Back to School Supplies: Get Ready with Scout

While I’ve been a graduate for some time now, back-to-school season was always exciting. Call me a nerd, but shopping for stationery was my favourite part. My parents would load up the car with all the kids and head to the store to tackle those back-to-school supplies checklists. While we covered most of the basics on a budget, we each got to pick out one or two special items as a little way to celebrate the new school year. When I got a little older, I found craftier ways to make my supplies a little more special. One year, I used leftover vintage material my mom had in her sewing stash and eyelet and lace trim to cover and repair old binders, giving them a little retro flair. (They lasted me through high school and five years of college, and they still look cute!) Heading into university, I kept up the tradition on my own.

Of course, it’s been a while since the last time I brought a supplies checklist home to my mom—and those lists have grown in that time, too. While buying all one-of-a-kind school supplies may not be in the cards, finding one or two special items to invest in this year can help bring a little added joy and excitement for when the first day of classes rolls around.

See some of our suggestions below for primary, secondary, and post-secondary school students to cover the basics with a little something extra special. As always, we have lots more to explore in-store and are happy to offer up suggestions to ensure you find the perfect something that is sure to be loved all year long, so stop into Leslieville or Roncesvalles and say hello!

Primary School Priorities

Keep lunches and snacks cool and fresh in reusable snack bags and So Young small cooler bags, featuring playful illustrations. The Asobu Mini Diva tumbler will keep milk or juice cold until lunchtime or soup warm when those winter days come along, while a mini coin pouch is perfect for keeping coins together for pizza days. A new favourite book or flashcards can encourage continued learning at home, while Kikkerland’s Doodle Box crosses pencil crayons, a pencil sharpener, and a ruler off the supplies list.  

Featured products: My Little Gifts: A Book of Sharing by Jo Witek ($21.99, in-store only), Eric Carle Numbers & Counting Flash Cards ($11.99, Leslieville store and online), Asobu Mini Diva 7 oz. tumbler ($22.95, in-store and online), Kikkerland Doodle Box ($15.00, Leslieville and online), So Young Small Cooler Bag in Narwhals ($30, in-store and online, additional styles available), The Wondrous Workings of Planet Earth by Rachel Ignotofsky ($25.99, in-store only), Danica Reusable 2-Pack Snack Bags ($13.95, in-store only, additional styles available), Blue Q Recycled Coin Pouch in Lunch Money ($6, in-store only, additional styles available)

High School Highlights

Prep for that first day back with a little self-care with five-free Odeme nail polish, then pack up all your supplies in a fun tote bag. Add an extra pop of flair to your backpack with enamel pins, patches, or buttons, like the Toronto Pride button from Button Machine. For gym class, keep hydrated with a chic bkr glass water bottle and snag a couple of fun notebooks for a little more motivation to study for your other classes. To finish off your note-taking supplies, snap up a Ban.do pen set that cheers you on or opt for a refillable Idlewild Luxe Writing Pen. Keep them all together in a Blue Q pencil case, made of 95% recycled material with 10% of profits going to fund environmental initiatives across the globe.

Featured products: Ban.do Classic 17-Month Planner in Where You Need to Be ($27.95, in-store and online, additional styles and sizes available), Blue Q Pencil Case in Small Talk ($8.95, in-store only, additional styles available), Idlewild Co. Luxe Writing Pen in Banana Leaf ($16.95, in-store and online, additional styles available), Ban.do Write On Pen Set in Paradiso ($22.95, in-store and online, additional styles available), And Here We Are Tote in Peace Hand ($35, in-store and online; additional brands, styles, and sizes available), Button Machine Toronto Pride Button ($3.25, in-store only), Odeme Nail Polish in Elisa and Dancehall Days ($15 each, in-store and online, additional shades available), Idlewild Co. Notebook in Dalmatian ($22.95, Leslieville store only, additional patterns available), Designworks Ink. Twin Wire Notebook in Almond ($19.95, Leslieville store only, also available in Burgundy), bkr Little 500 mL Glass Bottle in Pepper ($45, in-store and online, additional colours and 1 L options available)

Post-Secondary Essentials

Dress your dorm room or desk with an art print or a handmade Leikey Designs felted cactus or two. Keep wraps on your budget by taking a lunch in a So Young large cooler bag or lunchbox, and splurge a little on a handmade waxed canvas backpack from Montreal brand Noujica that’s big enough to carry the essentials in style while doubling as a purse on the weekends. A notepad makes for the perfect addition to your desk to scribble down thoughts and tasks to tackle later, helping to keep your mind focused on studying, while a planner can keep your time organized between work and play. For those who might struggle to find a little balance in all the hustle, a self-care journal or book can offer up creative tips to treat yourself, even on a student budget and schedule. Of course, we can’t forget a coffee tumbler for keeping you fuelled through it all. You’ve got this!

Featured products: Noujica The Little Backpack in Black Canvas ($170, Roncesvalles and online, also available in Cognac), Leikey Designs felted cacti ($20-$25, in-store only), Yellow Owl Workshop Risograph Print in Ramen ($30, in-store only), Wrap Magazine Plain-Paged Notebook in Hikers ($15, in-store only, additional styles available), Breathe Self-Care Journal ($22.95, Leslieville only), Designworks Ink. Notepad with Pen in Memphis ($20, Leslieville only, additional styles available), Paper Source Leatherette Weekly Planner in Dove ($40, in-store only, also available in Black and Rose), Le Pen Micro-Fine Pens in Teal, Pastel Peach, and Black ($4 each, in-store only, additional colours available), So Young Large Cooler Bag in Olive Paper ($42, in-store and online, additional styles available), Asobu Cafe Compact Tumbler in White ($26.95, in-store and online, also available in black)

We want to know what’s on your back-to-school list? Comment below and we’ll keep building a list together. You can also browse more back-to-school supplies online!