 2:32pm EDT
I understand that - but Highlighters? 3 ring binder? 4 folders? It's kindergarten!!!
juley g. Aug 28, 2009, 11:34am EDT
I think we are being asked to buy supplies for the teacher. Why in the world would a kindergartener need highlighters and a 3 ring binder?? My son needed 10 1 1/4" binder clips. What in the world would they use those for?? and why would you need 10 of them?
Kat W. Aug 14, 2009, 2:15pm EDT
Loretta hit the nail on the head. I use to put my kids name on their supplies and both told me that the teacher would give something with their name on it to someone that had no supplies.
Loretta E. Aug 14, 2009, 3:09pm EDT
In the beginning I would give my kids everything that was on the school list, then went they started their classes the teachers have their own list. That was bad enough when they were younger, but when they start middle or high school and then have 8 different teachers asking for supplies it really gets out of hand. Then in my case having 3, the teachers don't understand that it is a burden on the family.
Teresa W. Aug 14, 2009, 2:23pm EDT
Yikes, I knew the budget cuts were affecting the schools but I didn't know it was that bad! When our boy started Kindergarten three years ago, all we needed was a backpack with his name on it. Not looking forward to seeing the list of things they'll need for school this year.
Brittney R. Aug 14, 2009, 2:33pm EDT
I think when I started school I was asked to bring crayons, large pencils, and tissues were on the "suggested but not required" list.

You are buying community supplies for the students who have parents that don't buy anything. And you're buying some of the teachers supplies as well. Our schools got so bad that they teachers were adding red pens, post-it notes, etc to the students "need" list.
Ghostly Ghoul Aug 14, 2009, 2:39pm EDT
I would be happy to help teachers and others as long as they tell me that's what I am doing. Heck I have some barely used glue sticks i'd be happy to send in pens up the wa-zoo. But be honest about it!
Jenysie Jane Aug 14, 2009, 2:35pm EDT
Yes you should write her name on EVERYTHING..that's what I did...and my daughter's kindergarten class (last year) actually wrote on the supplies list the name brand of the things that were required...

I had to buy $7 pencils, that NEVER go on sale, for a kindergartner!!!

I haven't even looked at the list for this year...I know I'm late...but I'm dreading school shopping....especially since I really want to homeschool....
Ghostly Ghoul Aug 14, 2009, 2:37pm EDT
Homeschooling is sounding better and better - depending on how this year goes.... If they ask for brand name i am going to laugh at them and tell them to buy it. You'll get what I can afford and that's it. I am sorry but food is more important than crayons.
Heidi Cole Aug 14, 2009, 2:48pm EDT
Yeah, they can take their brand names and shove them! $7 pencils don't work any better than 25 cent ones!
Heidi Cole Aug 14, 2009, 2:50pm EDT
But, I will say that I am definitely not a homeschool mom... I can't wait for my 5 year old to start school --- 10 days and counting. And he is excited too... so for us homeschooling is not appealing at all.
Jennifer N. Aug 14, 2009, 3:09pm EDT
Yep they REQUIRED FISKARS scissors here. Lucky for us we got the last pair at walmart.
tammy b. Aug 14, 2009, 2:35pm EDT
My school day are over too. It used to just irritate me why I needed to send a big box of klenex to school when all year long they opened one box as needed and I never got any back at the end of the school year. 20 plus kids no way did they use that many boxes of klenex in 9 months. Just supplied the teachers homes with that.
What ever happened to the school supplying these items?
Heidi Cole Aug 14, 2009, 2:47pm EDT
We were given the choice of buying the supplies from the PTA. All the proceeds then go to the school and believe me it will be the ONLY supplies I buy this year. The total was $45 for my kindgergartener, but honestly the TIME and HEADACHE it saved me and the fact that I don't have to take a 5, 3 and 1 year old school supply shopping made the $45 seem well worth it! I didn't even look at the list of supplies my $45 purchased. I just know that my to do list has one less MAJOR shopping trip on it... and I am one of those parents who doesn't have time or sanity to scour the shopping ads looking for the notebooks for a penny deals...

