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