phdmomma, I bought some school supplies the other day that would specifically help us stay more organized with distance learning, like color coded folder bins, pencil boxes, etc. for each kid. But now I'm wondering if I should go get crayons, pencils, etc... since we'll be in person and I don't think they will be allowed to share supplies. We've never had to buy that stuff before - our district provides everything - but it feels like it would be smart to pick up some stuff just in case since this year is so different.
waverly, twinmomma, After posting I ordered supplies from Office Depot online (which made me feel better, and is seriously an under rated place to buy school stuff- typically our target is decimated). They have a ton of stuff on special and a decent deal on the really expensive pencils our schools always request (anybody know why they love the Ticonderoga ones?). Our supply lists aren't up yet, but having been in the district for a few years, I ordered boxes of markers, pencils, crayons, etc., and folders in each primary color (they are also super specific about folders and their colors for some reason?). I figure that whatever we don't need, we will either use for homeschooling (if the district doesn't open) or stash away the extras in a box for when they run out of something.
twinmomma, I'm surprised your district has enough for PPE supplies, especially considering you haven't had to provide supplies before.. parents supply a ton here.
twinmomma, I'm surprised your district has enough for PPE supplies, especially considering you haven't had to provide supplies before.. parents supply a ton here.
Truth. During a tour of a private school the principal mentioned how expensive expo markers are and I was like “I know! They’re on the school supply list every year.”
She was like “really! I should add them to ours. We’ve been buying them...”
Sorry parents of that school. I should’ve kept my mouth shut.
k3am, For PPE they're providing every kid with 5 washable masks to start the year, plus 5 for all staff and extras of washable and disposable to have on hand in each room. Plus all the plexi shields for each seat.
In the past, we've never had to supply stuff like crayons, pencils, etc. I've had to buy pencil boxes, but that's it. When we started distance learning last spring they sent home a small box of crayons, a pair of scissors, and a ruler for each kid with all the other stuff. But I think I'll grab some of those basics now, just in case.
For stuff like tissues, hand sanitizer, Clorox wipes, etc. some teachers ask for donations of it and I always send some in throughout the year. But we don't get a list to start the year of required materials.
But brace yourself for a bunch of free-staters who strongly believe in the live free or die principles. No masks, no seatbelts, no motorcycle helmets, no income tax, no sales tax, but property taxes through the roof!
24x pencils - Ticonderoga only 1x 24 pack crayons - Crayola only 1x pink eraser 1x yellow highlighter 1x 5" scissors 5x black dry erase pens - Expo only 1x 5" dry erase felt eraser - Expo only 1x 8 count thick markers - Crayola only 4x large glue sticks 1x pencil box 1x box of tisusses 1x clorox wipes 1x baby wipes 1x hand sanitizer 1x headphones (no ear buds) 2x reams of copy paper
The lists get longer the older your child is. And they are adamant about buying the right brands. We couldn't find Expo erasers, so DH sent in what they buy for work and it got sent back home with her.
Our first year in the district for K we had to buy triangle Ticonderoga pencils. Try finding those anywhere. My work had to buy them from our supplier, and I reimbursed them. Now of course they are easy and cheap in Amazon. Not sp back then.
I will say.. my sister is a teacher, so I've spent the last 20 years listen to her complain about the off brand crayons and pencils. They really are crappy.
The worst offenders are the kids party favor plastic wrapped "cute" pencils...
I will say.. my sister is a teacher, so I've spent the last 20 years listen to her complain about the off brand crayons and pencils. They really are crappy.
The worst offenders are the kids party favor plastic wrapped "cute" pencils...
Yes, I hate those! I was keeping them since they are cute, but they don’t work so I threw them away during elearning so we had pencils that actually work.
twinmomma we moved to SoCal from your state - we lived in the upper valley from 2006-2008. Those free staters are something else. It was fun to be there during a presidential campaign then - maybe not so much this time around.
