>I'm not sure what a tote bag is but my elder has like a side haversack, on a long strap, very much in vogue wid de yoot at the moment, ubiquitous in yher primary school.

A tote bag is pretty much the grocery bag - the sewn equivalent of a plastic bag. One you can hang on a bike's handlebars.
The latter is sold as "messenger bag" here.

>BTW, because so many kids carry their heavy backpacks, laden with books etc to save having to vivit their lockers too often, slung over one shoulder, there are grave misgivings in the osteo-, physio- medical world for their spines, posture, etc.

During my recent trip I was carrying my large laptop in a backpack, and it actually helped my posture. Go figure.