Re-using school supplies?

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't do this. If a few sheets of loose leaf are missing from a notebook, other kids might notice it lacking about 1/16" in thickness. Or, they may see that the bar code on the cover is from a batch of notebooks that was distributed by Staples in 2024. That's like so embarrassing. OP think about whether it's worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't do this. If a few sheets of loose leaf are missing from a notebook, other kids might notice it lacking about 1/16" in thickness. Or, they may see that the bar code on the cover is from a batch of notebooks that was distributed by Staples in 2024. That's like so embarrassing. OP think about whether it's worth it.

Teachers should give the notebooks to the kids who bring them in. Easy.

[Anonymous]

What are you talking about? Like you think you need to throw away pens if they have ever been written with and get new ones for the new school year??

[Anonymous]

Of course!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are you talking about? Like you think you need to throw away pens if they have ever been written with and get new ones for the new school year??

OP is worried of stigma of child showing up with non-new supplies and already sharpened pencils, so when teacher wants to use up the first day to sharpen pencils and organize/shuffle school supplies around, kid won't be done before all the others.

[Anonymous]

Yes absolutely, especially things like pink erasers that last forever, scissors, colored pencils, folders, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't do this. If a few sheets of loose leaf are missing from a notebook, other kids might notice it lacking about 1/16" in thickness. Or, they may see that the bar code on the cover is from a batch of notebooks that was distributed by Staples in 2024. That's like so embarrassing. OP think about whether it's worth it.

Normally I would assume this was sarcasm but I know a lot of 30-somethings that would truly answer this way, so now I don't know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are you talking about? Like you think you need to throw away pens if they have ever been written with and get new ones for the new school year??

Everything gets filthy in a pencil box so I have been known to individually wipe down all the (perfectly good) markers that are covered in pencil dust, everything else gets a wipe, pencils get re-sharpened, pencil case gets washed and wiped. Kids don't care. I also resharpen old pencils and bundle up to send in mid-year. Teachers are so happy. This is when everyone loses their stuff

(signed, school supply geek who has so much old and new stuff, for me and kids)

[Anonymous]

I send all the used school supplies on the first day of school until we know which communist style teachers are going to steal for the classroom or redistribute them. After week 1 I send the new stuff and my kid keeps that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I send all the used school supplies on the first day of school until we know which communist style teachers are going to steal for the classroom or redistribute them. After week 1 I send the new stuff and my kid keeps that.

You are my type of person!

[Anonymous]

Of course you reuse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course you reuse. Why in the world would you throw them away and buy new if you don’t need them.

Op here. We didn’t throw the old ones away, they just ended up in the house pile/drawer.

I have a designated spot all school supplies go. In the summer I put reusable thing there. Then in August, you shop there first and buy only stuff you don’t already have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course you reuse. Why in the world would you throw them away and buy new if you don’t need them.

Op here. We didn’t throw the old ones away, they just ended up in the house pile/drawer.

I have a designated spot all school supplies go. In the summer I put reusable thing there. Then in August, you shop there first and buy only stuff you don’t already have.

This year I was very deliberate in setting the still usable stuff aside at the end of the school year. We just got the school supply lists. Between the three kids, we only need to buy a few notebooks, a few plastic pocket folders and a sketch book. All of the rest is either being reused or from our extra stash of supplies which is good because my husband lost his job in the spring. The only small complaint was about not having a box for the colored pencils.

[Anonymous]

Our stuff all go in a communal pile and we don't usually get anything back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I send all the used school supplies on the first day of school until we know which communist style teachers are going to steal for the classroom or redistribute them. After week 1 I send the new stuff and my kid keeps that.

Laughing at communist style teachers. I'm so glad we are just out of that age. High school it's each man for himself.