RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (Full Version)

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garsyt -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/17/2008 9:11:06 PM)

Lists can get VERY specific here - but the only thing I follow brand name wise is glue, crayons, markers and colored pencils. The school ALWAYS asks for Crayola and Elmers and that's what I buy. I just think they are of better quality and the colors are brighter and purer then the other brands. The colored pencils always sharpen better too.

And I have the advantage of knowing the teachers so I will sometimes ask if something is ABSOLUTELY necessary or if a substitution could be made. This reminds me that I need to dig out the lists. They came to us with the kid's report cards earlier this month. I may need to contact a 2nd grade teacher team as I have a question about that 2nd grade list. Hopefully Zoe will get the same teacher that Ethan had for 3rd grade, this past year, next year for 2nd. She's moving down a grade due to the number of kids currently enrolled and coming into 2nd grade. Boy that was confusing. Anyway if Zoe get's her I know that I'm not going to have any trouble and substituitions will be okay.

Blessings,

Garsy



PrincessDonna -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/17/2008 9:13:04 PM)

I buy Crayola and Elmer's also. They are better quality and with the awesome school sales, it's not as painful to buy them as it would be otherwise.



thisistheday -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/17/2008 11:32:51 PM)

For kindergarten they ask for 8 crayons, but would rather pay 20 cents for a box of 24 crayola crayons than more than that for a box of cheap crayons.

I think they specify 80 page notebooks but most of the cheap ones are 70 pages, so I buy those.

I understand things like specifying fiskars for the little kids scissors.

It's my kids that are picky about pencils; I let them check the erasers to make sure they are soft enough before I buy them. My oldest is picky about notebook paper.

I wish they'd send home the school supply list at the end of the year here.

Dee



debilyn -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/18/2008 11:31:38 AM)

We get the school supply list with report cards for elementary school, sometimes for middle school, but not for high-schoolers.

The schools here do ask for Elmer's gluesticks because they've had problems with other brands. Otherwise, they're not too specific.

Last year we had one issue with the black/white cardboard bound compositon books, as the local stores either weren't able to get them in or ordered too little of them. The teachers were aware of the situation and allowed everyone two-three weeks before they were required to have them (for journaling) in the classroom.



PrincessDonna -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/18/2008 11:55:14 AM)

Oh yeah...those composition notebooks...

Does anyone reuse them? Noah's isn't even 1/4 filled from this year, but you can't tear the pages out like a regular notebook either.



garsyt -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/18/2008 12:40:10 PM)

I only have trouble finding plastic folders without the prongs to add loose leaf paper. We had this problem last year too.

I dug out the lists:

2nd grader:

Crayola Crayons - 1 24 count box (I'll buy her at least 3 boxes- just to have some new ones at home)
Crayola Markers - Classic colors broad tip 10 count box
Red editing pen - 1
Crayola Colored pencils - classic colors - 1 12 count box
#2 pencils - 36 (YIKES!)
Yellow Highlighter - 1 (we already have these)
Pearl Erasers - 2
Elmer's glue sticks - 2 large sticks and 2 small sticks
Fiskers scissors - 1 pair child size (we already have these)
Dry Erase markers - 2 of any color
Plain colored plastic pocket folders NO PRONG INSERTS - 1 each in green, red, yellow, blue, purple and orange (these are going to be tough to find exactly so I'm going to talk to the teachers about this).
Kleenex - 1 box (wow surprising typically it's more)
Plastic pencil box (we have these but I' think I'm going to see about getting her a slightly bigger one.)

Then they also ask that the girls bring in Quart sized ziplocks - 1 box, and of course a book bag and gym shoes.

4th grade:

Crayola crayons - 1 24 count box (I'll buy him two because I KNOW how hard he is on things - but I'll keep it at home til he needs it)
Crayola markers classic - 1 8 count box fine line
Crayola colored pencils - 1 12 count box
#2 pencils - 24
Red pen - 2 (I might have some of these)
Highlighters - (we have these already)
Dry erase markers - 4 colors pack
Sharpies - 1 black
Pearl erasers (the large pink ones) - 2
Elmer's glue - 1 4 oz bottle (we have the one he's been using since 2nd grade)
Elmer's glue stick - 1 large stick or at least 2 smaller sticks
Fisker's scissors - 1 pair (we have these already)
Wooden ruler (standard/metric) - 1 (we have this already)
Pocket folders WITH the prongs - 8
Kleenex - 1 large box
3x5 index cards - 4 packages (and they use them! I'll likely buy him at least 5 packages)
Spiral notebooks - 3 70 count
Loose leaf notebook paper - 2 packages (I'll get at least 4 as they ran short last year and if he gets the new teacher, he won't have any leftovers to start with)
Post-it notes - 2 pads (I'll buy him 3)
Basic Calculator - 1 (we already have this)
And of course the Pencil box - I think I'm going to get him a larger one as well.

