Kids started school this week in our little corner of Ohio — and yes, my youngest was just about as excited as he looks in the picture. The weather has also cooled and it feels like Fall! Will this last, pray tell?
I was in denial until right up to the last minute how early we would have to get up for my kids’ new schedules — mainly, my teenager’s. Last year in middle school he had it good: his bus didn’t come until 8:25. This year he starts high school *gulp* and not only do classes start earlier than his bus even came last year, this year his bus comes a full hour before school starts. Notice how it’s still night-time in the picture? It’s a wonder he even smiled for me.
Have I mentioned we’re not morning people? Homeschooling is looking more and more appealing.
Supplies
I lucked out and only had to buy one backpack this year, for Olivia. I threw away her backpack from last year within minutes of her finishing her last day; it was worn and grubby and holey and had barely held up by the end. Same with her lunchbox.
I was quite pleased with the backpack she picked out this year: I can see her enjoying this style beyond second grade; and the quality seems much more durable than the one we bought last year, even though the cost was the same.
- One Backpack: $15
- One lunchbox: $7.00
- Various Supplies: $50.99
I did not fare so well with school supplies. In previous years, I have signed up for supplies through the PTO, which provided the teacher with the necessary items on the student’s behalf for a set price. The price is quite fair, as they undoubtedly purchase the supplies in bulk. All of the students share all of the supplies anyway.
For kindergarten and first grade the fee was $15, if I’m recalling correctly off-hand. For second grade the cost was $25, but I didn’t sign up because I thought we were moving! Of course, I realized that rather belatedly, so last night we scrounged around the already culled-through aisles of Wally World for the exact match of colored pencils and single-subject notebooks and tissue boxes that were on her list. I didn’t have to buy everything new on the list because some of the items we already had at home. But of course, there’s always that one elusive item that is sold out because everyone else is shopping off of the same list, too!
The Elusive Glue Stick
This year it was glue sticks. She needed six. Of course, Wally World had plenty of glue sticks … but nooooo, we’re supposed to get a certain size of glue stick, and those were sold out — despite my having seen bins and bins full of the size we needed just two weeks ago.
If I’d been more with it, I’d have bought her supplies then. But that would have required my remembering that I hadn’t already pre-purchased them through the PTO. Which I would have done had I not thought we would be moving already. My brain can only hold so much. At one time.
But back to the glue sticks.
So Wally World had them for 25 cents. Only they were out. So we went to Office Depot. Not for glue sticks, but for some things my teenager still needed — I hadn’t forgotten his supplies, exactly; he didn’t really know what all he would need until his classes started, so I decided to just wait and get everything all at once.
Turns out, that’s not the most brilliant plan.
So, the glue sticks.
- Cost at Wally World: $0.25
- Cost at Office Depot: $2.00
Can we say, I don’t think so?
Needless to say, Olivia’s class is going to have to wait a bit for her contribution of glue sticks. I’m sure they’ve got enough to get them started.
School Registration Fees
- $40 for second grade
- $30 for kindergarten
Conner hasn’t come home with anything from high school regarding fees? Hmmm…
I’m also discovering that I have no record of pre-purchasing kindergarten supplies for Peter. Why would I? I thought we were moving! That’s the thing about this blog: it holds me accountable and gives me additional motivation for crunching numbers and keeping track (or not) of purchases. You should try it! Blogging about your finances, that is. If you aren’t doing that already. And if you are and you’re not sure if I’ve stopped by your blog before, let me know, okay?
I haven’t been hit up for supplies from Peter’s teacher yet; I suppose it’s a matter of time. He actually has the same teacher for kindergarten that Olivia had! I love that. And she’s a real sweetheart, too, and quite laid back. An absolutely necessary quality in a kindergarten teacher, IMO. She knows me well enough, she’s probably just shaking her head, figuring (accurately) that I just overlooked the tiny detail of supplies but it’s nothing intentional or even that big of a deal. It’s just kindergarten, after all. Not hard-core, like second grade.
So my list is still not complete? But so far totals $142.99. Nothing compared to a private education, obviously, or to homeschooling, to be sure (?).
