Wow, that is crazy. One of my favourite memories of back to school time was buying supplies. WE kept our own supplies in our desks. Everything was labeled with our names and were our own. Big supplies were kept in the supply room at school (construction paper, paint, art supplies etc). I couldn't imagine my son's stuff having to go to a comunal pot. I would have no problem supplying a few things for those in need....but even at that the dollar stores around here carry a tonne of great supplies (brand name too). Now I am curious enough and will have to ask my sil if that happens at her dds' school.
Brooke, then I read the end of this about, "End of year parties" I immediatly thought you were tlaking about SUmmer School parties! lol (Which of course do Happen). Our school, when I was subbing in SUmmer School, paid the kids $100 for attending if they didn't miss more than 3 days of summer school. Yup, $100 for attending summer school. Now, IMO, thye needed to earn it and help the janitor's clean, sort left over school supplies, and help the teachers pack up for the year as well as their wimpy school work they had to do. There was alot of down time as well, the kids spent 45 minutes of each block (which was an hour and a half long) doing "Cup stacking" which IMO is absolutally rediculous and a waste of time when they could be helping teachers or doing something good for others...especially if there was $100 involved.
Wow, I never thought about what happened to the school supplies after school is over for the year. Interesting! Last year, my kids attended PS. We got a supply list and purchased all of the items on the list for each kid. When they got to school, they were told they didn't need the items since "the school provided them." Ok. So, we took most of the stuff back to the store and got our money back. Toward the end of the year, I asked my DS why his work hadn't been completed for the day. He informed me he couldn't find a pencil. Arg! I sent him to school the next day with a pretty pencil bouquet - so much for the school supplying the supplies!