Then the book bag and gym shoes.

5th grade:
Crayola markers classic fine line - 1 8 count box
Crayola colored pencils classic - 1 12 count box
#2 pencils - 36
Pens - 1 red and 1 blue (we probably have these)
Highlighers 2 (we have these)
Dry erase markers fine tip - 4
Sharpie markers black fine tip - 2 (we may have 1 or 2 of these around- but will need to buy more)
Pearl erasers - 1
Elmer's glue sticks - 2 small
Scissors - 1 pair (we have these)
Pocket folders WITH prongs - 5 in SOLID colors only
Kleenex - 1 large box (again I'm surprised)
Spiral notebooks 70 count - 1
Index cards ruled 3x5 - 1 package (but I'll buy Aryn at least 3 because she loves to use them)
Loose leaf paper wide ruled 100 count - 3 packages (I'll buy her 4 because I seem to recall her running out last year and she tends to go through paper like crazy)
1inch 3 ring binders with Clear-view fronts - 2
3 ring divider tabs 8 count - 1 set
Flash drive (optional but highly recommended) - 1
Plastic pencil box (she's getting a large one.)

Then the typical book bag and gym shoes - they also want the 5th grade girls to bring in 1 box of gallon sized ziplocks.

The only thing I KNOW Ty will need is his scientific calculator but he has that from last year. I'll pick him up a few composition notebooks, some spiral bound ones, some new folders for his binder, some pencils and pens and call it done til I hear of any specific needs.

Looking at that list - well it makes me wonder why I don't go with the prepackaged back to school kits our PTC sells each spring. But I KNOW I'll manage. I always do.

Blessings,

Garsy



thisistheday -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/18/2008 1:06:56 PM)

Our school doesn't ask for the composition books that you can't tear out of that I recall. My girls like them to journal and write stories in.

Garsy and others, do your kids change into specific gym shoes for PE at school? Here they just want kids to wear appropriate shoes on days they have PE. Actually my son just said it normally doesn't matter what shoes they wear; but sometimes they'll tell them they'll need running shoes for something special. In middle school of course they change clothes and shoes.

Sometimes here the teachers want the solid color folders so things can be color coded but the teachers buy them for the kids. Sometimes they don't use the ones I bought then. I wish they'd specify on the list as the ones the kids want me to buy for them are going to be more expensive than the plain colored ones. I could just buy those instead.

Dee



garsyt -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/18/2008 1:20:05 PM)

last year they didn't ask for specific gym shoes and they could wear their everyday sneakers - but I think gym teachers and janitors complained about the mess and all and the powers that be don't want to have to pay for damage done to the gym floors so they are asking for shoes specifially for gym now. Now these don't have to be new - just clean and the kids HAVE to have socks. Ethan will need 2 new pairs - one for everyday and one pair for gym. Aryn might be able to get by for at least a few months if we just buy her new gym shoes. Zoe will only need new gym shoes as she has SO many pairs of shoes!

In middle and high school they have to change into gym clothes (school t-shirt, shorts) and shoes - BUT Ty used the same t-shirt for 3 years in middle school and we are passing it down to Aryn unless they change logos or something. Ty doesn't have any gym classes next year so I don't have to buy any specific gym stuff.

Blessings,

Garsy



thisistheday -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/18/2008 3:05:49 PM)

At the elementary schools here they just have PE in the multi-purpose/lunch rooms, so not so much worry about the floors.

Dee



debilyn -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/18/2008 3:46:47 PM)

Our elementary schools have PE either in the multipurpose room or outside, depending on the weather. They just ask that students not wear flip-flops or sandals on that day.

In middle school (where flip-flops are not allowed), the students aren't asked to bring special shoes. They have PE for one semester each year, so most students just wear sneakers every day (though a few do change).

In high school (where flip-flops are allowed again), the students are required to take one unit of PE for graduation. Athletes usually have to take weight-training in the mornings as long as they participate in athletic programs. Again, special shoes are not required, so some just wear sneakers every day and some change.



garsyt -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/18/2008 5:26:42 PM)

Here at the elementary level PE is required for 2 periods a week from 1st grade through 5th grade. Kindergarten is only required to have one period. At the middle school level it varies - 6th and 7th graders are on a 6 week rotation for PE. 6 weeks of PE, 6 weeks of an Elective, and repeat for the entire year. At the 8th grade level they have PE for one semeaster. In high school the kids are required to take 2 semeasters of PE and 1 semeaster of health but they can take it whenever they want to in the 4 years they are there.

