Does your school provide any school supplies?

[peg2001]

Originally posted by nkjzmom
Peggy...where do you live? Your school sounds just like ours! Not only do we provide items for our students but then we're asked to bring in boxes of tisses, soap, hand sanitizer, sharpies, and the dry erase markers for the white boards.

Do the teachers REALLY go through that many dry erase markers? I understand that not every student brings them in....but I've got markers that I use constantly in our home on the calendar and for list making and they've lasted for years!

nkjzmom, it turns out that I'm your neighbor to the north, in Tennessee. I can't answer your dry erase marker question though, I have yet to be asked to send those in. My DH did balk at the 2 reams of paper last year for kindergarten. We sent in 1 ream.

Peggy

 

[cgcw]

We're another in the group of a consumable material fee (I think $26) and a supply list given out at the end of the school year. There are always items like wipes, kleenex, liquid soap, etc. on there. In kindergarden, the school list included dry erase markers and sticky tack. I had a problem sending either of them since I knew my DS wouldn't use them. However, I was more than willing to send in the extra boxes of wipes and kleenex's throughout the year when the class supply would get low.

The one that got me was when DS started 1st grade -- they were required to have a Texas Instruments calculate --- a certain model number. Could not find in the local store and ended up having to order it from TI. It wasn't an overly expensive model but it wasn't used at all during the year. In 2nd grade, they had a different model number listed and I didn't run out to buy it. We tucked the 1st grade model into his school supply bag. Low and behold, they never used it during 2nd grade. I don't have a problem supplying what they need and will use, but to me, this was a bit much.

 

[gshoemate]

Nope, had to buy a whole list of stuff. And her school wears uniforms so I had to go buy those also. On Fridays she can wear school spirit shirts so I have to buy those to...boy thats a lot of money.

 

[mom2boys]

Some teachers even have the kids keep an old clean sock in their desk for easy wipe off!

So that's what my 4th grader will be doing with "one man's white sock". That one had me stumped. He does need dry earse markers too.
We have the option of ordering a package from a supply company or getting them on our own. At there last school, we were "strongly encouraged" to purchase the package. It didn't contain the right things and we ended up having to send in money for the right type of 2nd grade paper.
For Kindergarten they sent the wrong list. After everyone had bought, they sent home a new list & suggested we keep the stuff for homework supplies. (We did end up using most but...)

 

[MerryPoppins]

Nothing is provided. You can pick up a list for your child's school/grade at the local Target or Walmart in July or you can pay the PTA for a packet of supplies at enrollement in August (at elementary and middle school level). The high school doesn't give out supply lists. You just show up with paper and pencil and each class tells you what you'll need the first week of school.

We used to buy the packet from the PTA, but the last few years the kids have decided they want to choose their own things.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

Peg 2001 said,

"Not only does our public school NOT provide school supplies, but the list they send home for parents to provide includes items like soft soap and hand sanitizer for the bathrooms, and reams of paper for the teacher. "



I am a public school teacher and even though our school does supply the basics( paper pencils and 3 crayons) we are not ALLOWED to ask for anything from the parents. SO where do you think the glue that holds your Valentine card comes from? Where do you think the markers that color you child's maps come from? Where do you think the folder that your child brings home his paper comes from? Where do you think the little prizes and gifts come from? I could go on and on. Reams of paper for the teacher??? And what do you think these teachers are doing with the "reams of paper"? Printing money for themselves?

Oh then again buying soap? Yes that is a real luxury. When a child has his finger up his nose or other "places" would you prefer he eat lunch without washing his hands?? Or maybe the 25.00 goes for the doctor bill the teacher has when he/she gets step numerous times because the student does not have any tissues from home and wipes his nose with his hands and then on his paper?

Wow you are right 25.00 that certainly buys a whole lot of useless stuff . Must be spent on all those long trips to Bermuda.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

should read strep not step I am a teacher not a typist

 

[jjskribs]

WOW I teach first grade and the only things we ask for are a box of kleenex and 4 glue sticks. My budget this year was less than $300 to buy EVERYTHING that my class needed for the year. Needless to say that money doesn't go far and I wind up spending hundreds of dollars out of my own pocket. We need to ask the parents to help out a little more but my principal has always frowned upon that. I teach in a very affluent town!

 

[CourtasanSatine]

I just got out of HS but remember having to buy tons the first week of school(plus tissues during allergy season since I went through them like crazy)

best part: the clothes and a cute bag

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

Originally posted by Bella the Ball 360

I am a public school teacher and even though our school does supply the basics( paper pencils and 3 crayons) we are not ALLOWED to ask for anything from the parents. SO where do you think the glue that holds your Valentine card comes from? Where do you think the markers that color you child's maps come from? Where do you think the folder that your child brings home his paper comes from? Where do you think the little prizes and gifts come from? I could go on and on. Reams of paper for the teacher??? And what do you think these teachers are doing with the "reams of paper"? Printing money for themselves?

