are school supply lists ALWAYS this bad?

[Anonymous]

My daughter will be starting at GBW in a few weeks. I was so excited to take her out school supply shopping. Well, after 3 stores, I couldn't even find most of the items on the list. I looked up the very top item from the list on Amazon and discovered that it was a SIXTEEN dollar item. Because kids really NEED "special" $16 crayons, right? Ridiculous. Please tell me we're not the only ones with a very specific list with non-existent or ridiculously priced items?

[Anonymous]

Good Heavens, What supply list do you have? We're at GBW and NOTHING on our list was more than a couple of bucks.

[Anonymous]

I got everything I needed at Walmart, Staples and the grocery store. Tax Free. Lots of good deals too.

The only item I had trouble with was the large size glue sitcks. Found them at the grocery store.

No $16 crayons on our list (3rd grade). We're at GBW too.

What's the item you are talking about? Grade?

[Anonymous]

The K list requests Crayola Tall Twistable Crayons in 24 count. I couldn't find these extra special crayons anywhere we went, so I looked them up on Amazon. They were listed for $16. I kid you not.

Now, I was at Giant for something else entirely last night and discovered that there were regular height (most of the ones I found yesterday were the mini-size) twistable crayons for $5. I have a feeling THIS is what they meant instead of "tall" But if you're going to be so specific, get it right.

I'm going to try again today since the new weekly sales items should be on the shelves. I wanted to be ill yesterday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The K list requests Crayola Tall Twistable Crayons in 24 count. I couldn't find these extra special crayons anywhere we went, so I looked them up on Amazon. They were listed for $16. I kid you not.

Now, I was at Giant for something else entirely last night and discovered that there were regular height (most of the ones I found yesterday were the mini-size) twistable crayons for $5. I have a feeling THIS is what they meant instead of "tall" But if you're going to be so specific, get it right.

I'm going to try again today since the new weekly sales items should be on the shelves. I wanted to be ill yesterday.

Ridiculous that they are requesting those. We've been at two FCPS schools and the standard box of 24 crayons is all that has ever been requested. My advice is to try Michael's or just get the ones at Giant. You'll be fine.

Of course, this year I'm tryin to find an expandable file with 7 compartments. Not the 6 or 13 compartments that are available in droves. Target failed me on that, so I'm checking Office Max today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Ridiculous that they are requesting those. We've been at two FCPS schools and the standard box of 24 crayons is all that has ever been requested. My advice is to try Michael's or just get the ones at Giant. You'll be fine.

Of course, this year I'm tryin to find an expandable file with 7 compartments. Not the 6 or 13 compartments that are available in droves. Target failed me on that, so I'm checking Office Max today.

OP again - I agree. WTH is wrong with regular crayons? We have a zillion of them in our house that I would be happy to donate. But, NO - they want super special crayons

Good luck with the expandable file. Does anyone else feel like these lists are meant to be some sort of crazy treasure hunt for parents? Like, if you can find these nearly impossible to find items, you should get some sort of prize at the end?

[Anonymous]

Try Michaels for the crayons. FYI -- the price you are quoting on Amazon is probably not Amazon, but another supplier. Sometimes they really ratchet their prices up.

The crayons you are looking for are not unusual or that pricy. You just need to keep looking.

[Anonymous]

I really was trying to get this done this weekend, since we will be packing over the next couple weeks and moving into the neighborhood the day before the orientation where they expect these items to be turned in. Let's just hope Michael's and TRU have what I'm looking for at a reasonable price. I don't have the time to be running all over town on a school supply scavenger hunt.

Anyone know yet how much the PTA packs will be? That might turn out to be my best option.

I really thought school supply shopping would be fun. ACK!

[Anonymous]

To the PP looking for the seven pocket expandable file, I found them at Staples.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To the PP looking for the seven pocket expandable file, I found them at Staples.

Thanks! Heading there today. Tax free!

[Anonymous]

I agree that they need to be a little more specific and realistic when they are putting one of these lists together.

But in my experience, the teacher has been flexible if what they asked for isn't available except on Amazon for an outrageous price.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really was trying to get this done this weekend, since we will be packing over the next couple weeks and moving into the neighborhood the day before the orientation where they expect these items to be turned in. Let's just hope Michael's and TRU have what I'm looking for at a reasonable price. I don't have the time to be running all over town on a school supply scavenger hunt.

Anyone know yet how much the PTA packs will be? That might turn out to be my best option.

I really thought school supply shopping would be fun. ACK!

so what would happen if ..... you gave the mini's instead of the talls? Got a expandable folder with 13 instead of 7? Didn't get them at all?

.... our school has items that are going to be for communal use and I am sending in lightly used items from our art supply stash. These are VERY lightly used but I would prefer to re-use than hunt all over the greater DC area for items.

[Anonymous]

A LOT of this stuff is for communal use, which in a way annoys me. I don't mind contributing, but if the idea is that some parents can't or won't send in the supplies so they bulk up the list to ensure there's enough to go around, then I feel like I'm shopping for other parents who aren't shopping. Just ask me for $10 for the class supply fund if the supplies are communal. Why does my 1st-grader need four boxes of 12 pencils? Every child in the class is going to use 48 pencils in one school year? I think it's because some parents don't send in any pencils.

[Anonymous]

Oh for gosh sakes...$10 doesn't nearly cover what a child needs for the school year.

Yes, a first grader can easily blow through 48 pencils. The go nuts at the automatic pencil sharpening machine and come back to their desk with a nub. They take pencils home, they break pencils.

I'm fine with getting whatever is on my child's list. If that means a few stupid pencils or crayons go to the kid who can't even afford to buy lunch, I'm happy to do it.

And no, I'm not going to toss in a measly $10 bucks and expect the teacher to pick up the rest out of her salary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh for gosh sakes...$10 doesn't nearly cover what a child needs for the school year.

I think the previous poster was only stating she would give $10 in ADDITION to what was needed just for her child. If parents donated some extra money for the"communal" items that are hard to find then we wouldn't feel crazy trying to find them. The teacher makes up the list and can her them. I don't think ANYONE expects to pay JUST $10(although I'm sure there are some thrifty coupon clippers out there that could somehow make that happen)