I just received the ‘requisites list’ for all of my children ahead of the school year. I have children starting in Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 5 this year and the three long lists of necessary school supplies have left me feeling a little faint.
The Kindergarten list is short and a bit cute. Along with the necessary stationery, they also need wet wipes and “a spare pair of underpants in a plastic bag, to be kept in their school bag”.
I wet myself in Kindergarten. I really do not wish this fate on my daughter.
“I want my daughter to slip in seamlessly.”
By Year 1 the list is getting a little longer. They need the necessary stationery as well as paper towels (no wet wipes for this lot) and a paint shirt. “One of mum or dad’s old t-shirts makes a great paint shirt”, apparently.
Just don’t give them one of Daddy’s ‘good’ shirts. Or there will be hell to pay.
Just as an FYI, you should know that this post is sponsored by Big W. But all opinions expressed by the author are 100% authentic and written in their own words.
Then, in Year 5, they basically need to bring the entire Big W stationery section to school, as well as a “USB memory stick, 2GB essential” and ear phones, “not for use while the teacher is yelling”.
I made that last part up. Teachers don’t yell anymore. Not like back in my day…
But the rest of each of the lists are pretty similar and seem easy enough to find. I’m not a fan of the fact that some schools asks for actual brands of certain items like you’re a bad parent if you buy your children anything other than a Bostick glue stick. Thankfully they are usually on special, and come in different colours which the kids find amusing.
But just in case your children’s school isn’t as super efficient and mega organised as mine, here are the basics you’ll need to get ready for the school year. And here’s a tip…I always buy extras, especially of items that are on special, and put them away for later in the year. The school supplies never last until term 4. It’s good to check in on anything your kids’ need at the end of each term.
“More pencils mum.”
“My sharpener broke.”
“I threw my rubber at Michael and now I can’t find it.”
And you’ll need some stuff for them to use to do their homework. So keep an extra set at home.
Here are the items you’ll need to hunt and gather:
All kids will need…
1. Twist up crayons.
Available at Big W
2. Glue sticks.
Available at Big W
3. Coloured pencils.
Available at Big W
4. Lead pencils.
Available at Big W
5. Decorated pencil cases.
Available at Big W
6. Scissors.
Available at Big W
7. Erasers.
Available at Big W
8. Enclosed sharpener.
Available at Big W
And for older kids…
1. Blue, black and red pens for those lucky children with a ‘pen licence’.
Available at Big W
2. Textas.
Available at Big W
3. Highlighters.
Available at Big W
4. Macquarie Dictionary.
Available at Big W
5. A plastic display folder.
Available at Big W
6. Plastic folder for notes.
Available at Big W
7. A clear ruler.
Available at Big W
8. Post-it notes (not sure why they need these).
Available at Big W
9. A clipboard.
Available at Big W
Easy enough, right? Except I have to pretty much get three of everything. That’s why shortly after visiting the stationery department and then the book department and then the computing department (for the USB and headphones) you should make a beeline for the chocolate department and buy yourself some nerve-calming medicine.
For me, my medicine of choice is after-dinner-mint-style chocolate which, contrary to popular belief, can be consumed at any time of the day and is particularly useful if consumed in the car on the way home.
What school supplies do your kids need before school starts?
Check out some of our favourite celebs spending time with their kids.