Oh then again buying soap? Yes that is a real luxury. When a child has his finger up his nose or other "places" would you prefer he eat lunch without washing his hands?? Or maybe the 25.00 goes for the doctor bill the teacher has when he/she gets step numerous times because the student does not have any tissues from home and wipes his nose with his hands and then on his paper?

Wow you are right 25.00 that certainly buys a whole lot of useless stuff . Must be spent on all those long trips to Bermuda.

A little bitter? I'm guessing the supplies my child uses comes out of the $25 fee I cough up at the beginning of the year, along with the $40 I just spent on supplies for him alone (which, incidentally, included markers, glue sticks, and plenty of folders). Oh yes, and then there's that matter of the taxes I pay. I don't think it's too much to ask for the school district to buy soap.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

Originally posted by Bella the Ball 360

I am a public school teacher and even though our school does supply the basics( paper pencils and 3 crayons) we are not ALLOWED to ask for anything from the parents. SO where do you think the glue that holds your Valentine card comes from? Where do you think the markers that color you child's maps come from? Where do you think the folder that your child brings home his paper comes from? Where do you think the little prizes and gifts come from? I could go on and on. Reams of paper for the teacher??? And what do you think these teachers are doing with the "reams of paper"? Printing money for themselves?

Oh then again buying soap? Yes that is a real luxury. When a child has his finger up his nose or other "places" would you prefer he eat lunch without washing his hands?? Or maybe the 25.00 goes for the doctor bill the teacher has when he/she gets step numerous times because the student does not have any tissues from home and wipes his nose with his hands and then on his paper?

Wow you are right 25.00 that certainly buys a whole lot of useless stuff . Must be spent on all those long trips to Bermuda.

A little bitter? I'm guessing the supplies my child uses comes out of the $25 fee I cough up at the beginning of the year, along with the $40 I just spent on supplies for him alone (which, incidentally, included markers, glue sticks, and plenty of folders). Oh yes, and then there's that matter of the taxes I pay. I don't think it's too much to ask for the school district to buy soap.

 

[peg2001]

Originally posted by Bella the Ball 360
Peg 2001 said,

"Not only does our public school NOT provide school supplies, but the list they send home for parents to provide includes items like soft soap and hand sanitizer for the bathrooms, and reams of paper for the teacher. "


I am a public school teacher and even though our school does supply the basics( paper pencils and 3 crayons) we are not ALLOWED to ask for anything from the parents. SO where do you think the glue that holds your Valentine card comes from? Where do you think the markers that color you child's maps come from? Where do you think the folder that your child brings home his paper comes from? Where do you think the little prizes and gifts come from? I could go on and on. Reams of paper for the teacher??? And what do you think these teachers are doing with the "reams of paper"? Printing money for themselves?

Oh then again buying soap? Yes that is a real luxury. When a child has his finger up his nose or other "places" would you prefer he eat lunch without washing his hands?? Or maybe the 25.00 goes for the doctor bill the teacher has when he/she gets step numerous times because the student does not have any tissues from home and wipes his nose with his hands and then on his paper?

Wow you are right 25.00 that certainly buys a whole lot of useless stuff . Must be spent on all those long trips to Bermuda.

Nothing in my original post was a slam on the teachers. My apologies if you read it as such. $25 per student *22 kids per class * 6 classes per grade * 6 grades in the school = almost $20,000 that our school was requesting from parents. I didn't think it was too much to ask to know where the money was going.

When I was a child, so very many years ago, the school provided such luxuries as soap in the bathrooms and paper for the teachers. I just noted that it was odd that now parents are now requested to send soap, paper, etc.

Peggy

 

[cindala]

The only thing our school provides for my DD in HS is her books. There isn't any rental fee, but we pay $8500 in property tax each year, so that should cover it!

When the girls were in grammar school, they got a list each year of what had to be purchased by us.

 

[Mskanga]

WOW, I consider myself lucky after reading all this. Our school provides for kleenex, soap and all that stuff and I know the teachers have a budget the school gives them plus another small budget from the PTA at the beginning of the year for whatever the classroom needs. I usually ask the teacher if there's something they may need , because sometimes I come across sales of something I may be able to get for them. The big item has always been snacks for the kids that go to school without snacks, usually I get a huge bag of animal crackers or pretzels. Our teachers don't ask , but I guess since I volunteer for the school , I know more what teachers get and don't get.
I don't mind buying what they need, but it would be nice if they gave us a list of things, right now the older grades only get a binder and I guess they think the parents already know the rest.

