Posted May 21, 2016 by Melia Cossette
For the 2016-17 school year we will be trying something new to provide classroom supplies for students. Rather than predict the school supplies students will need and create lists or kits for students to buy supplies, we will be asking parents to pay a one-time supply fee and then leverage our bulk buying power to buy student classroom supplies and consumables as we go. 
 
This means…

  • Less back-to-school shopping

  • Better equipped classrooms  

  • Bundling most all of the other expenses such as planners, scholastic news and other fees all into one payment

  • And in most cases everyone saves money! 

    So rather than going shopping for supplies, please use the link below to pay for your school supplies. Fees vary by grade level based on the supply lists created by the grade level team. For ease of payment our PTSA serves to collect the supply fee and grant the full amount raised to the school.

    NOTE: Payments for all grades are now open. If you know you will be at Newcastle next year we request payment now in order to buy fall supplies over the summer.

    Click here to pay for your school supplies. Online payments require registering with the PTSA. Membership is encouraged but not required.

    Alternatively, you may pay for school supplies in the school office. Checks are made payable to the Newcastle PTSA. For information about scholarships for the supply fee and other school costs please contact the school office.

    Supply fees are per student by grade level as follows:

    Kindergarten: $75

    1st Grade: $50 (includes scholastic news fee)

    2nd Grade: $50 (includes scholastic news fee)

    3rd Grade: $55 (includes scholastic news fee)

    4th Grade: $60 (includes student planner)

    5th Grade: $70 (includes student planner)

    Note, if the link does not work please go to newcastleptsa.org and scroll down until you see the school supplies link on the left.  

    How will this work?
    The supply fee will be based on the supply lists that teachers created in past years and other fees for materials and will vary for each grade level.

    Supply fee revenues will create a fund for each grade level team to order materials. Periodically through the year the teacher teams will use these funds to order consumable and semi-consumable supplies for their classroom.

    What will be covered by the supply fee?
    All classroom consumables that we traditionally included on classroom lists will be provided for students through the supply fee fund. This includes notebooks, pencils, markers, tissues, pencil boxes, scissors, crayons, glue, wipes, rulers, etc.  ADDITIONALLY this fee will include other materials parents have traditionally paid for separately including planners, math templates and folders.

    What will not be covered by the supply fee?
    Anything that is not consumable and/or ultimately owned by the student will not be covered by the supply fee. These will still need to be provided by parents. Examples include backpacks, ear phones, flash drives, supplies for use at home, recorders for 4th grade music, personal binders/organizers or optional materials.

    Why change?
    We hope to improve the following:

  • Quality materials for all students. Some of the supplies we get now are not the type we find works best in class. Also, we sometimes find we need additional supplies after lists are distributed.
  • Waste reduction. Currently we end up with excesses of some materials. Even when we predict the right volume, excess packaging and travel goes into gathering the materials. Bulk orders are more environmentally responsible.  For example: excess glue sticks but not enough crayons…
  • Number of payment requests. We will attempt to bundle all supplies and consumables we ask parents to provide and send to school over the year into this program. By having the flexibility to buy as we need we will be able to bundle things like science fair supplies, planners and student subscriptions into one fee.
  • Cost savings. We get significant bulk discounts. The supply fee would in general be 10-25% less than bundled kits including the same items.