A+ For Style!
My end-of-summer ritual: scouting out the trendiest school supplies.
Stephanie Steinberg
T2T Intern
S
ummer couch potatoes moan and
groan when "back to school" com-
mercials start bombarding the
TV in July. Students loathe these advertise-
ments because they signify the end of the
days basking in the sun by the pool, going
on late-night ice cream runs and enjoying
the everyday freedoms of summer.
Most kids quickly switch stations when
a "back to school" commercial blares. I,
however, turn up the volume.
No, I don't like the thought of returning
to school and being inundated with home-
work and tests. Rather, I have a secret pas-
sion (I guess it's not so secret any more)
for new school supplies. For me, nothing is
more fun than perusing the shelves for the
latest pens and pencils and scouting out
new notebooks with trendy designs. Who
can resist the florescent highlighters or
patterned sticky notes? And it's not back-
to-school shopping unless Mom comes
along and we bond while debating which
binder is prettier. Call me crazy, but I call it
going back to school in style.
Here's my list of this year's must-haves:
• Folders: The Kendall Kollection
Designed by Jacqueline Savage McFee
in honor of her cousin's young daugh-
ter, Kendall Sierens, who has leukemia,
these brightly colored folders by CPP
International have popping patterns that
are sure to catch eyes. Even better, a por-
tion of the proceeds benefits the Leukemia
& Lymphoma Society. Price: $1.99.
• Correction Aide: Liquid Paper
Dryline Mini Correction Tape
Throw away your whiteout in a bottle
that turns chunky. This correction tape
glides smoothly on paper and dries
instantly. Its mini size fits easily into small
backpack pockets, and it comes in bright
colors. Price: $11.99 for a pack of 5.
• Highlighters: Ultra Slim Pentel
Handy-lines
Support the environment by using these
highlighters made out of 54 percent post-
consumer recycled plastic. Handy-lines are
refillable so you don't waste more plastic
buying new ones. Plus, its retractable
pen guarantees it won't dry out like other
highlighters when you lose the cap. Price:
$4.99 for a pack of four assorted colors.
• Colored Pencils: Crayola Erasable
Colored Pencils
Yes, it's true — a company has FINALLY
figured out how to make erasable colored
pencils! Now you don't have to worry about
coloring outside the lines. Price: $5.79 for
24 bold colors.
• Erasers: Scented Eraser Caps
Annoyed of redoing math problems
that shrink your pencil eraser? With these
new attachable erasers you can erase away
and make your paper smell good — these
bright-colored erasers come in yummy
scents like blueberry, grape, apple, straw-
berry, banana, orange and watermelon.
Just don't eat it! Price: 99 cents for 30.
• Pencils: USA Green No. 2 Pencils
With students getting so many stan-
dardized tests these days, pencil compa-
nies are consuming natural resources to
Cool supplies include Pentel's recyled
Handy-line highlighters, Bic's colorful
Ultimates in a plastic pencil case,
Personally Me sticky notes and
Crayola's erasable colored pencils.
meet the high demand of No. 2 pencils.
This "Earth friendly" writing utensil is
made from unpainted natural cedar wood
and is packaged with recycled board. It's
also made without lacquer or foil stamp-
ing. Maybe if you convince your teacher
you're supporting the environment, you
could skip the test. Price: $1.79 for seven.
• Notebooks: Greenroom Eco Notebook
Take notes without killing trees! These
notebooks contain 100 percent recycled
pages, soy-based ink and 50 percent post-
consumer fiber. They come in Earth tones
and prints. Also from Greenroom: binders,
expanding files, clipboards. Price: $4.99.
• Binder: Better Binder
Tired of pinching your skin on three-
ringed binders? These open with the push
of a button, with a rubber spine that won't
crack with heavy use. Price: $6.99 for 1
inch, $8.29 for 1.5 inch, and $10 for 2 inch.
• Flag, Pen and Highlighter: by Post-It
This three-in-one school supplies mira-
cle allows you to write, highlight and apply
sticky-notes all at the same time. This tool
is useful for marking research materials
and allows for more space in your pencil
case. Price: $7.99 for a pack of three.
• Portable Reinforcements
Annoyed when papers tear out of your
binder and are on the verge of falling out?
Then secure your papers with these unique
reinforcements. Forget those boring white
circles; these come in a variety of designs
such as hearts, flowers, donuts, pizzas and
hamburgers. Price: $2.99 for 200.
• Ruled Index Cards: Oxford Brand
These two-colored index cards are per-
fect for making flashcards or organizing
a speech with eccentric color combos like
green and yellow and blue and pink. Plus
they're recycled. Price: $2.29 for 100.
• Personally Me Sticky Notes
Do you get angry when classmates bor-
row your cool school supplies, but never
give them back? These personalized sticky
notes come with your name stamped at
the bottom. Price: $2.99 for a pack of 80.
• Slider Pencil Case
This sturdy plastic pencil case will store
all your new writing utensils. The snap
cover means no more snagging zippers.
Sold in six different hues. Price: 99 cents.
• Pens: Bic Ultimates
These easy-glide ballpoint pens scream
girl's best friend. Sold in pink, purple, green
and blue sparkling colors, they provide
smooth writing. Price: $3.99 for 20. ❑
Maccabi Athlete Anticipates •••
Games mean hard work, new friendships.
Ben Eilender
T2T Staff
T
he 2008 JCC Maccabi Games in
Detroit are finally upon us. My
basketball team, as well as other
teams, has been practicing and preparing
regularly for the last nine months. All of
our hard work will culminate when the
games begin Aug. 17, bringing about 2,700
athletes to Detroit.
I will be competing on the basketball
team for boys ages 16 and under. This
year, because the games are located in
Detroit, there will be three basketball
B6 August 14 • 2008
teams in my age bracket and two for boys
ages 14 and under, allowing more local
teens to participate at the games.
Since November, all five of the boys' bas-
ketball teams have been training intensely,
practicing twice a week at the Jewish
Community Center, with the hope of win-
ning the gold for Detroit. Players work
hard each practice, trying to improve and
develop their skills.
We've been coached by dedicated
fathers who have given us their time as
well as their knowledge of the game of
basketball. Our coaches' enthusiasm and
passion for the game is contagious. This
makes every practice fun and enjoyable.
During our intense workouts and
tough practices, I have become a better
basketball player. I have met many new
Jewish friends I never would have come
in contact with otherwise. Our team is
composed of Jewish teens from diverse
backgrounds, representing all different
parts of Metro Detroit. No matter what our
religious or geographical differences are,
we find ways to relate to each other and
play as a team on the court.
Watch for
Hopefully, this will only be the begin-
ning of new Jewish friendships that I will
make at this year's Maccabi games.
❑
Ben Eilender, 16, is a
junior at West Bloomfield
High School.
teen 2 teen in next week's Jewish News