Not every student is enthusiastic about giving up the freedom of summer to return to the studies, but there’s something about a stack of crisp, blank notebooks, freshly sharpened pencils and new threads that soften the blow.
As the first day of classes approaches, students and parents are preparing for the year by getting all the supplies they will need.
The first day of classes for Bradford Area School District students is Aug. 25. At the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, college students will return to their studies on Aug. 29.
For Pitt-Bradford students, “The Panther Shop carries a veritable cornucopia of back-to-school supplies where shoppers can find the traditional school supplies: notebooks, paper, binders, pencils, pens, highlighters and markers of every color, folders, index cards, backpacks, art supplies, Post-it Notes, calculators, etc,” said Pat Frantz Cercone, Pitt-Bradford spokeswoman.
In fact, the store carries items for all aspects of a college student’s school life.
Cercone said, “Students who live on campus can find many items they may need to create a comfortable home away from home: blankets, foam mattress pads, sheets, pillows, towels, night lights, decorative lights (in Pitt blue and gold), humidifiers and dehumidifiers, posters, air fresheners, sphere chairs, pennants, wall clocks, alarm clocks, Command Strips to hang items on the walls without damaging them, and laundry and cleaning supplies.
“As for electronics, the Panther Shop carries flash drives of various storage sizes, and several types of car chargers, earbuds, sports earbuds, headphones, USB cables and wall chargers,” Cercone added.
For students looking to supplement their wardrobes or show their school spirit, the university supplies an assortment of clothing — including apparel showcasing the University of Pittsburgh script logo, which the university returned to in May, according to Cercone.
“And, the Panther Shop has a convenience store at the front, which, in addition to school supplies, stocks snacks, grocery items, and health and beauty products,” Cercone stated.
Students of all ages can find the tools for learning at other stores in the Bradford area.
At Family Dollar, assistant manager Shannon Teeter said, “We basically have a little bit of everything,” which includes clothes, shoes, bookbags and office supplies.
The current back-to-school sale at Family Dollar includes items such as 100-sheet notebooks, two-pocket folders, crayons and more, according to Teeter. There is a limited selection of clothes for children and adults, too. For college students setting up a new living space, the store offers items such as entertainment centers and shelving.
“Our school supply sale is until Sept. 5,” said Teeter, who noted the store will then begin setting up to sell Halloween and Christmas items. Fall decorations are already available.
Similarly, at Big Lots, “We have a variety of things,” said Vikki Myers, assistant manager. The store is currently running a sale that includes office supplies like one-subject notebooks and backpacks. The items on sale each week until school starts will be available in the store’s weekly ads, too.
For clothing, Big Lots offers “socks and undergarments,” according to Myers.
For college students, Big Lots carries “anything you would need to set up a dorm room,” Myers said. To start, there is a special right now on mattresses. The store offers student desks, rolling carts with drawers and a variety of other organizers.
For the kitchen, Big Lots carries items such as small appliances and sets of dishes, she said. For the bedroom, “We have bedding comforter sets for dorms and pillows.” Other odds and ends students might need on hand that can be found in the store include laundry baskets, toothpaste and toothbrushes, cold medicine, shampoo and deodorant, according to Myers.
At the Dollar General Store on Boylston Street, Friday’s sale on back-to-school supplies includes 3- and 5-subject notebooks, fillers, sheet protectors, binder dividers, Sharpies, highlighters, kids’ scissors, pencils, glue and erasures. However, the list of school supplies on sale will be different each week for people watching for sales, according to assistant manager Alysha Dahlke.
Sometime in the next couple of weeks, folders will go on sale eight for $1, said Dahlke. Some days there will be other ways to save on supplies, such as days when shoppers can redeem $5 off $25 coupons. She said that “sooner or later,” all the back-to-school merchandise will go on sale.
For students living away from home, Dollar General offers items such as food storage containers, plastic cups and plates, baskets and hampers, Dahlke said.