What are your costs for the start of the school year? Please, do tell. I’d love to hear all the details in all their glory. Is anyone spending nothing on their school-age children? I’m sure it’s possible, I just don’t know how. Let us know if you’re making that happen.
addendum:
I almost forgot! See that cute-cute dress Olivia is wearing? That was a last-minute find at the Thrift Store for $2.50! And how adorable is it? I mean, really.
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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
We only needed to enroll two this year – $144 for the middle schooler, but $300 for the freshman!! This is for public school! That figure did NOT include $100 worth of lunch tickets which I paid for at the end of last year knowing how expensive the start of school would be. School supplies for each ran about $50. We also have two foster children – their enrollment was free, however, their school supplies weren’t. I won’t even begin to talk about back-to-school clothes shopping!
As a teacher in middle school we always designate on the supply list the supplies that will be kept by the child and the supplies that will be turned in to be used by everyone. We don’t keep track of who’s turning in what so as not to embarrass the kids who didn’t bring what they needed. However, at the elementary school across the street, the teachers are famous for HIGHLIGHTING the missing supplies and sending the list back home with the child! Had you lived here, Jolyn, “6 large glue sticks” would have been highlighted and the list handed back to Olivia to give to you!! Can you believe it?!?
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jolyn Reply:
August 27th, 2010 at 11:51 pm
Well for pete’s sake, they might as well tattoo it on the kids’ foreheads. But Olivia’s would only say “5 large clue sticks” — I did manage to find one at wal-mart randomly misplaced in another bin.
No shared supplies during Conner’s middle school years. And his registration fee was just $40… Did you say $144 and $300? For registration fees??? Tell me I’m misunderstanding. Where are all those Kansas tax dollars going???
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Marilyn Reply:
September 1st, 2010 at 9:29 pm
I copied and pasted the high schooler’s fees below:
Student Name: Landon Stroup
Enrollment Date: 08/10/2010
Schedule Subtotal = $ 57
Workbook/Materials = $ 100
Technology Fee = $ 30
Class Fee = $ 15
ID/Activity Pass = $ 16
Yearbook = $ 50
Spirit Club = $ 2
Marching Band Shoes = $ 30
Total Amount = $ 300
As I said, that didn’t include the $50 I had already put down on his lunch account!
The middle schooler’s fees were:
Workbook/Materials = $100
Technology fee = $10
Yearbook = $20
Spirit Shirt = $9
ID Card – $5
Of course, next year they’ll BOTH be in high school . . . !
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Marilyn Reply:
September 1st, 2010 at 9:33 pm
Oh, and P.S. – those tax dollars are NOT going toward teachers’ salaries! This is the second year in a row my husband and I have gone without a raise.
jolyn Reply:
September 1st, 2010 at 11:06 pm
I really, really can’t get started on taxes. Really can’t. This is not a political blog (this is not a political blog….)….
jolyn Reply:
September 1st, 2010 at 11:08 pm
This is just… odd. “schedule” fee? class fee? Are these code for registration fee? Wow, so convoluted. I bet a couple more administrators had to be hired just to handle all the categories. Good. Grief.
I’m a kindergarten teacher, and we collected school supplies yesterday at my school. I too had the dreaded “large gluestick” on my list, so I apologize to all who had to search! There are certainly reasons for teachers requesting certain sizes or models of items, but I do feel bad for anyone who has to scour store after store. I took an informal poll of parents who dropped off supplies, and so far I’ve found that there’s no longer such a thing as a 16-count pack of colored pencils. If anyone has any more tips for the teachers who make the lists, send them my way, because I really am trying to make the start of the school year as simple as possible!
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jolyn Reply:
August 27th, 2010 at 11:12 pm
I was just in my daughter’s classroom yesterday. Her teacher had tubs of supplies, including lots of glue sticks! I will make my contribution soon, but it’s good to know they have plenty to get them started.
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We buy all the school supplies( i.e. pens, pencils, tablets, glue sticks, crayons, tissue, etc.) for our daughter, the school posts a list about a month before school. There where a few new items like copy paper, but they will use the computer more, and clorox wipes, but I still feel that for $64 we are in good shape. Because we only have one kid, I have no problem with the cost. Registration fee, is actually called a donation-public school, the request is $10 per child, if you can swing it, we contribute more, because we have the ability. I also know our district has made some big budget cuts so we do what we can. We also buy extras at the time, because the price is great and the list rarely gets them thru the school year, we also drop off some of the extras to the school, because there is always a need. Besides it is such a small amount to contribute that the cost is minor and worth it. We have yet to have a backpack last thru the school year, by the end of the school year, it looks awful. Oh well.