Sometimes - if the weather is decent the kids will, at all levels, spend some PE periods outside.

Blessings,

Garsy



2shaye -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/18/2008 5:32:28 PM)

Wow. Here, in elementary school, the kids have to have 3 hours a week (they divide it up into three days for one hour each), and they have it every day in 7th and 8th. In HS, they need two YEARS of PE to graduate. But, if they are involved in sports, that counts as their PE.

If it's raining (hard), PE is canceled. No where to have it indoors! They've also canceled when there is too much smoke in the air, or if it's over 100 degrees out.

Garsy, if they have PE indoors all the time, how do they play football, soccer and track?



garsyt -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/18/2008 6:30:41 PM)

quote:

Garsy, if they have PE indoors all the time, how do they play football, soccer and track?


There are parts of all of these activities that can be done inside, and here in NE Indiana sometimes the weather, as in SNOW on the ground, where being outside is just NOT an option.

The kids do go outside a lot more at the middle school and High school levels.

Another option for high schooler is to take their PE as a summer school course. They would take 6 weeks of PE for at least 2 hours a day. This is how Ty wants to do at least one semeaster of his PE. I would much prefer he take it during the school year so it wouldn't interfer with any of his summer opportunities. But I guess they get to do quite a variety of activities that the typical "during the school year" gym classes don't, including outdoor hiking, rock climbing, and cycling.

Also participating in sports doesn't preclude you from the requirements of PE for graduation in middle or high school at least here.


But alas we've take Donna's thread WAY off track - Maybe if we want to continue the PE conversation we should start a new thread.

Blessings,

Garsy



PrincessDonna -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/18/2008 7:05:24 PM)

I don't mind, since we're talking about the need to buy gym shoes.[;)]

Noah has gym three times a week, but not on chapel days and they just wear their regular clothes and sneakers. I think they have to change starting in 6th grade.

They go outside every day that it is not raining and over 25 degrees. The other days, they are in a small gym...about half the size of a normal gym, with kitty-korner basketball hoops. But there are only about 15 kids, so it's fine to have such a small space. Last year, he had gym with K-2, next year will be 3-5.

I won't buy him new shoes to wear for gym.



garsyt -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/18/2008 8:51:37 PM)

Oh and we are blessed with an elementary school that has a FABULOUS gym - seperate totally from the cafeteria and we also have a multi-purpose room that is used for a variety of things. Of course we have roughly 450+ kids in the building just K-5. The mulit-purpose room also doubles as a music room and an Art room from time to time. We have 2 traveling teachers that come in to teach 2 kndergarten music classes a week and the other teaches 2 art classes a week - 1st and 2nd. Oh and twice a week there are two gym classes going on at the same time in the gym! Usually the two gym teachers co-teach in those cases, since they scheduled it so its the same grade level at the same time.

Anyway,

Garsy



JuliaHop -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/18/2008 9:22:49 PM)

We will need to purchase a PE t-shirt this year. We can supply the shorts, socks, and tennis shoes.

Garsy-You have huge supply lists! Now that ds is in 7th grade, his list looks pretty basic: Bible, pencil, pens, erasers, different types of notebooks and folders, and book covers.



thisistheday -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/18/2008 10:23:58 PM)

We don't have to buy special PE clothes in any grade.

I remember when we were in HS having to buy special PE clothes; it was nothing that would ever be worn again.

The clothes and shoes my kids use for PE will be reused as needed as long as they are in decent shape and fit.

The MS happens to be by the only sledding hill in town, so if there is enough snow they'll tell the kids to bring their sleds the next day to use in PE.

I agree Garsy that you do have long lists. I'm sure that makes you extra thankful for the back to school sales.

That's kind of funny Debilyn about flip flips in elem and HS, but not MS!

Dee



garsyt -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/19/2008 12:20:20 AM)

I guess I never really thought about it. We've been with this school district since Ty started school in third grade and the lists have been comparable to the current lists each year, in fact in years past they've asked for more!! But I guess I see it has okay, because it is less that teachers have to put out of their own money to get what they do use in the classroom. And we do tend to get stuff back that doesn't get used. Last year in 1st grade I bought 3 boxes of crayons for Zoe. In November she brought home a small baggie of used, but still functional crayons, and said they just got out new boxes. They did that again in late February. The last box was used til the end of the school year and she brought home crayons again! Ethan brought home several folders that are in perfect shape and I took some of the index cards from his stash in his desk one day and gave them to Aryn because she needed them badly! So while the list are long - I figure it's all going to get used eventually, and the less my kids's teachers have to put out from their own pocketbooks the better! They work to bring home the money - NOT to have to put it right back into their work!

