Principal Jamie Hill, at right, and a Columbia employee inspect Columbia Elementary School for Open House on Aug. 3, when parents can pick up online orders of school supplies (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Parents of elementary students can avoid aching feet and frayed nerves by ordering supplies online.

Columbia and Mill Creek elementary schools are among campuses taking advantage of technology and offering online ordering of varied merchandise.

Columbia Principal Jamie Hill reminded parents that Open House for all Madison elementary schools will be held on Aug. 3. Columbia parents can pick up online orders in the cafeteria during Open House.

Online, Columbia parents can pay PTA membership fees or additional donations. Available merchandise includes short-sleeve T-shirts in navy or coral that read “Anchored in Education,” car magnets reading “Columbia Astros,” lobby guard key tags and kindergarten rest mats. To order, visit squareup.com/market/columbia-elementary-school-pta.

Also on Aug. 3, Columbia will host its “Back-to-School Bash” from 4 to 6 p.m. All returning and new students are encouraged to attend. Classrooms will be open and outside activities will offer recreation on inflatables and snow cones for treats.

In Columbia homerooms, first-graders and students with developmental delays can attend a presentation from 4 to 4:15 p.m.; second grade, 4:20 to 4:35 p.m.; third grade, 4:40 to 4:55 p.m.; fourth grade, 5 to 5:15 p.m.; fifth grade, 5:20 to 5:35 p.m.; and sixth grade, 5:40 to 5:55 p.m.

In addition, “Kindergarten 101” will be held in the Columbia cafeteria at 3 p.m. on Aug. 3.

For more information about Columbia, visit ces.madisoncity.k12.al.us, Facebook or Twitter #columbiaeschool.

Principal Carmen Buchanan Mill Creek advises parents to skip lines and order online at mcespta.org; click “Open House Orders.” Spirit shirts for adults and children, car magnets, PTA payments and grade-level planners are offered.

Pre-ordering will be available until Aug. 2 at 9 p.m. Parents can pick up orders in the cafeteria during Open House from 3 to 6 p.m.

At Open House, food trucks will gather outside the Mill Creek gym from 4 to 6 p.m. to offer an early supper to families.

Mill Creek also has planned a Back-to-School Bash on July 31 from 5 to 8 p.m. with a visiting fire truck, inflatables, dunking booth and kids’ activities.