According to BFF, a teacher, cheap pencils don’t sharpen well so the kids will sharpen for 20 minutes, down to a nub, and still not have a workable point on the pencil. Which I remember from my school days. I was a kid with cheap pencils.
sdlaura, Normally I love primary and election season. I totally take it for granted how much easy access to candidates we have. I was in college leading up to the 2008 election and it was amazing! This time around, it's just plain nuts.
k3am, waverly, I'm always shocked when I see lists like that. I figured it had to be the exception, not the norm. But I've now realized my district is the exception.
twinmomma , the best part is that half the time the request quantities of items that aren't sold that way. Like glue sticks aren't sold in 4 packs, they're in 5 or 6 packs? We've always just bought a full pack and send in a full pack.
It's not possible at this point, but it would be great if the teacher could just say.. "send $100, I'll buy in bulk, get exactly what I want, and it will be cheaper and easier for everyone involved." (I mean.. this is what your district does but without requiring the cash from the parents.)
They kiiiiiiiiiind of do it by coordinating with a company that will buy your items for you, but it's not a cost saving to the parent. But it is a fundraiser for the school.
Post by traveltheworld on Jul 16, 2020 13:19:35 GMT -5
Our school district has a crazy long list of school supplies that we need to get. Included in this year's list: 48 pencils. I don't think my child needs 48 pencils.
traveltheworld... 48 pencils? There are 180 days of school? So a pencil only is expected to last 3.75 days? That's nuts. Or maybe they assume that only 4 parents will actually buy supplies?
Post by mustardseed2007 on Jul 16, 2020 13:45:45 GMT -5
So I talked to my inside source. Found out that we are not, in fact, finding out today. Instead it will be another survey. They are having a staffing issue given that we are at a level 1. So they're trying to find out where parents stand because where the teachers stand has changed
Lots of things are on the table. Including being open on time for virtual learning but having facilitators inside the school who will basically be providing child care and facilitating the virtual learning experience for parents who can not manage that at home.
When she told me that I was like...no we wouldn't do that. The more I thought about it the more valuable that could be to some parents. Liiiikely not us because we do have a sitter who could do that facilitation and we would avoid germs, but its sort of a different version of optional in person or virtual.
But I told the school they need to make a decision soon. I advocated for pushing the start date back to The first part of september. They are keenly aware that a lot of their marketability hinges on being a small school who can "teach safer during these unprecedented times" but apparently the teachers are not so on board.
Post by erinshelley21 on Jul 16, 2020 13:52:11 GMT -5
I'm late to the party but we just got our school plans last week, which is good since we start 8/5. As of right now our small, private school is opening like normal. Masks worn on the bus, when entering and leaving the building, in common areas (hallways, gym, bathrooms) and mass. Lunch will be staggered by classroom (there are 2 grades per classroom except K). Our public school is also opening but they have a virtual option if desired. From what I've heard, students are staying in one classroom all day and the teachers will rotate, even in older grades that normally switch classrooms all day.
I got a good laugh at our school putting disinfectant wipes on the schoo supply list.
We don’t buy school supplies either for public school - the PTA buys them. We have a suggested annual PTA donation of $400 per kid, but they still supply supplies for families that can’t donate money.
DD is thrilled at the prospect of buying her own school supplies if we go the Private school route.
We have a supply fee($30) we pay to the district each year and the district buys in bulk. Teachers do ask for Kleenex, hand sanitizer, and wipes but not all or even at the beginning of school. We got a notification from the district in June that there would be no supply fee for the 2020-2021 school year. I found this odd since we have to cute $$$ from the budget.
Has anyone heard how schools will be handling COVID exposure or cases at school? This is my big question as I can't quarantine myself due to exposure all the time as I have a business to run that doesn't make WFH super easy. Our older clients like seeing us and aren't computer savvy so our office is still very paper heavy. Sighs...
186momx, here's what the private school just sent out.. I'd be prepared for needing to isolate.
If an employee or student tests positive for COVID-19, the following will take place:
The student or staff member who tested positive will be instructed to isolate for 14 days after symptom onset OR 7 days after resolution of symptoms, whichever is longer. (If never symptomatic, isolate for 14 days after positive test.)
The affected classroom will be closed for 14 days and the positive employee or student will not return until they have a negative test result.
