guides

Your Back-To-School Guide for the Eastside of Rochester 2023-2024

School Tips, Pintables, Meal Ideas and More

By Kelly Zaryk, Publisher Macaroni Kid Pittsford-SE Rochester, NY August 2, 2023

Get ready, Eastside of Rochester families! The countdown has begun, and the first day of school for your little ones on the Eastside of Rochester is just around the corner. 

We've got you covered with the ultimate guide to kickstart the school year. Looking for school calendars around the Eastside of Rochester? Fun back-to-school events in Rochester? Where to get your kid's back-to-school shopping in Rochester? 

We have it all, plus advice and tips for dealing with that first-day anxiety, pintables to make those first-day pics special, and even ideas on what to pack for lunch! Check it all out here:


School calendars for the Eastside of Rochester

Rush Henrietta: First day of school Tuesday, September 5 

Wayne: First Day of school Tuesday, September 5

ER: First day of school Tuesday, September 5

PalMac: First day of School Tuesday, September 5

Webster: First day of school Tuesday, September 5

Gananda: First day of school Tuesday, September 5 

Penfield: First day of school Wednesday, September 6

Brighton: First day of school Wednesday, September 6

Victor: First day of School Wednesday, September 6

Fairport: First day of school Thursday, September 7 

Pittsford: First day of school Thursday, September 7


Back to school events on the Eastside of Rochester



Back to school shopping on the Eastside of Rochester

There are the big box stores, of course, but you can also support locally owned businesses when doing your back-to-school shopping! Here are some of our favorite places for shopping for school supplies and clothes on the Eastside of Rochester that are locally owned:

Eastview Mall, Victor


Have a favorite locally owned spot for back-to-school shopping you don't see listed here? Email kellyz@macaronikid.com, and we'll get it added!

More tips to make this school year on the Eastside of Rochester a great one:


💡 Tips & Tricks 💡

5 Timeless Tips for Back To School Routines

7 Practical Ways To Prepare Your Child For Pre-K and Kindergarten

10 Books to Ease Back to School Fears

Local Tips for Students: Elementary, Middle, High & Homeschool

Back to School Tips: Simple things to do now to avoid a last-minute rush

Coping with Back to School Anxiety

Back to School: Bus Safety

8 Things To Do Before Going Back To School

A Handy Checklist Makes After School Time Easier

First Day of School Pictures

100% Cash Back on These School Supplies with Ibotta

5 Teacher-Approved Tips to Make Back-to-School Time Great


🚸 Special Needs 🚸

✽ Surprising Symptoms of ADHD You Need to Know About

Back to School Tips for Students Who Need Extra Support

✽ Things I “Pack” For an IEP Meeting

✽ The “Get To KNOW Me” Form for Back To School

✽ To the Parent Who Just "Joined" the Special Needs Club

✽ Is It Safe to Share the Truth About My Special Needs Child?

Helping Your Child with Special Needs Get Ready For Back to School


🖼️ Printables, Crafts & More 🖼️

✽ Back-to-School T-shirt – Start School in Style!

✽ First Day of School Pictures

✽ DIY Back To School Wreath

✽ Make Sure Your Child Has An “OWL-some” Day at School

✽ Pencil Vase - a Perfect Teacher Gift!

✽ Back to School Checklist

*Free Back-to-School Printables to Celebrate that First Day


🍎 School Lunch and Snack Ideas 🍎

✽ Fruit & Veggie Flower Snack and Dip Options

✽ Apple Cupcakes (Healthy Snack!)

✽ Just Beet It!

✽ Apple Nachos

✽ No-Bake Peanut Butter, Oatmeal and Chocolate Chip Energy Balls

✽ Banana Bread Fake Out

✽ Yogurt Covered Blueberries on a Stick

✽Foods that Make the Grade: Bento Box School Lunch Ideas

✽Pack a Smile for Lunch! 180 ways to send some love to school


🍽️ Easy Weeknight Meals 🍽️

✽ Healthy, Easy and Kid-Approved: No-Fry Buffalo Chicken Wraps

✽ Leftover Chicken Lettuce Wraps

✽ Taco Pockets: Your kids will love them!

✽ Easy Enchiladas

✽ Cheesy Chicken Casserole

✽ Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli

✽ Melt In Your Mouth Ranch Chicken

✽ Taco Cupcakes

✽ Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

✽ Easiest Ever BBQ Pulled Pork

✽ Crowd-Pleasing Honey, Soy and Ginger Pork Roast

✽ Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Parm Sandwiches

✽ Bacon Wrapped Meatballs: So Easy, So Delicious ~ Fire Up the Grill!

✽ Stuffed French Bread: Easy 30-Minute Meal

✽ Shrimp with Zucchini Noodles

✽ Easy Vegetable Soup

✽ Bacon-Wrapped Garlic & Herb Pork Tenderloin

✽ Crockpot BBQ: Three Courses, One-Pot Prep!


A HUGE Thank you to our Sponsors:





 A new year gives you a chance to begin new and fresh… it is an opportunity to look ahead and work harder to make it a better and a brighter future…. Wish you lots of luck as you are all set to begin a new year at academics… May you shine bright and happy with your efforts.