So my kids have the school mattress, a mattress topper, a mattress cover, and a bed bug /dust mite encasement thing.
What is the order of making the bed? Does the bed bug cover just encase the mattress or all of it?
The bed bug cover encases the mattress. You want a barrier between the mattress, where there may of may not be bedbugs, and the topper and/or mattress cover, which presumably would not be infested. Then the cover (although this is overkill to me; why are you protecting the school’s mattress?) Finally the topper.
I should also add, IIRC, at least one of your kids is a boy. Presumably, you will make the bed. You should assume, unless the school has room checks, that’s the last time the bed will be made until the end of the year, when it’s stripped. 
This is a debated topic (in boarding school and college forums). We did mattress topper first on the plastic mattress - just got a 1" egg crate type. Then put an allergy/bed bug mattress cover over both. Then a mattress pad, then bottom sheet, top sheet, blanket.
Almost as debated as which way should the toilet paper be hung. =))
Not boarding school, but I think I’ve posted previously that, at West Point, the cadets make their beds perfectly, to inspection standards, once at the beginning of the year and then tape the sheets/top blanket down tight never to be slept under all year as they don’t have time in the AMs to make it up again to inspection standards. Instead, they sleep atop “the brick” with their Green Girl (Army issued “comforter”) which can be quickly folded and placed at the foot of the bed in the AM. Prepares them to sleep on the ground in tents, I guess.
Now that I think about it, this may be why I can never get my kid out of his comfy bed at home before 1PM.
What’s “the brick”, @ChoatieMom. Whatever it is, it doesn’t sound comfy.
Since it’s the Army… I have a feeling it’s the mattress. LOL
Oh, that makes sense. The way I sleep, I’m sure it would still get messed up so that hadn’t occurred to me.
I spent more time than I’d like to admit thinking about my son’s dorm room bed!
I ended up with 2 zippered mattress protectors; one covered just the mattress (I didn’t want any of the bedding to touch the mattress) then on went the foam topper with its own cover, then we put all of that into another zippered mattress protector. The mattress pad went on top next followed by the sheets. I wanted an extra layer or 2 between him and the mattress topper in case it made the bed warmer.
The mattress pad we ordered was super plush (https://www.amazon.com/Bamboo-Mattress-Pad-Fitted-Skirt/dp/B00JOJUOBS/ref=zg_bs_10671044011_8?_encoding=UTF8&refRID=YZHKTMJJKPW5QW1AZMST) and by the time it was all said and done, his bed looked as if it had doubled in height! 
The Prince and the Pea.
I say bed bug cover, mattress topper, mattress cover, fitted sheet…
And toilet paper with loose edge out, not near wall.
@doschicos: Once the bed is all taped-down taut, it becomes brick-like. No one has accused this configuration of being comfortable.
Every mattress our kids have had at BS and college were covered in a nylon type material and we have never used a bed bug protector. Our order is usually a mattress cover on the bottom of the mattress to stop the nylon from sliding off the bed frame. Then a foam topper and mattress pad on top. From there it varies by kid. With our oldest kids we got the advice to layer fitted sheets (2-3) and have kids pull off the top one or two at least through the year. The laziest way to have a cleanish bed ever.
Now I am completely freaked out because I didn’t even think to buy a bed bug cover :(( Maybe I should take one up during family weekend???
As one who is not that far removed from being a teen-aged boy, this strategy is supremely lazy, but highly ineffective. As any mother of boys knows, there is no amount of Axe that gets rid of boy stink, and after a couple of weeks of not washing/changing sheets, the dirt will seep to the layer underneath.
FWIW, I have never used one, and have never had an issue.
I don’t actually think bed bug covers are necessary on school beds because of the plastic covering on those mattresses. The worrying part of me got them for our own beds at home in the guest room (where a guest could – and once did – import them) and in rooms, like DS’ where suitcases from God knows where might be brought in.
Regarding the mattress protector, we use it more for dust mites and all the unknowns that may come with a used mattress. There is some peace of mind knowing it’s there, especially if your child has allergies. Those plastic covers do get tears and tiny holes sometimes.
@dramakid2 - I bought one because it was an allergy cover too and kid has allergies. Not super concerned about bed bugs.
Well, i think we did it all wrong. Good thing they spend their first week camping in the wilderness at Thacher. Even a rock hard bed-bug infested bed will feel nice and comfy compared to sleeping on the ground in the Sierras, right?