I agree that your list is a little over the top!
Kelly M. Aug 14, 2009, 2:53pm EDT
I'm a sub, and I must say, they really go through all of these things. It is amazing how quick those glue sticks go! A lot of teachers use the supplies as community supplies.
Ghostly Ghoul Aug 14, 2009, 7:52pm EDT
Then why use sticks? They don't work anyways, ask for more liquid glue.
Kelly M. Aug 14, 2009, 9:16pm EDT
Ever tried to clean-up a whole bottle of glue? Kindergarteners are not the neatest people!
Matthew M. Aug 14, 2009, 2:56pm EDT
wait until college, $1500 for a laptop, school supplies for a kindergartener don't sound so expensive...
Loretta E. Aug 14, 2009, 3:16pm EDT
Your so right Matthew, I have one in college now and his books prices are unbelievable....I guess down line is kids will put you in the poor house. LOL
Ghostly Ghoul Aug 14, 2009, 7:52pm EDT
She can get a job and pay for those herself.
Jersey McCormick Aug 14, 2009, 3:00pm EDT
Way to shop. School supplies are going up though. They can charge anything they want because you need to buy. Thank God for competition.
Sharon P. Aug 14, 2009, 3:03pm EDT
When I went to kindergarten, mom sent me with 2 pencils, 1 ordinary eraser, and a box of 8 crayons. Theat was 1947. I don't think she spent a dollar.
Heather ~of the Whippets~ M. Aug 14, 2009, 3:06pm EDT
Homeschooling her would be cheaper... Oh, and you'd know what was being fed to her mind, rather than trusting the public education system.
Jennifer N. Aug 14, 2009, 3:07pm EDT
Gideon's list was long, too. They want you to PROVIDE EVERYTHING. In Gideon's class they pooled all the supplies and they used them for the whole class (That's why so much) The school provided: Paper, scissors and pencils.

This year (and ever year here after til 5th grade) you are to BUY his scissors. Apparently the school can't be bothered to buy those either.
Marsha S. Aug 14, 2009, 3:16pm EDT
sounds crazy to me
Katharyne T. Aug 14, 2009, 3:17pm EDT
I am dreading school shopping, I spent so much last year on supplies for schools, that the teachers took gor the class. So needless to say I had to buy more supplies for the kids to do thier homework at home. I dont mind helping other kids, but when Im paying for 5 kids in school it adds up. Not to mention my older daughter in nursing school, at least she carries her supplies in her bag. I dont agree with the school keeping the supplies, they should be left in the kids bag.
this year I am not following any list. my kid in elementary school will get the basics, and no doubling up on supplies when they run out, I will get them more. For my highschool kids, if they dont have a locker this year, they get what they can carry in thier bags. those 3 ring binders get exspensive when you have to buy 3 or 4 for each kid. I go to the dollar tree, pencils, pens, erasers,sharpener,highlighters. Im not sure on notebooks I usualy buy way to many and they end up being doddled on.
There are many kids in this area whose parents will send them with no supplies or just a few. The reason isn't because they don't care, they just can't afford it. The supply list is huge to try to make up for the kids who don't have. Churches and one of the grocery stores here are doing school supply drives and will take anything.

I know we like to take care of our own and want our kids to have the best in educational supplies, but think of the extra supplies you buy as an investment in a kid who just may grow up and solve a problem and benefit you or others you know.
Ghostly Ghoul Aug 14, 2009, 7:54pm EDT
Then I say don't ask for name brand crayons! There are plenty of charities around here (staples for one) that will help if you ask. I donated to them. If they made it clear I was helping that fine but don't make it sound like my daughter is going to use all of this.
I see your point. I know I will use the word "Crayola" for any crayon. It's probably because I only use Crayola myself. It's like the word "Kleenex" to me means any tissue.

