Somewhere around 12:15, a kid opens a lunchbox and finds a note sitting on top of the sandwich. Nobody else sees it, and it might be the best part of their day.
These are free back to school printable quotes as lunchbox notes and cut-apart cards: short lines you print, cut apart, and slip into a lunchbox, a backpack pocket or a locker, or leave on a desk. There are notes for parents to send, welcome cards for teachers, and small cards for older kids. A wall print sets the mood of a room and a photo sign marks one morning, but a note card travels with the student.
Quick answer: Download a sheet, print it on any home printer, cut the notes apart, and slip one into tomorrow’s lunch. One short line is plenty.
- Download the free lunchbox notes for parents (PDF)
- Download the free welcome-back cards for teachers (PDF)
- Download the free locker and backpack cards (PDF)
Looking for a sign to hold up in the day-one photo? That lives on the First Day of School Printable Quotes & Photo Signs page. This page covers the small things that come after it.
I’m Imam Ali Abdullah, and I’ve been publishing quotes at dpquotes.com since 2017. Every line below is original to dpquotes.com and short enough to read in a few seconds, so there’s no borrowed quote to get wrong.
Lunchbox Notes for Parents
A lunchbox note works best when it is short, sounds like you, and puts no pressure on your child. They only have to open it. The lines below are grouped by age so the tone fits the reader.
For little kids (kindergarten to 2nd grade)
- Someone here is very proud of you.
- Eat well, play hard, be kind.
- This note comes with a hug. Open it at lunch.
- I love you more than recess.
- Look at you, doing big-kid things.
- Today is a great day to try something new.
For elementary kids (3rd to 5th grade)
- You’ve got this. See you after school.
- Wonder about something today.
- Sit with someone new. You might find a friend.
- Rough morning? The day gets a fresh start at lunch.
- Proud of you for trying, however it goes.
- Save a story to tell me tonight.
For middle schoolers
- Fuel up. Big brain at work.
- Rooting for you today. No reply needed.
- You’re doing better than you think.
- Proud of you. That’s all.
- Hard day? Pizza tonight.
- Nervous is normal. Go anyway.
Add one detail only you would know, such as a friend’s name, a spelling test, or a joke from home. That second line, in your handwriting, is what turns a printed card into a note from you.
Welcome-Back Cards for Teachers
On the first morning, students walk into a room full of unfamiliar things: a new seat, new rules, a teacher they are still learning to read. A card on each desk gives every student the same warm message before anyone has said a word. Teachers can also send a short note home in the first week, so families hear how the year is starting before any other news arrives.
Desk cards for students
- I’m so glad you’re here.
- Your spot is ready. So am I.
- You belong in this room.
- Ask me anything this year.
- Take your time. We’ll figure it out together.
- I can’t wait to see what you do this year.
First-week notes home to families
- Your child had a good first week. Ask them about it tonight.
- I noticed something kind your child did today.
- Thank you for sharing your child with me this year.
- We’re settling in well, and I’m already enjoying your child’s questions.
Name one specific thing you saw, like a student helping a classmate. A specific detail reads as real, so write it in by hand before you send the note.
Locker and Backpack Cards for Older Students
Older kids don’t want a speech taped inside their locker. Keep the card short and quiet, and skip the exclamation points. These lines sound like a friend talking.
- Take a breath. You have time.
- Walk in like you belong here.
- Just the next class. Then the next one.
- Be someone’s good day.
- Hang in there. Friday is coming.
- Nobody has it all figured out yet. Not even the seniors.
If the card is a gift, a backpack pocket the student checks daily is safer than the inside of a locker door, where classmates can read it. If the student is setting up their own locker, let them pick the line and the spot.
A Note a Week for the First Month of School
One note on the first day is sweet, and one a week for the first month works better, because every week of a new school year asks something different of a kid.
- Week one, a welcome. Say you’re glad they’re there, and that you’re proud of them for walking in. Pick a warm line from the age list above.
- Week two, a rough-morning note. The novelty wears off by now, and early alarms start to show. A line like “Rough morning? The day gets a fresh start at lunch” fits here.
- Week three, a note before the first quiz or big assignment. Keep it low pressure and leave grades out of it. “Proud of you for trying, however it goes” does the job.
- Week four, a curiosity note. Ask for a story instead of a report: “Save a story to tell me tonight.” It turns a note into a conversation at dinner.
Teachers can run a version of the same plan: a desk card on day one and a note home to families by the end of the first week.
How to Print and Cut Note Cards
The whole job takes about ten minutes.
- Print at actual size. In your printer settings, choose “Actual size” or 100% so the cards keep the size they were designed at.
- Pick the paper. Regular paper is fine for a note that rides in a lunchbox. Cardstock stands up better in a backpack pocket or on a locker door.
- Cut the cards apart. Scissors work. A paper trimmer gives straighter edges if you are cutting several sheets at once.
- Add the name and date. Write them on the back, so each card is clearly for one person and you can look back on the month later.
- Keep spares. Store extra cards in a folder by the door, so a note is always ready on a busy morning.
Laminate a locker card if you want it to last the whole year.
Back to School Note Cards: Common Questions
Are these note cards free to print?
Yes. Every printable on dpquotes.com is free to download, for home and classroom use.
Should I mention grades or tests in a lunchbox note?
Leave grades out. Notes about effort or about the person feel like support, and notes about results can feel like pressure. It’s fine to acknowledge a big day, like a test or a presentation. Keep the focus on your child and leave the score out of it.
How do I keep a lunchbox note from getting damp?
Slip it into a snack-size zip bag, or lay it on top of the lunch, away from anything wet.
What if my child doesn’t want notes in their lunchbox?
Ask them, and take the answer seriously. Some kids love notes and some find them embarrassing. You can change where the note goes: a jacket pocket, a bathroom mirror at home, or the pillow.
Can teachers use these cards for a whole class?
Yes. Print enough sheets for the class and cut the cards apart, one per desk. Desk cards can stay as printed, and a note home works better with the student’s name written in.
Related Printable Collections
- First Day of School Printable Quotes & Photo Signs for the day-one photo
- Printable Quotes for the Classroom for bulletin boards, doors, and room-sized prints
- Printable Quotes for Students for a student’s own study space
- Printable Quotes for Kids for a child’s bedroom or playroom
Start With One Note
You won’t be there when the note gets opened. That’s the point. It says you were thinking of them at a moment you couldn’t be in the room.
Pick one line from this page tonight, print one sheet, and put a note in tomorrow’s bag. If you’d like more free printables, the full collection lives in the printable quotes library.
About the editor
Imam Ali Abdullah is the founder and editor of dpquotes.com, which he has run since April 2017. He has spent nearly a decade publishing for American readers, and he writes, sources and reviews every quote and printable on this site himself. A quote that can’t be verified is labeled as unattributed, never guessed.
Last reviewed: October 2026