Your Guide to Back-to-School Shopping for School Supplies and Clothes

It may be hard to believe, but the first day of school is just around the corner—already!

If you’re feeling overwhelmed thinking about all the back-to-school shopping you need to do, then just breathe easy—Patch is here to help.

Here is a handy checklist of school supplies that most commonly appear on local schools’ lists for the new year. Following that, you’ll find a list of local stores that carry many of the supplies on the list, including which ones are holding great back-to-school sales so you can find the best deals on what you’re looking for.

You’ll also find tips on local shops that are carrying great deals on back-to-school clothes.

Happy shopping!

What School Supplies Does My Child Need this Year?

Here is a handy checklist of the items most commonly listed on local schools’ supply lists by teachers in each grade for this year:

• Sharpened pencils, or mechanical pencils with plenty of extra lead refills
• Large erasers
• Red pens for correcting homework or in-class assignments
• Colored pencils
• Highlighters
• Binders with subject dividers
• Glue stick
• Ruler
• Protractor
• Calculator – check to see if you need just a basic calculator, or a scientific calculator
• Mini stapler
• Mini tape dispenser
• Post-it notes
• Plenty of binder paper and graphing paper
• A thumb drive that can hold at least 1GB of material

Where to Shop for the Best Deals on These School Supplies

TARGET  

Stores nearby at , and

• 4GB thumb drives: $7.99-12.99
• Children’s jeans, sizes 4-16: $16
• Crewneck and v-neck t-shirts: $7.99
• Scientific calculators by Texas Instruments: $9.39-124.99
• Notebooks: $2-4
• Dictionaries and thesauruses: $2-5
• Backpacks: $29.99-39.99
• Insulated lunch bags: $4.99-13.99
• 10-pack of Papermate pens: $1
• Crayola washable markers: 8 for $1.99
• Protractors and rulers: under $1

WAL-MART

Store nearby at 600 Showers Dr., Mountain View

• Scientific calculators by Texas Instruments: $8.50-80
• Binders: $2.50-4
• Mini staplers: under $1
• Pack of 8 Sharpies: $4
• Children’s athletic shoes: $11-16
• Children’s separates (shorts, pants, tops): $3-10

Where Are Good Places to Shop for Back-to-School Clothes?

If you want to get the most shopping done, all in one location, the Stanford Shopping Center is a great destination that features several children’s clothing stores. Here are just three that are holding big back-to-school sales currently.

GYMBOREE

Susan Lee of Los Altos says she loves stocking up on basics at Gymboree whenever she is at the Stanford Shopping Center. Her daughter will be starting preschool at the Children’s Center in Los Altos in just a few weeks.

“I’m just looking for any good deals, basically,” she said. “I like to come to Gymboree for the basics, like playclothes, leggings, and anything in cotton that she can move around in.”

Though it may be hard to wrap your brain around shopping for warm jackets or rain clothes with the sunny temperatures we’re still having these days, store employee Melissa Herandez said, “Parents have already been shopping for things like coats, rain jackets, boots and umbrellas, for the past month.”

Nearly the entire store is currently on sale for 25 percent off, for back-to-school shopping. T-shirts are $5.99-12.99, jeans are $19.99, and all rain supplies like jackets, umbrellas and boots are also 25 percent off.

Hernandez says the store is also in the middle of its “Super Accessories Sale,” featuring five pairs of socks for $10, four pairs of underwear for $15, and three pairs of girls’ basic tights for $15. All hair accessories like barrettes and hair bows are on sale as well.

BROOKS BROTHERS

You may think of Brooks Brothers as a great place to go for a nice dress shirt or pair of slacks, but not somewhere to go for children’s clothing.

Well, assistant store manager Laura Juergens says, that’s no longer the case. Brooks Bros. at Stanford now carries the Brooks Boys and Brooks Girls collections, featuring snazzy duds for the kids for both casual and special occasions—and all featuring the trademark Brooks Bros. gold buttons and sheep logo.

For a really nice polo shirt or pair of khakis that are going to stand the test of time, the Stanford store has plenty in stock, both for around $45-55. There is also the new fleece line for children, featuring separates like skirts, cardigans and sweaters, all for around $80 and under.

Juergens says, the store is definitely making a move toward school fashions.

“We’re really trying to get into more of the campus look,” she said, pointing out preppy, uniform styles, and mentioning the new line of Stanford ties and sweaters coming out soon. “This is the first time Brooks has carried jeans, and sweatshirts.”

Stanford Shopping Center also has several other stores that may be helpful for back-to-school shopping, such as Naartjie Kids, Howard's Shoes for Children, Janie and Jack and Pottery Barn Kids. Visit www.stanfordshop.com for a full directory.