When buying school supplies for your kids does the school only request that you buy what your child specifically needs? (Example: 1 box of crayons, 1 glue bottle, a pack of pencils etc) or do they request that you buy bulk quantities to put in community storage for everyone to use? (example: 4 boxes of crayons, 60 pencils, 2 packages of copy paper etc)

Do you think that community supplies are a good idea or no?

Our school doesn't require supplies unless the child wants something specific. I always get Selena a binder of her choice, pencils, erasers and I always grab an extra package to give to the teacher. This is Kamila first year going to school and I'll do the same for her that I do to Selena. I also grab tissues, hand sanitizer, ect to give to their teachers as well.

I think it's a good idea that if you have the extra money to grab cause other families may not have money for it and I don't want children feeling bad or left out.

The schools here in Placer County dont ask the parents to help at all. They do ask that we donate our time every month or so but that's it. 

The idea I think is a good one. I wouldn't mind paying little more for those who need help.

My kids school does this.  Wanna know what pisses me off?  Javen told me today that he needed another box of crayons that his "disappeared" and the teacher sent a note home saying that they need replaced.  Um no.  I bought 4 boxes of crayons and turned them in.  He got one 24 count box to last the first semester.  I need to supply ANOTHER box to last the next 9 weeks before they will give him one?  Fuck no.  I sent in four boxes at the beginning of the year, don't tell me that I need to send in more when I know for a fact that he didn't use the four boxes.

epiod wrote:

My kids school does this.  Wanna know what pisses me off?  Javen told me today that he needed another box of crayons that his "disappeared" and the teacher sent a note home saying that they need replaced.  Um no.  I bought 4 boxes of crayons and turned them in.  He got one 24 count box to last the first semester.  I need to supply ANOTHER box to last the next 9 weeks before they will give him one?  Fuck no.  I sent in four boxes at the beginning of the year, don't tell me that I need to send in more when I know for a fact that he didn't use the four boxes.

Yea that would piss me off too! Especially since you sent him with four boxes for each nine weeks. Now you have to purchase more....that would piss me off.

Ava's class room right now only requires her to bring what she needs and we have the option to donate more supplies. I'd rather donate needed supplies, than have community supplies. I am stingy and what I buy for MY kid, for school, is for MY kid

When Jenna was in school we didn't get a supply list. If she wanted something special I'd buy it and plaster her name all over the damn thing.

I would send in kleenex a lot though because she has allergies and goes through them a lot on her own.

The teachers usually always have a take home folder and pencil box for the kids. They usually want us to get the pencils, erasers, crayons, etc for OUR OWN kids. They've only ever asked for donations for hand sanitizer, zip lock baggies, tissues, and a few other things. The donations are not forced on us though, we just mark if we want to help out at some point in the year. I wouldn't mind helping to donate a few things here or there for other kids or just to help keep the classroom stocked, but I would not be forced into it. I think a great time to stock up is when back to school supplies go on sale, then grab them up for the classroom.