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jolyn Reply:
August 27th, 2010 at 11:14 pm
Our district will waive the fee for income levels that qualify, same as they do for the lunches. I don’t have a problem making our fair contribution; I do hate the thought of teachers spending money out of their own pockets for supplies for their classroom, which I know a lot of them do. Funny aside- my high schooler came home and said that his English teacher would give extra credit to anyone who brought in a box of tissues.
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OMGoodness. What are the public schools spending their money on? I cannot believe you have to send items for everyone. That is ridiculous. Think of the bulk prices schools could get on items. They need to have a district wide shopper who goes to Walmart or whoever is having those cheap sales and buy for the district. Because contracts to the schoosl would probably be charging $20.00 for a pack of pencils!!
Every time we see one of those signs that says “construction funded by the Act of 2009″ or whatever it is… DH says, “There’s another $30,000″ because apparently that is how much those signs cost. Like DH says, “I want that contract”. Thank goodness my kids are grown. I don’t think the schools would like me much.
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jolyn Reply:
August 27th, 2010 at 11:16 pm
Oh, do not get me started. This is not a political blog. (This is not a political blog, this is not a political blog…)
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I’m jealous of all of you! Both my children outgrew EVERYTHING from last year! Why do they have to have growth spurts at the same time? Alissa is 11 and going to Junior High and Logan is 7. Clothing budget (also included 2 new backpacks and lunchbags) was $200 total… clothing mostly from thrift stores and MAJOR deals at retail stores. Logan got 4 complete outfits (shirts, jeans or swishy style sweats), 2 extra shirts, 2 sweatshirts, and 2 pairs of shoes and 1 pajama set. Alissa got 7 complete outfits (shirts, skirts, jeans, sweatpants) 2 sweatshirts and 3 pairs of shoes a robe and 2 pajama bottoms. Both got new backpacks at Toys R Us which came with free lunch bags with purchase. All in all I think I did great! (but I’m cheap and hate spending money lol)
As for school supplies, they post the list on the school doors for both schools the night before! Yes, I hate this. In the past few years I have bought what I consider basic supplies (glue sticks, pencils etc.) only to either use them for homework or return them because they aren’t acceptable. Last year I had to color code notebooks and folders with specific colors AFTER I got a letter home saying 5 notebooks and 5 folders which I bought, put her name in and sent to school. She came home that day and said she couldn’t use any of them! I’m hoping she can use them this year. School starts next Tues. so I’m unfortunately waiting until Monday night to go shopping and it’s killing me.
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jolyn Reply:
August 27th, 2010 at 11:18 pm
Yes, I have learned not to bother shopping early without a list! And I haven’t even thought about clothing costs! Mainly those will wait as I see what my kids need. Generally, I pick up clearance items (clearance at the thrift store, mind you) at the end of the season, so my kids are pretty good to go unless or until they grow another size or two. My teenager is actually supposed to budget for his clothing out of his allowance…
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jaime Reply:
August 31st, 2010 at 8:43 am
lol…supposed to? I usually buy a few months ahead of time and get hand-me-downs from my best friend, but literally NOTHING fits…my little one grew 2 1/2 inches in 3 months! And my daughter wore the same size 6 or 7 for almost 2 years and then woke up one days and nothing fit (at least that was what it seemed like lol). This is the first time I’ve ever had to buy them a complete wardrobe all at once. Today is the first day here…I’m dreading the supply list.
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The little man is going into 2nd grade, and we received a list of items to be shared, and this list was posted a long time ago, so I had the opportunity to buy some items at rock-bottom prices as they went on sale. For instance, he needs 10 glue sticks, and a couple of weeks ago Walgreen’s had packs of 2 on sale for .19. He needs a container of wipes, and I had a CVS coupon that I stacked with Huggies coupons and got wipes for about $1. We had a binder for him, we got a free backpack as a door prize at the Cub Scout Popcorn meeting, and his lunch sack from last year is still fine. I purchased the Gap coupon from Groupon last week (50.00 coupon for $25, plus I had $5 in my Groupon account, so it only cost me $20.) He still needs a few things that we may or may not have, but so far I’ve spent less than $25. Personally, I’m kind of thrilled with myself for that!
