The August book list is the largest single collection of the school year — and the one most likely to end in an argument, because half of it is legally the school's job.
Short answer: textbooks come free from the library; printed workbooks should too when the syllabus requires them, but are usually bought by parents. Publish the exact list with ISBNs, say the collection is voluntary, and post receipts.
Free, Shared or Personal
- Free from the school: textbooks and learning aids within the curriculum.
- Grey zone: printed workbooks, atlases, contour maps — legally learning aids, in practice usually bought by families.
- Shared, from the class fund: printing paper, chalk markers, prizes, classroom supplies.
- Personal, always the family: notebooks, pens, backpack, PE kit.
Bulk Order or Buy Your Own
A group order is cheaper and everyone gets the same edition; individual buying spares the treasurer. The usual compromise: publish the list with ISBNs and offer the group order as optional.
Announcement Templates
- "Parents, the workbook list for Year 5 is attached with ISBNs. A group order works out at 2400 RUB per pupil instead of 3100. Joining is optional — reply by Friday if you want in."
- "Textbooks are issued by the library on 30 August, nothing to pay for those. The collection below covers workbooks only."
- "Atlases and contour maps for geography: 780 RUB per set, by 5 September. Receipts will be posted once bought."
Frequently Asked Questions
Do parents have to buy workbooks?
Not as an obligation — textbooks are free by law and workbooks are a voluntary arrangement in practice.
How much is a set?
Roughly 300–700 RUB per workbook, 2000–5000 RUB per pupil for a full set.
Bulk or individual?
Bulk is cheaper and consistent; individual is simpler. Publish ISBNs either way.
One Link Instead of a Notebook
Create a free group for the book order: log who paid and what was bought, and share the link in the class chat.
Create Free Group 🚀