Either way, I'd be thankful for back to school sales! I just love a good sale!

I just wish I could convince at least one of the kids's teachers in the fall to NOT send home every single piece of paper that goes home with each and every child in the building. Just once I would LOVE not to have 3 copies of the very same thing come through the door! Really, does ANY family really need 3 lunch menus, especially when I would much prefer to access it online and save those three sheets of paper to be used for a much better purpose! At least our building is pretty good about recycling and using recycled materials when they can.

Blessings,

Garsy



OneOfHisJewels -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/19/2008 1:38:20 AM)

Can I just give a 2cents from a kid's perspective here? Since I've been blessed/cursed with a great memory, I remember that I got a new lunch box in first grade, but had to use the same lunch box year after year after that, and I hated that[:(]. I never liked school much, but I always think if I had had the fun of getting new clothes for school each year (which I didn't), and getting a new lunch box and new supplies each year (which was between didn't and barely did), I would have been more enthusiastic about each school year, and probably liked school better. And yes, my parents could have afforded to, but my dad chose to spend $ other places (mostly on his hobbies).

I understand saving money, but lunchboxes don't cost that much, please let your kids get new lunchboxes each year, or at least every other year.



PrincessDonna -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/19/2008 8:49:00 AM)

I don't think all new stuff would have made you feel better, Rebekah. I think your feelings had more to do with your dad having priorities elsewhere...but that's my take on it. I don't think it had anything to do with a lunchbox.

Noah's lunchbox still looks brand new, even though he's had it for three years now. We homeschooled 2.5 of those years though, so he wasn't using it every day. It's not a kiddie lunchbox...it's an insulated lunchbag. He'll use it until it looks old, so that we have more resources (which are scarce) to spend on things he does need.

That said, I'm not cheap and I'm not into buying cheap stuff that will fall apart. Someone PM'd me telling me that LL Bean backpacks have a lifetime warranty on them, so if the zipper breaks or seam rips, they'll replace it. That might be worth the extra money up front. What do you all think?



Tinkerbell_ -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/19/2008 8:52:54 AM)

I did not know that about LL Bean. I'll definitely look into their backpacks, especially for Thing 2. He's so hard on his and I have to replace them every year.

My boys eat school lunches because in the long run it's cheaper for me. Thing 1 has a buffet at his school and he usually ends up with pizza, chocolate milk, and a salad.

Thing 2 eats whatever they have with a side salad.

I usually spend quite a bit of money on school supplies during that time of year because in Florida all of that stuff plus clothing are tax free for a week. So I get shoes, socks, enough paper, notebooks, ink pens, sharpies, glue, and stuff to last the whole year. I spend more but I still save money. [:)]



PrincessDonna -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/19/2008 9:12:32 AM)

Noah's school doesn't offer hot lunch, except for upper-class fundraiser days. They used to, but the department of health came in and told them they couldn't do it every day without spending several tens of thousands upgrading their kitchen area (which is huge and well-equipped and used all the time for other things). They couldn't continue the lunches even if every single parent signed a waiver saying they didn't care about the "needed" upgrades. Beaurocracy.[:'(]

I'm looking on LL Bean and can't find info on their warranty policy. I want to see it before I buy. Maybe I'll email them.



Tinkerbell_ -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/19/2008 9:16:45 AM)

If you go to their refunds and exchanges page it has a small box about their guarantee. That's about the only thing I saw on there.



PrincessDonna -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/19/2008 9:22:04 AM)

Hmmm...I did see that. It seems they have 100% guarantee on all their stuff with no time limit. I wouldn't return a backpack that had been used for 3 or more years, but less than that, I might. Definitely within a year and probably within two.



Karaboo2 -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/19/2008 9:49:14 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: garsyt
I just wish I could convince at least one of the kids's teachers in the fall to NOT send home every single piece of paper that goes home with each and every child in the building. Just once I would LOVE not to have 3 copies of the very same thing come through the door! Really, does ANY family really need 3 lunch menus, especially when I would much prefer to access it online and save those three sheets of paper to be used for a much better purpose! At least our building is pretty good about recycling and using recycled materials when they can.


When dd was in a private school, they sent home ONE copy of everything, no matter how many kids in your family ... and they always sent it home with the youngest child, as they figured Mom was more likely to see it that way (younger kids seem more apt to show Mommy all the cool stuff they did during the day, so the papers would be in with that stuff) And while copies of that info wouldn't be on the school website, there would be a note saying "X number of info pages were sent home ... please check your child's backpack or call the school if you didn't receive one"



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