 

[dtuleya]

Our school supplies everything the kids need. We just buy a new book bag and lunch box. When oldest DS went to Catholic school they gave us a list of things to buy. My son actually liked buying his own school supplies. I work for the school district that my boys attend now and we are lucky that we have a great tax base. In Pennsylvania, homeowners pay local taxes that go to their local school district. I realize alot of states don't do it that way. I realize we are very lucky that our district is able to still provide these things for the students. Dwindling budgets and rising costs are a problem that alot of districts have deal with. It's a shame that school and classroom supplies can't be included for all students.

One of the elementary schools in our district has a higher percentage of "transient students" due to a large low-income apartment complex that has month to month rentals. I always think about those students whose parents either can't or don't buy them the bare necessities for school (like appropriate coats, shoes, etc.) Our PTA has established a "Sunshine Fund" for those less fortunate. When a teacher sees that a student doesn't have a necessity a request is made to the principal for that item. The principal then contacts the family to see if they may help the child. Usually the parents are accommodating. The principal asks sizes, etc., buys the items and then gives the receipt to the PTA for reimbursement. This way it is anonymous and nobody knows which students receive aid. Each of our buildings does a holiday drive bases on teacher recommendations. We are given a "Wish List" that has sizes, toys, food, money and all types of things listed. We go shopping and purchase these items or donate cash. The items are then wrapped and distributed by the administrators of our district so that again, it is anonymous. We get so many thank you notes from families who are struggling and appreciate the added help.

 

[isyne4u]

I teach in a public middle school and the school does not provide the basic supplies. We only provide books, art materials (if enrolled) and tech ed materials (if enrolled). Our students can get supply lists at their local Walmart, Target, Office Max, and Kmart for their schools. These are usually basic lists and not what individual teams want.

I always keep stacks of notebook paper, notebooks, pencils, pens, glue sticks, construction paper, scissors, calculators etc in my classroom for those times when students don't come prepared. Unfortunately, it is more often than not! My supplies in my classroom come from my pocket and those of my family. Instead of donating to the local stores to distribute to under priveledged (sp.) kids, my family provides them to me to make sure my students have their supplies. I do send home a list at the beginning of the year that includes kleenex (I hate for the kids to use the tree bark the school provides), hand sanitizer, and soap for my classroom. I usually have at most 2 students that will bring in any of that stuff. But I don't reminde them or hound anyone for it b/c I know what their situation is. I also provide the rewards for the class. I always keep candy on hand for those moments when you gotta have chocolate, as a reward for showing their planner to their parents and getting it signed, stickers for my students who are tube fed so they don't get to eat the candy. I also keep on hand crackers for students who miss breakfast or forget their lunch money (and didn't tell me before lunch) or for those times that you are just hungry! But as I said before, my own family helps me provide these goodies to the class as well as one or two parents who will call me up and say, "Hey I found a great deal at Target you want some?" I never turn down donations.

Just talking about school supplies makes me want to go out and start stocking up on the supplies. I'm worse than the kids!!

tara

 

[Mskanga]

Dtuleya, I live in PA too but it depends on the school districts, our for example supplies everything they need for kindergarten and first grade, from that point on , parents buy everything except for a folder that the PTA provides the kids at the beginning of the year. The only thing the school supplies to the kids at that point is the books and things they may need in the classroom, ( tissues, etc ). I heard that last year kids going into 5th grade were required to have folders in certain colors for certain subjects, that's what I would like to have information about before school starts, not after. I'm not by any means saying the school should supply those, I can afford to buy them, but it would be nice to know before hand.

 

[dtuleya]

I totally agree with you. As soon as the schedules/classroom placements are finished, the teachers should send mail a list of needed classroom supplies home to the students. It would make it much easier for the students and parents to be prepared and not wait until after school starts to make a mad rush to the nearest Walmart to get everything.

 

[MerryPoppins]

Not meaning to hijack the thread, but dtuleya made me remember something I thought I might share.

When we moved across town 8 years ago this October, DS was in the 2nd grade. It was hard starting in the middle of the school year at a new school and he was shy. The other kids had purchased school t-shirts from the PTA, but we were too late to place an order. So on special days when they'd all plan to wear the school shirts, DS was odd guy out.

When he went on to middle school he didn't want to keep his elementary t-shirts, so he went to the school counselor. He took a whole pile of school shirts and asked if she could keep them to give to someone who either missed the cut off date to order or who maybe didn't have the money to buy one. It might not match the current shirt, but at least they'd have one to wear. Last year, DD carried on the tradition, by giving the school her old school shirts.