About this template
The school's supply list is the easy part. What actually ambushes families is the other stuff: the physical form that expired, the immunization copy the nurse needs, the registration deadline that was last Tuesday. This one-page checklist covers all three fronts — documents & forms, supplies, and the key dates & setup tasks — so the first week of school holds no surprises. You get it two ways: a printable PDF for paper-and-pen checking, and the same checklist as a spreadsheet that scores your readiness automatically.
What's inside
- Documents & Forms (8) — immunization record, annual physical / health form, emergency contact form, proof of address, birth certificate copy, last report card / transcript, IEP / 504 plan copy, medication authorization form. Each with where it goes and when it's due.
- Supplies (8) — backpack, lunchbox + water bottle, pencils & pencil case, notebooks & folders, ruler / scissors / glue stick, headphones, tissues & hand sanitizer, and a change of clothes for younger kids.
- Key Dates & Setup (8) — registration deadline, meet-the-teacher night, first day, picture day, bus route / drop-off plan, lunch account, aftercare / pickup plan, and the school portal login — the tasks nobody puts on the supply list.
How it works — 3 steps
- Print the PDF (US Letter) or open the spreadsheet version.
- Go item by item: check the box (PDF) or mark Status = Done / To do (spreadsheet), and note your real dates in the Key Dates group.
- Keep the finished page with your child's school records — the spreadsheet counts you toward 100% as you go.
You never build or fix a formula. Type only in the pale-yellow cells — the formula cells are protected (no password) so the math can't be broken by accident. Fictional SAMPLE rows, clearly marked, show you the format; delete them and the file is yours.
What you need
For the PDF: any PDF reader, and a printer if you want the paper copy. For the spreadsheet: Microsoft Excel, or Google Sheets (free with a Google account). The same .xlsx file works in both — upload it to Google Drive, open it, File → Make a copy, and work in your copy. The spreadsheet version is the only part that needs Excel or Sheets; the printable PDF works anywhere.
Instant download
This is a digital download — no physical item will be shipped. After purchase, go to Etsy → Purchases and reviews → Download files, save the file to your computer first, then open it in Excel (click “Enable Editing”) or upload it to Google Drive for Sheets (then File → Make a copy, and always work in your copy).
License
Personal use only — for your own household. Please do not share, resell or redistribute the file.
Questions
What exactly do I receive?
Two files: a one-page printable PDF (US Letter) with checkboxes, and the same 24-item checklist as an Excel spreadsheet with Status and Notes columns and an automatic readiness score at the top.
Do I need Excel or Google Sheets?
Only for the spreadsheet version. The PDF prints and works with any PDF reader — if you only want the paper checklist, you're all set.
How does the spreadsheet score work?
Type "Done" or "To do" in the yellow Status cells. The scoreboard at the top counts you — it starts at "0 of 24 items, 0%" and the aim, printed right there, is 100% before day 1.
My school sends its own supply list. Do I still need this?
The school list covers supplies — this checklist covers everything around it: the forms, the health records, the registration and the setup tasks (bus, lunch account, aftercare, portal login) that no supply list mentions.
Is it only for elementary school?
The documents, forms and setup tasks apply to any grade; the supplies group leans elementary-to-middle school. High-school families mostly use the first and third groups.