Starting Kindergarten - No Information from School

Updated on August 06, 2011
T.M. asks from Tampa, FL
22 answers

My oldest starts on the 23rd of this month. I have had him registered for months. I have not yet received any type of letter from the school. I just found out by driving by that they are having an open house on the 18th. They do not seem to update the website all that often. They still have all the school supply lists for last year on the website. I am using that list to buy from...although I am concerned that I will get a completely different list when he starts. I do NOT want to wait until the last minute to buy him the supplies that he needs. Is the school just unorganized? I would have thought that I would receive some sort of letter by now...

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So What Happened?

Thanks for the insight folks. Yes, I checked Wal-Mart and they do not have the school supply list out for my son's school. I am only anxious since this is the first year that I will have a school age child. I have already bought according to last year's school supply list so I am thinking that I should have most everything already. I just HATE waiting to the last minute for stuff like this. Yes, I could certainly do a good job organizing stuff like this if it were my full-time job. However, point taken that I should be careful how I phrase things. Although I do not mind helping, I am limited as to how much time I could spend doing this since I already work full-time.

My son will be going to Cannella.

Featured Answers

L.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

YES, it appears this school is unorganized, but I'm finding this is the NORM, unfortunately. We have gotten absolutely nothing as well. It strikes me as completely odd that this isn't taken care of much earlier in the summer... But I'm with you. We know nothing.

2 moms found this helpful

L.A.

answers from Austin on

Just call or go by the school and ask..

Also be very careful about talking about "disorganization or how late things are posted" or other negative observations out loud.. , unless you think you are willing to volunteer and do a better job..

As a PTA President on 2 different campus., Parents that have "great ideas, suggestions" or are "aware" of some needs, end up as chairmen of those committees very quickly.. I used to honor the disgruntled parents by announcing them as the new chairman of this new committee. Many of these parents are now my best friends! They solved lots of problems..

1 mom found this helpful

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K..

answers from Phoenix on

It's normal. School administration is out of the office for most of summer & they probably just got back in the office. My DD starts on the 15th & we just got the informational flyers from them yesterday, and the admin barely got back into the office at the end of last week. You may not even get the supply list or know what teacher your child got until the "meet the teacher/open house" night.

I disagree about the "disorganization". The administration usually only has a couple weeks to prepare for the new year, and they have HUNDREDS of students/families to communicate with & send letters to. Cut them some slack.

If you are that curious, just call & ask. I got anxious, too, so I called, and was given all the info I needed over the phone.

3 moms found this helpful
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H.M.

answers from Dallas on

I don't know how it is where you live but I know here if you go to Wal Mart they are a list of supplies for each grade level that are required. If not I would call the school and find out. Other wise you may have to wait to the open house.

Good luck and God Bless!

2 moms found this helpful

M.D.

answers from Dallas on

Most schools don't update their webpages that often. Also they are out for the summer so the person who does update, is probably not there. This is very typical I have found out. Call your district office and just find out dates. They usually do their calendar for this coming year before school is out the past year...

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M.C.

answers from Washington DC on

You will probably get a letter next week. That's how my school is.
M.

2 moms found this helpful

C.M.

answers from Johnson City on

I would just call the school and explain I need to buy supplies, arrange schedules for the open house etc and ask them to give you any and all info they have available. I bet the school office knows those kinds of things by now.

PS I wish I had until the 23rd. My daughter starts the 9th!! Eek

1 mom found this helpful

T.L.

answers from St. Louis on

Our school doesn't even have the updated supply list on there yet and we start on the 15th. I plan on making a trip to the school on Monday during my lunch hour to get a list or at least speak with some to try to get a list. Grrr. Why is it so difficult to keep a webpage updated?

1 mom found this helpful
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J.M.

answers from Tampa on

We were given a list with report cards. So I purchased this summer. Most of the time you can go to Walmart and they have lists of local schools. That's how I did it last year when I too had a kindergarten and 3rd grader. I too drove by the school to see when open house and such was. So if your doing that your one step ahead of a parent that isn't. Buy the basics anyways...crayons (24 pack), washable markers, crayon box, glue sticks, bottle glue, blunt tip scissors, #2 yellow pencils, tray of water color paints, some folders and composition books. That should get you started with all the sales going on. We always get an additional teacher list after. I stock up all year when sales go on and eventually one of my kids will need it for school during the year.

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

GO to the school office yourself.
Office staff, are in ya know.

