Starting Kinder - newbie questions

[BlackCat]

So I have two questions which will sound stupid but I've never done this before.

1. Our school paper work states that unless we invite the entire class of 30 children or all of one gender, the children are not to give invites to birthdays out at school as it could upset some kids... so how do you give out invites? If we have any parties it would be a max of 5 kids from school.

2. Supplies... when is the best time to buy? Now, a little bit as we go? or wait until the "back 2 school" sales that happen in January?

Many thanks.

[Peekaboo]

Wow, I have never heard that rule before! I guess you would have to try grab the parent after school before the bell goes to pass on the invite?? When both my boys were in kindy, the majority of Mums/Dads were there waiting well before the kids were let out.

[OceanPrincess]

I think you're referring to the first grade of Primary School, right? In Vic we call it Prep?

Anyway... I've heard that rule before, about the invites. They said that for my DD's kinder (the two years before school) but no one really paid attention to it. You'll find a way - parents exchange contact details, etc, or at drop offs... You'll work it out

I'm not sure about supplies. I'm going to be buying some as soon as I can, but I don't actually know what to buy yet LOL. I've found the pre-Christmas sales are often as good as the post-Christmas ones and I want to spread out the pain a bit!

[BlackCat]

Oh I didn't think of that op! Yes first year of formal schooling. Kinder/prep.

[JLeigh29]

1. Catch parents at drop off or pick up. You'll probably already have contact details for the kids you want to invite. As long as the kids aren't handing them out in front of other kids I think you're fine.

2. I've noticed some stuff is on sale now - lunch boxes, drink bottles etc. But the best deals on stationery are usually in back to school sales.

[YoYo]

Our school has a 'friendship list' so we get the email addresses of parents in the class. A fair few people sent out emails to parents about invites to parties, but it doesn't stop kids talking about which parties they've been invited to. I can understand why it's done, but you're not always friends with everyone in a class, or want to invite a whole class of kids to stop feelings getting hurt. I guess you could try to be discreet or maybe ask the teacher to help too? Our kids get a little pouch home with their reader and other things, maybe teacher could put them in there without kids knowing about it?

The other, I'd just wait till the final list comes. Our school wanted certain things, certain amounts so it was just easier to do it all online in one go.

[Olive]

Now that teaches kids resilience.....not. Sorry but that rule in silly, kids need to learn how to deal with that, as do parents.

[~Kim~]

They really have written rules like that? Wow.

And supplies? For Kinder?

Obviously I live in a shell.

[Cally]

I'd wait for the school to confirm what supplies they want you to provide. We didn't have to send in anything for DD in kindy this year.

[Olive]

For primary school our supplies are given to us when we pay the fees, we simply bring them back labeled on the first day.

[Lenny]

For primary school our supplies are given to us when we pay the fees, we simply bring them back labeled on the first day.

Us too. I just got them the other day. Soooo easy! And no child is different. Which is good for my little guy.

[BlackCat]

Yep, there is a list. Pencils, twist crayons, library bag, reader bag, tissues glue sticks, scissors, art smock, um what else? Display book and more.

Plus the usual drink bottles, lunch boxes etc.

I agree about the birthday rule, but I will abide by it.

Edit - also not sure whether to say extra for pencils etc already labelled or buy cheap generic ones and label them ourselves.

[JLeigh29]

Re: pencils. Get the best you can afford. As a teacher, I can definitely say you get what you pay for...the cheap ones don't sharpen as easily and the leads break more. I think labelling yourself is fine. Same for twist crayons and glue.

Sometimes with the lower grades supplies are pooled and used by everyone, so no need to name.....have you checked this out?