We buy all those supplies that they list, but then we send 1 (one) of each item to school with our son. We certainly don't send them all the first day.
We were asked once why we didn't just send 'everything' the way they 'asked' us to.
I responded that the school isn't a charity and if they want me to donate something to the needy, they should be honest enough to tell me. I see no need for my son to take 2 of everything to school with him the first week.
They don't ask us to do that anymore.
L
I’ve heard many a tale of a heartbroken 1st grader who had his “special” pencils, etc, that he picked out special with his mom and/or dad,
taken from him and put in the communal pile.
This would be the first lesson of socialism.
NEVER do/provide your best, because “the state” will confiscate it and “distribute” it to others who don’t provide their best (if they provide anything at all).