Michelle Obama with Malia and Sasha Bindi and Terri Irwin David Beckham with son Romeo after a Manchester United MatchDavid Beckham with son Romeo after a Manchester United Match Tom Cruise and daughter Suri Denise Richards with daughters Sam and Lola©AXELLE/BAUER-GRIFFIN.COMThe Wiggles celebrity meet-and-greet.Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal CityWalk, Universal City, CA.March 11, 2007.www.bauergriffin.comPicture Shows: Denise Richards with daughters Sam Sheen and Lola Rose Sheen. Jerry Hall and Elizabeth and Georgia May Jagger Bruce Willis with daughters Rumer and TallulahWASHINGTON - JUNE 27: Actor Bruce Willis (C) poses with his daughters Rumer (L) and Tallulah after donating objects from the "Die Hard" series of films to the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History June 27, 2007 in Washington, DC. A selection of "Die Hard" items will go on display in the new acquisitions case in the museum's "Treasures of American History" exhibition at the Smithsonian. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 74885416 Teri Hatcher with her daughter Emmerson Brad Pitt with Maddox, Pax and Zahara Jessica Alba and her daughters Haven and Honor Michael Douglas with son Dylan Hillary and Chelsea ClintonDemocratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y. smiles with her daughter, Chelsea, during a rally at the IBEW in Los Angeles, Friday, Jan. 11, 2008. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) Demi Moore and Rumer Willis Kelly Bensimon Madonna with Lourdes Nicole Kidman with Sunday Rose. Will Smith with son JadenActor Will Smith, left, greets the crowd as he walks onstage with his son, Jaden, during the 21st Annual Kids' Choice Awards in Los Angeles, on Saturday, March 29, 2008. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) ORG XMIT: CAMW118 Kate Hudson and Goldie Hawn Sharon and Kelly OsborneWEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - MARCH 07: Sharon Osbourne and Kelly Osbourne attend the 18th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Award Party at Pacific Design Center on March 7, 2010 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Sharon Osbourne;Kelly Osbourne Rosanna Arquette with daughter Zoe Sidel Victoria Beckham with Harper Seven Jada Pinkett Smith and her daughter WillowJada Pinkett Smith and her daughter WillowThe French premiere of 'Karate Kid' at Grand Rex Theater - ArrivalsParis, France - 25.07.10**Only available for publication in the UK, USA, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Australia, Portugal, Canada, United Arab Emirates & China. Not available for the rest of the world**Mandatory Credit: WENN.com Harry Connick Junior with daughter Georgia Patrick Dempsey with his twins Sullivan and Darby Jack Black with son Samuel Tom Cruise and son Conner
BIG W has Australia’s favourite national brands and the lowest prices on everything for the kids going back to school. View our catalogues online or shop in store for all your back to school needs. Visit www.bigw.com.au for more information or sign up to our newsletter here.
Top Comments
So this is my son's list - Year 1 - WA public school:
- 10 whiteboard markers
- 8 glue sticks (the big ones)
- 12 hb pencils
- 6 red pencils
- 2 rubbers
- 2 wooden rulers
- 16gb USB stick
- headphones
- 8 scrapbooks
- 6 plastic button folders
- 1 calculator (yes and we wonder why our kids have issues with maths)
- PVA glue
- 1 packet wind up crayons
- oil crayons
- 2 boxes coloured pencils
- 3 different types of black permanent markers Artline brand - 1 each
- masking tape
- 1 packet post-it
- 1 box tissues
- 1 paper towel roll...
- and I thinks there's more...
All that to be replenished as the year goes on.. and after talking to some parents if there's left overs they don't give it back !
+ $60 contributions for the year
+ $20 library fund
+ up to $195 in optional activities (carnivals etc...)
+ school issued hat $10 each
+ mandatory school issued polo shirt
$30 each
... but who's counting lol
So as far as I'm concerned he will have a pencil case with his own supply and he will learn to look after his things as we did when we were kids .. when we used to get in trouble if we kept loosing stuff and mum had to keep buying stuff !
I am a mother of 4, though the youngest is a toddler. The others are beginning years 4, 6 and 9. One thing I have found over the years is do not expect that what is required in one particular grade previously will be required again. Sometimes the requisites lists are COMPLETLEY different, and the items I've stocked up on in advance are rendered useless. My children have attended 3 schools (including the high school), and one thing I can say is they always ask them to have way more books than they ever use...not to mention 40 lead pencils. Not sure how a child can sharpen down a pencil a week. In my day we had a couple each year. Do ensure you clearly label their pens, textas and pencils for clear identification. One of my sons has vision problems so in addition to writing his name on his pens, I cut coloured sticky paper into strips and wrap them around his pens so he can easily identify his own. In classes where the teachers have children share their pencils between students, I ask that they make provisions that my child use their own supplies. Herpies (the common cold sore virus, which can be passed on even when there is no cold sore present) is with you for life once you get it. I keep a box with leftnover contact, glue sticks, sharpeners and any other odds and ends I have spare of, and at the end of the year, I add the books which came home unused, and tear the used pages out of any which were BARELY used and add them too. I tear out unused pages of all the others and put them in a box for my kids to use as scrap paper. I find my kids will invariably come home half way through the year with half their colours missing and they need a new set. I keep the old ones in a big tin in case we can replace the lost ones from here, but I also buy cheap pencils and textas as I find the expensive ones are all too often 'borrowed and not returned' before they run out anyway. Oh, and eachnof my school ch ildren have always been asked to buy the really big pencil cases for their pencils and paintbrush and non-flexible rulers on their lists. :)