All the other parents, are probably in your conundrum too.
The school does not have good organization.

But go to the school.
They may have a bulletin too, with information.
BUT go to the OFFICE itself, at the school.
And ask them.
Be nice and cordial... not sounding 'irked.'
They will not like that.
Even if it is, irritating.

Yes, sometimes school supplies lists, do change.

My son just started Kinder.
For our school, they MAIL a packet of info. WAY ahead of time. For the parents. School supplies list, and other information as well.

ALSO, you need to know what class he will be in and what Teacher.
SO, ask the school, WHEN the class lists, will be out.

1 mom found this helpful

B.F.

answers from Toledo on

IMO they are all this way, my childrens school JUST arrived on Tuesday thsi week.

1 mom found this helpful

A.H.

answers from Portland on

Websites are horrible for updating lol. I saw the city bus was 4 years out of date nearby here. The wal-mart here has the school supply lists from all the local schools in a big giant folder pocket system in the front of the store right when you walk in the door. The wal-mart back home in SC did it too so I think it is a wal-mart thing that they do it in every city. I would call the school and make sure your on the address roster or whatever they use to send out letters. Maybe your address isn't on there yet.

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S.L.

answers from New York on

Usually letters go out around 10 days before school starts as thats when the class lists are finalized. You may have registered your kids months ago but A lot of kids show up NOW to be registered and the school is making up the classes and secretaries and principals may get their two week vacations so they will not take vacations during the school year. Look for mail to come around the 13th and check the website then as well.

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C.W.

answers from Dallas on

Check the school or district website. We are switching over to paperless this year so any information you have to go online.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.S.

answers from Tampa on

I am a PTA Preisident for an Elementary school in Hillsborough county. Our school's back to school mailer goes out on Monday or Tuesday. It includes the information on who the teacher will be for the coming year. I hope you receive mail this coming week. I know I cannot wait to see who my son's teacher will be.

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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Our school district does not send out letters. They post the information on the front sign. That is typically the most current information. Call the school for goodness sake. They should be aware that walmart does not have their school supply lists out. I am sure you are not the only parent concerned...besides, every question you have will be answered on the 18th.

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R.L.

answers from Tampa on

Honestly I would wait until after the first day of school. Unless they give you more info at open house. Better to wait in my opinion cause they things they ask for anymore are not just for your child...

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K.V.

answers from Tampa on

What school is your son going to be attending ? I only ask as I teach at a Hillsborough County Elementary and if it happens to be the same one, I can share information.
I did not read your other answers but I can tell you that basically our school supply list pretty much remains the same each year with an exception sometimes. The front office of the school usually has copies they can give you. It's worth a call. Also, our web site is usually updated by the Technology teacher who will make the changes at the beginning of the school year (pre-planning time for us). I think that is how most schools are. Usually, you can call the school with any specific questions. A back to school letter is usually mailed out sometime in this next week. I just received my welcome back letter this past week. Good Luck!

T.K.

answers from Dallas on

I didn't get a letter. When we registered, they gave us a packet at that time. I didn't really expect to hear anything else until school started.

L.B.

answers from Biloxi on

Go to the school - by now administrative staff are probably already there and at work.
When I registered my son for Kindergarten, oh so many years ago, I did not get anything from the school. They don't mail letters out. So, I went by and found people to talk with.

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J.T.

answers from Tampa on

Last year I was in the same position as you, but I found out all parents are on the same boat no matter what grade. My daughter is going into 1st grade and I haven’t heard anything from the school, but it’s typical.

Usually there is a “meet the teacher night” the Thursday before school starts and you should get a letter from the school with teacher assignment and info about starting school about 2 weeks before school starts. Then you’ll hear directly from the teacher as to what school supplies you need. My neighbor’s daughter was also going into K last year and our lists were completely different (her teacher required binders and sheet protectors, mine wanted folders).

Be patient and you should hear something soon. I’m rushing to the mail box every day to see if I have anything from our school, but I know this is normal (as frustrating as it is!!) I’ve been talking with other parents and we all feel the same way. I think they wait so long to inform parents as there are so many last minute student registrations (they need to ensure the classes are balanced).

Hope this helps!

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J.J.

answers from St. Louis on

You should have received a letter by now, it could have gotten lost in the mail. I would call the school for more information. School supply lists are not always the same as the previous years and you could be missing out on a parent teacher meeting too.

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