All families with students from the class will be contacted, will need to be tested, and unable to return for 14 days. The class will transition to a distance learning format during this time. Students will be able to return after 14 days with a negative test result or a doctor’s note explaining why they were not tested prior to returning.
All staff members from the class will not be able to return without a negative test result.
Any staff member who may have been in contact with the employee or student who tested positive will be identified and will be sent home for testing. They will not return until they have received a negative test result.
All families will be notified of the exposure.
The County Department of Public Health will be notified.
The classroom and school will undergo a thorough cleaning and disinfecting.
The classroom windows will be opened to allow increased air circulation (if applicable).
If an employee or student had close contact with someone who tested positive, the following will take place:
The staff member or student will be sent home and request to be tested.
If the exposure is from the same household, they cannot return until all household parties have received a negative test result.
We will consult with the Department of Public Health and CDC to determine an action plan based on the factors of the exposure.
We will thoroughly clean and disinfect any areas that may have been infected.
Families within the stable group will be notified.
Other Covid-19 Related Policies and Procedures:
If a family travels out of the country or a region deemed a “hot zone” for COVID cases, they must self-quarantine for 14 days before return to school.
If a student is exhibiting any COVID symptoms, they will not be allowed to return for 72 hours. If the symptoms persist, they will not be able to return without a negative test result or a doctor’s note.
traveltheworld, Last year it said "5 packages of the fancy pencils". Which come in everything from a single pencil to a 50 pack. I sent 2 of the 50 packs, with the idea that they could give some to the kids who can't afford them. Because amazon had the 50 packs and that was the one with the prime shipping when I looked. I took a stab that they didn't want 250 pencils from me.
It's all really interesting to me. The district I grew was relatively not affluent. Like enough kids qualify for a free lunch that lunch is free for everyone through the USDA. We had "suggested" school supply lists. And then a free school supply day for people who couldn't afford supplies. Unfortunately those kids got the off brand crayons and whatnot. And for any projects, there were supplies from the teachers for children whose parents couldn't afford them. Given that, if its something that will go into a communal teacher stash, and then the teacher hands out (like pencils) I try to send extra. That way there is enough to go around. That used to come up with snack last year for DS in 2nd grade. Each kid was supposed to supply their own snack if they could. And the teacher had a stash for those who couldn't. She asked for donations from folks who could, I am sent a case of something on her list from costco (because they would ship it to the school for free --you can see a theme about how I buy stuff). It was only in college that I realized that free school supply days aren't a thing everywhere.
Post by librarychica on Jul 16, 2020 14:55:35 GMT -5
phdmomma, that’s really funny to me because last year my second grader’s class requested 8 million or so fancy pencils and I could only find the 10 million pack (quantities estimated). We live in a very economically diverse area and get nutrition support services, etc, and so I figured the teacher could distribute the remaining 2 million fancy pencils as he saw fit.
He sent home at least 4 million. Like more than the overage. It was really weird. We still have so many pencils.
Post by librarychica on Jul 16, 2020 15:01:35 GMT -5
It does kind of blow my mind that in a school where every aftercare kid gets free supper because there’s a good chance they don’t have enough food, the county asks parents to send school supplies, teaching supplies (the 2 reams of copy paper and the elusive expo markers), cleaning supplies (lysol and Clorox wipes and tissues oh my!) and then asks for a $20 check at meet the teacher. When they were in a private preschool the list was even longer! When I was a kid in the same district my parents bought a few folders, crayons, pencils, and a backpack.
I don’t mind, I have enough money and it alleviates my rarely volunteering guilt, but it’s a lot.
I am.. very concerned about the fact that it's likely parents will need to supply Clorox wipes. Because.. good luck finding those for any price, let alone normal prices.
k3am, ya, where are the clorox wipes hiding that every family is going to be able to contribute those?
I have 10 average size pump bottles of hand sanitizer that I bought and hid away a month ago for back to school. It was a fluke that Amazon had them in stock and I jumped on it. I think I'll end up buying some reusable travel containers and refilling for the kids to keep in their backpacks.