Cool school supplies trigger fleeting thrill of new year

Luke Alzapiedi, left, and Sydney Ferguson, right, model the newest school gear. THE BLADE/AMY E. VOIGT Enlarge | Photo Reprints

Shopping for school supplies is perhaps the only opportunity where kids can hold up a list, read off exactly what they need to their parents, and get every bit of it.

The work at school is never easy, and although the supplies for math class (a TI83 calculator, protractor, and something called a "compass" that has a pointy stick on the end of it…) are a bit intimidating, they can’t wash away the rush of picking out new markers, fresh clean paper, organizing binders, and three packs of ball point pens.

And of course, there’s the piece de resistance — the new planner. Picking out a planner is like choosing a life insurance policy. Not only will it store your homework assignments and keep you dutifully on track, it holds your doodles, friends’ phone numbers, secret notes, and weekend plans. It’s like an organized journal, and if your school hasn’t provided one for you already, choosing the design is like picking out a hat; one you wear every day, all year.

There are going to be new faces and old faces and more new material than any student expects they can learn in one year. The thrill of going back for another school year might not last long, but in these first few days, or possibly weeks, the urge to learn is fresh. Migraines haven’t yet developed from too much homework and the lessons are challenging rather than flat-out difficult.

A locker holds supplies that include a floral-print bookbag, magnetic photo strip, and magnetic mirror THE BLADE/AMY E. VOIGT Enlarge | Photo Reprints

School supplies are fresh from the package and notebook paper is crisp and clean. Pens are prevalent, and kids feel confident lending them out left and right when necessary. Soon, though, the bright-eyed gazes will fade. Attention spans will shorten. Notebooks will be used for a different kind of notes and eventually the pen lenders become the borrowers.

This is elementary education’s natural cycle. Children are bright, but energy fades as topics get tougher and the promise of a new beginning passes with the months.

So parents, don’t be disappointed if your child has nothing interesting to report when you ask them how their day at school was. And remember: School supplies are their best weapons against a boring lecture. That, and a well-packed lunch.

Contact Ashley Sepanski at: asepanski@theblade.com or 419-724-6082.