I couldn't afford the whole list so I would send in half at the beginning of the year and half after holiday break. The teachers were always cool with that.
Jenn P. Aug 14, 2009, 4:14pm EDT
I don't blame ya.. the first school my kids were in had a similiar list.. this year maddie's isnt that bad. she needs a 3 ring binder and crayon box..but ya know what.. I'm making her use the one I bought her last year for first grade (before she got moved back) yes the crayon box has been used here but oh well! And I'm tired of them making us buy named brand..why the heck does it matter?
Jenn P. Aug 14, 2009, 4:15pm EDT
LOL I love the eraser by the way
Tiffany v. Aug 14, 2009, 4:33pm EDT
I always write my son's name on everything. If I can fit his name on a package.....I am writing JEFFREY B in permanent markers. I also do not mind helping, but at least ask me first. There has been times in the past when parents have come in empty handed, and tried to actually take things from me and other parents and write their kids name on it. This is why I am soooooooooooooo picky.
Ghostly Ghoul Aug 14, 2009, 7:55pm EDT
Ask me - that is all i am asking! :0)
j - Frugal Mom - r. Aug 14, 2009, 5:58pm EDT
That sure is quite a list for Kindergarten.
Aubrey :) Aug 14, 2009, 5:58pm EDT
That is a crazy list for a kindergarten. I agree what are they doing with some of that stuff. ARe you buying for older kids too at the school? That is what it seems like or maybe for the teacher.

You did well though.

Enjoy the school days ahead.
Ghostly Ghoul Aug 14, 2009, 8:08pm EDT
I was talking to my mother and a preschool back home is asking for Highlighters. I can't wait to find out what they are used for.
Denise B. Aug 14, 2009, 6:44pm EDT
I bet the 3 16 count boxes of crayons are for a special project. my kids made some weird stuff in K. my son is off to 1st grade this yr and His list is even worse then yours :)
Bridget ♥ Aug 14, 2009, 7:29pm EDT
It's insane what they put on the school supply lists these days. Whatever happened to just needed paper and pencils?

I'd love for you to post this to my Back to School group!
Ghostly Ghoul Aug 14, 2009, 8:08pm EDT
Done! Thanks for the invite!
Sandy (Site Psychic™) Knauer Aug 14, 2009, 10:44pm EDT
If people weren't so opposed to higher taxes, the schools would still be able to supply everything and most people wouldn't miss the extra nickle out of each check. It's either this, or the teachers have to buy supplies.
Sophie S. Aug 15, 2009, 4:36am EDT
I totally want to go tubing!

As for the school supplies, I shopped all the free and cent sales that everyone has been having, spent $17 for the twins and myself-- threw some things in there for me since I will be studying for the MCAT.

I think we also have a ton of additional stuff, but you cannot get it as cheaply during the school year as you can now so it pays to buy extra. Those K lists are crazy though.
Brian T. Aug 15, 2009, 5:09am EDT
Wow these school supplies are expensive
Lori A Aug 15, 2009, 2:03pm EDT
That's a crazy list I can see how that could get really expensive
I would've gotten the 24 pack of crayons, right off the bat-- wouldn't have even looked anywhere else. You get what you can afford and why aren't pencils on a kindergartener's list, but an eraser is? Love that one, by the way.

Yes, this is getting way out of hand.
Sandy (back in Ohio...blah!) Aug 17, 2009, 12:36am EDT
I will not know what my kids need til the 20th. Needless to say I am sure it will be a long list. But I can not afford to buy everything that will be asked. This year is to hard..my kids will be using book bags from previous years. As well as scissors and stuff I could salvage.
Shawnee G. Aug 20, 2009, 2:46am EDT
OMgosh you are so lucky! That is about half the kindergarden list my son has. It is the same list I had last year for my daughter, but they added things to it on me. I have the list that includes peanut free snacks for 25 at least once a month, and paper cupe, and plates... urg.

As for " 3 ring binder, for WHAT?!?!" I thought the same thing last year, but bought and sent one anyway. I recieved a really neat memory book at the end of the year. The teacher went through month by month and saved some of the best work, and had them write their names and things throughout the year to add to it. There were also a bunch of photos and stuff that made it very special. I love it and am so glad she did it. It was nicer and more personal then any yearbook I have seen, and it was cheapo for the price of one binder. LOL.
Hopefully your 3 ring will be used for something of that sort.
Shawnee G. Aug 20, 2009, 3:36am EDT
Oh, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE the big@$$ eraser. Love the comments about it as well. Very funny.

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