P.K.
Don't worry. What he will need, you will be able to pick up in 20 minutes. It is only Kindergarten. One quick trip to Target and you are done.
My little guy is starting kinder the first week of August, and we have not received any sort of orientation packet or anything that tells what supplies he will need, where he goes, who his teacher is...nothing! There is also no information on the school's website, and the offices are closed until the very end of July. I don't have time to wait and do this all at the last minute.
Can some of you experienced mamas tell me what your school required when starting kinder? Pencils? Markers? Do they provide it all at this level? I have no clue. I know the list is different from grad to grade, but he's my first starting school, and it's been a while since I've done it myself :)
Thanks!
Thank you for the info. The first day is August 6th!!
Don't worry. What he will need, you will be able to pick up in 20 minutes. It is only Kindergarten. One quick trip to Target and you are done.
We never got anything, including classroom assignments, until the day before school started. The teachers don't expect you to have supplies on the first day, they usually ask for you to have supplies by the second week or so.
Don't shop until you get the list because every school is different and you may be surprised what they ask for, like tissues and ziploc bags!
You can start to get the basics but really you should wait for the school list. The few things that are a probably a guarantee to get is kleenex, crayons, scissors, glue, glue sticks and construction paper. Some schools are brand specific on some items (they may last longer, be better quality etc.). I wouldn't go overboard in case you need to return any of the items you buy before you get the official list.
Good luck on your 1st entering school :)
I think it really varies with each school, even within a district. My son was in kinder last year. Each child had to have their own lunchbox and a two pocket folder with their name on it. They were not allowed to bring backpacks, notebooks, binders, etc.
The classroom supplies, like crayons, markers, glue, pencils, scissors, etc were shared by all of the kids. Each family was asked to donate some for general use in the class. Here's what our list included last year:
The School will provide all of the necessary supplies for your child to
have a quality educational experience. However, you may choose to
assist the school by purchasing the following supplies for your
student.
Donations are greatly appreciated!
•28 box of crayons (preferably Crayola)
•4 glue sticks
•1 two pocket
(at bottom) folder
•NO BACKPACKS
–
Lunch Boxes are permitted
2. Other donations that our class would benefit from:
•1 box of facial tissues
•Baby wipes
(not antibacterial wipes)
•Scholastic Weekly Magazine (“Let’s Find Out”) for the year $6.00
•Markers
Boys–thin tip
Girls – broad tip
Please write your child’s name on their lunch box, folder and outer clothing.
We also recommend having supplies at home for homework.
Field trips:
Please note that kindergarten teachers will request around $40.00 in fees during the year to support field trips.
PTA Room Representative:
PTA Room Representatives will also request parent support and a small donation to cover class room parties and events.
plus you want to wait for the sales to start. A box of crayons is easily .59-.99 cents a box. I also suggest if it is in your ability to get double or triple supplies. One, so you have the same set of things at home and two so you can help supply those students that may not be able to afford the supplies.
Our lists tend to be brand specific (Fiskars, Elmers, etc.). Here's the list for this year:
KINDERGARTEN
1 Pair Fiskar student scissors
1 Box 24 crayons
2 large bottle WHITE school glue
6 glue sticks
1 Box of Ziplock baggies quart size
2 Pencils sharpened
1 large pink eraser
1 Double Pocket folder
1 pkg. Dry Erase Markers (Expo brand)
1 pkg. computer paper white
2 Box of tissues
1 highlighter
1 Small pencil box with lift up lid
1 Box of markers (thin or wide)
1” three ring binder
It does vary with each school but you cannot go wrong buying some supplies now. Even if something is not used, you can pretty much be sure it will next year or or even at home. I buy 24 pack of crayons. I buy them at Walmart because they are usually only 25 or 30 cents. I buy at least 10 packs and I make sure they are not broken. They go up to $2.99 after school starts in my area. A pair of safety scissors, washable markers, construction paper, glue sticks and a bottle or 2 of school glue. Some schools do not like the liquid glue because kids can make a mess. A 24 pack of pencils and a couple of folders. I am in the same boat as my daughter starts K at the end of August and no supply list for K.
You could call the school district office and ask them how they do things, when school supply lists become available, etc.
Our list is so specific with really odd things that I wouldn't do any shopping before I saw the list. My son is going into first grade, and they want pencil boxes with specific dimensions. I'm us that the pencil box they are looking for will be easy to find, but I might have bought the wrong one if I started shopping without the list.
Every school is different. Don't waste your time and money until you need to. Backpack and lunch box. And as others have said, you can pick up what you need after the first day of school.
It depends on the school. My understanding is that the state of California is mandated to provide all the supplies that the children need. That is what our school in California told us. However, I know of several schools in the same district whose PTAs provided lists of supplies to incoming parents. And yes, they were brand specific. But I think these were all to go in a general classroom supply pot and not necessarily for use by your individual child.
The only thing we had to get our kids was a backpack so they can carry their snacks, lunches (if they aren't buying school lunch), homework, and other school notices. I never once bought him any school supplies for the classroom.
If you are still unsure, try contacting your school's PTA.
we get our lists pretty early. But for the classroom and teacher assignments, we don't find out until the day before school starts.
Chances are if he's in public school you won't find anything out until the first day of school. Even their teacher and classroom assignments. They do that so the school isn't bombarded by parents trying to change their child's teachers before school even starts.
And usually public schools are required to provide the school supplies, but the teacher might have a classroom wish list.
Don't go crazy buying stuff for your own kid. Chances are half of it will come back at the end of the year unused.
If private school, different story. Usually YOU are expected to buy all the supplies, and expect to have to buy things all year as needs arise.
Same thing though, buy a good school supply box, and expect half the stuff to come back at the end of the year unused. Such a waste, but they like to cover all the bases just in case.