That’s a great dress, btw!
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jolyn Reply:
August 27th, 2010 at 11:31 pm
Yes, you have done very well. I’m usually much more on top of my game than this myself.
Two for 19 cents? Now that’s a deal! (Were they the elusive 7.7 oz. size?) 
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For my son age 12 in grade 7 this year – $200 for bus fees, $50 for paper, pencils, pens, erasers, glue, calculator, TWO types of graph paper, binder, dividers, pencil crayons, and more I’m sure – the list was long! We have a backpack from a free giveaway – it probably won’t last the year, but I’ll keep an eye at the thrift store for one to make do. He usually comes home with requests (demands) for more once the elective classes start – last year was $25 for woodwork, $20 for foods, and there are several field trips that cost anywhere from $12 – $30 for bus rental and entry fees. I am going to keep track this year, I’ll hazard a guess that we will be over $400 by the end of the year.
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jolyn Reply:
August 27th, 2010 at 11:54 pm
Oh, yes. The list is not nearly complete. I’m already looking at a list of fundraisers for my daughter’s school. A future post updating “Cost of Public School: an update” in a couple of months might be in order.
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So far I’ve spent $10 for 4 binders, 1 lg pkg of lined paper, a plastic pencil sharpener and pens ($1/4) at a flea market). I still need to get duotangs and graph paper but everything else will be recycled from last year’s materials or from supplies bought in bulk in prior years. My daughter wanted a messenger style bag this year and received it for her birthday in July. My son is on year 7 with his knapsack. That purchase was certainly a lesson in the value of quality. I bought him a Swiss Army backpack on sale for $100 (reg $130) and have never replaced it since. I thought long and hard about spending that much on a backpack, but it sure beats spending $35 every year and chucking it out every June.
FYI – large sized cosmetic bags make great lunch bags. My daughter has one with a flat bottom and straight sides. It’s vinyl lined and has a mirror in the lid so she can make sure her face is clean after eating!
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jolyn Reply:
August 27th, 2010 at 11:57 pm
Yes, we did something similar with our son and his backpack about five years ago, spending about $50. He’s still using it. I remember at the time drawing in my breath at the price, but he swore he loved it and would keep using it. We told him he wouldn’t have a choice.
My daughter picked out a lunchbox with kittens and sparkles on it. I think a cosmetic bag sounds like a great idea!
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Our school supply list doesn’t specify if the supplies are for my daughter or to be contributed to the classroom. I am not sure if I should put her name on stuff. I dpn’t know what I have spent so far. Spent $60 last night on Mabel’s Labels, but those will last longer than just the school year, I did save though and bought their awesome back to school pack. Tomorrow I am in search of a quality lunch pail. I have thrown 2 out in 2 years, which I find very wasteful. It has to be either machine washable or dishwasher safe. I am prepared to part with many dollars to find my elusive item.
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jolyn Reply:
August 27th, 2010 at 11:59 pm
Ha! Good luck. I gave up on buying lunch bags for my oldest. He gave up on himself, actually — he kept “losing” them. I told him no more from me, he was on his own. He decided a plastic shopping sack would suffice.
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I think you got off pretty cheap but I’m sorry for the unexpected expenses. While my husband was teaching, we bought about $400 of supplied per school year simply since it’s all well and good to tell the parents to do it, but a kid without paper and pencils is still a kid without paper and pencils…
As the one who runs the budget, it annoyed me. As the wife to a teacher thoughtful enough to care, I was proud.
Very cute dress and backpack btw!
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jolyn Reply:
August 28th, 2010 at 12:01 am
I do think it’s awful that any expenses like that have to come out of the teachers’ pockets. I’m thankful we live in a district that generally has families that can fill those gaps so the teachers don’t have to. I was just in my daughter’s classroom last night, and her teacher had tubs and tubs of supplies — including lots of glue sticks.
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