While the start of school is just under three weeks away, Clarkston residents run the gamut in terms of preparation.
‘Mostly we have gotten clothes and school supplies for my son, Justin,? said Kim Tarvestad. ‘When I see them on sale I grab them. Meijers had really good sales. The folders were ten cents a piece and the one subject note books were ten cents also.?
Tarvestad has three children, Justin, a fifth grader at Independence Elementary; Trish, a seventh grader Sashabaw Middle School; and Heather, a junior at Clarkston High School.
In Tarvestad’s view, picking up items on sale was the smart way to shop. She bought school supplies at Kmart and Meijers and school clothes from Kohls and Great Lakes Crossing. Back to school shopping is not just about getting pens and protractors though.
‘When Trish and I went (shopping), I don’t think we bought any long sleeve shirts, we did buy jeans. My son did get two pairs of jeans, but all the rest is T-shirts and stuff. It is hard to think of winter right now because we have had such a hot summer,? said Tarvestad.
Other people in Clarkston are not concerned about back to school shopping at this time.
‘I really haven’t started anything yet. I just buy clothes as he needs them instead of stocking up in August and September like everyone else,? said Ellen McLaughlin. ‘He is a boy and he hates shopping.?
McLaughlin’s son Connor will be in the second grade at Andersonville Elementary. He is currently vacationing with his grandmother.
‘When he gets home we will go shopping. I’m a full-time student also, so we will go get our supply lists together,? said McLaughlin.
Other area residents have not found time to shop.
‘I will go shopping when I get a weekend off,? said Joy Ballard. ‘My mom has bought the kids new clothes already, other than
that, really nothing (has
been purchased).?
Ballard managed to buy shoes for her two sons, Ian, 13, and Evan, 9, in a spare moment between working at her two jobs.
Other residents are multi-tasking in a more relaxed manner to get their kids ready for school.
Pam Macksey, of Clarkston, said she is shopping while on vacation. She is going to Boyne City for a week and found back to school shopping more relaxing while on vacation.
‘I’m taking them to Wal-Mart,? said Macksey. ‘The kids can run around and buy their stuff and it is a little more relaxed. Here, everything is always so rushed.?
She added she would take her daughter Mackenzie Macksey, 12, shopping for back to school clothes at Hollister and Abercrombie and Fitch.
‘We wait for a rainy day to go out to the stores. There is also more variety,? said Macksey.
Macksey recommends all parents keep a calendar to stay organized in the back to school shopping season and in the first few weeks of the school year.
‘Just trying to figure out where to pick my kids up is a challenge. The biggest thing is just trying to remember which school the kids are at,? said Macksey.
For students entering an elementary grade this year the Clarkston schools recommends the following school supplies: scissors, a box of tissue, crayons, glue stick, pencils, colored pencils, a large pink eraser, two pocket folders with brads and two spiral wide-ruled notebooks.