When my guys started kindergarten we went for orientation in May, right after registration for September start, and received our supply lists at the end of June when the other students got their report cards. At our school the kinders used "community supplies", which meant parents just wrote a cheque for $30 to the teacher and she supplied everything. All we needed to bring was indoor shoes, backpack, Kleenex, and a couple of Ziplock bags. It does sound as though you have missed some communication, so I would call the board office just to make sure.
ETA: Reading through the answers I see that things are done really different in the US than here in Canada! You don't register, get class assignments or school supply lists until the day before school starts? Yikes! We get class assignments and supply lists with our report cards, and we have to register in May for September!
Well that's a shame they don't tell you anything per incoming Kinder kids.
All the schools I know here, have a website with all the info on it and the supply lists or they mail you info to your home.
And the school office, IS open. Year round.
The school office staff, is there.
Every school will vary in what is needed for supplies.
It is not the same for all schools.
And if you just buy stuff willy nilly, it may be a waste of money.
check your local walmart etc. In my area they have a display set up with all the school supply lists for each grade for all the schools in the area
Well, it varies so much! I think that there's no harm in making sure he has a pack of crayons, some #2 pencils, a few folders, a full-sized backpack, a lunchbox (if need be) and a pair of kid-sized scissors. You can use all that at home if you don't need it for school (except maybe the lunchbox). I got DD a Jansport bag on sale and while it looks humongous on her, I've been advised that a backpack should hold a folder and the half sized ones are too small. If you know another family with older kids, ask them what they needed.
When you go to registration, yes, usually at the end of July, they'll have a list of supplies. I don't recommend buying on your own or you're just going to be upset. Those lists are often very specific.
Of course, in my area, all we need to do is go to Walmart. They set up a display with all of the supply lists for the area schools by grade. Just grab one and shop.
Call Staples, Office Depot,Office Max and Target and ask them if they have a school supply list for kinders for your school. If they do, then you're set.
They probably do NOT provide the supplies you've asked about in the classroom. It won't take you too long to buy what is on the list, really. It's pretty much all in one place.
On August 1st, give a call to the school and ask the school secretary if kinders have naps during the day, and if they do, if they sleep on a mat. Ask her if she knows where you can buy the mat. They may actually sell the mats - my son's school did. That's one good reason to wait until the beginning of August. PLUS, the school supplies usually go on sale in August and you can save money if you wait a bit.
I definitely would not just go out and buy supplies. You might end up having your son come home from school the first day with a supply list, and you may have bought all the wrong stuff! It's sounds pretty weird to me that you haven't heard anything from the school. The supply list might be posted online. I would check there, or you can call the school. We have a "Popsicles on the Porch" day about one week before school starts. Everyone comes with all their supplies, finds out their teacher, and then goes to the classroom to drop off the supplies and meet the teacher. Call your school and ask if they have something like that. It's not crazy that you don't know your son's teacher yet (I know schools often are still working on all that right up to the end!), but I imagine you'll find out about a week before the first day. Good luck and I hope he has a great year!
So when does school start? I mean, it's got to be at least the 3rd or last week of August, if not after Labor Day, so even if you get the info end of July, you still have plenty of time.
Most of the time in kindergarten some pencils, crayons, etc. are provided and available the first day. Maybe they will ask for donations of things like paper, glue, Kleenex, etc., but they don't need it all the very first day. There's usually a kindergarten orientation/meet-n-greet just before school starts so that still gives you time to pick up whatever few things he might need. At least I would send him with a back pack and a lunch box if he's going to need a snack or lunch from home while he is there.
But really...just relax. It's only kindergarten. You got plenty of time to figure it out and it is not the end of the world if he doesn't have everything on the list the first day, or even the first week.
The schools around here do not send out teacher assignments until a day or 2 before meet the Teacher night which is a Friday night right before school starts on Monday am.
It is done this way because if they send out the assignments too early, you have all the drama of parents wanting the same teacher the big sibling had, children want to be in the same class, etc. It just stops the drama to do it this way.
As for what he needs, most schools pre sell packages of supplies in the spring as a fundraiser. Those who choose not to participate in that fundraiser also get a list of schools supplies for each grade level. It in in the local section of the newspaper as well as the Office Supplies stores.
Does your school have a facebook page? Many do and you can get a lot of info from the FB or PTA page.
Best wishes to your little one for a successful year!
When mine started K...the teacher only asked for a pencil box, wipes, and tissues (along w/ backpack and lumch box) SHE (not the school) supplied the rest so it would all be exactly the same. His K teacher has long since left and the ones ther now send a huge list of suppllies from what I understand....check w/ your local Staples/walmart/target, etc to see if they have a list of sorts
So, a quick search shows y'all start school on 6 August, which seems really early. WOW! I'd wait for the orientation on 5 August or hit up my local Wal-Mart for a list as others have suggested. Lists aren't put for us yet, but our schools don't start til after Labor Day or at least the last week in August.
Kinder teachers will usually provide most of these supplies for the kids. on the first day of school the teacher will let you know if there's anything else your child will need or if she/he has a wish list for the classroom. Other than waiting the the office to open and give you more information there's not much more you can do unless you want to risk purchasing a bunch of stuff that will not be needed.
Our school does provide a list at the end of every school year of what the child will need the following school year. However, in your case, it could be classroom to classroom based, so the teacher may give you a list when school starts. On the first day of class, I would just introduce yourself and ask the teacher if there is anything she would like you to purchase for your child and/or if there are any items she may need for the coming year (scratch paper, pencils, pens, craft items you may have, etc.). Every year, I bring a giant batch of scratch paper that they share among all the classes because my works has banner pages print before each person's print job that would go to waste otherwise.