August 2015 Letter from the Editor

Dear Readers,

It’s closing in on that time of year again. Children all across the Lehigh Valley will soon be putting on their new school uniforms, slipping on shiny shoes, and stuffing their backpacks with tons of supplies; and parents will be secretly cheering inside as they finally manage to ship their offspring back to school after many weeks of summer vacation.

However, if I’m being honest, I’m not one of those parents. I know I am in the minority, but I am going to miss not having to rush through breakfast, scramble through dressing, play hunt for the lunch bag in double-time like some early morning obstacle course every morning. I am going to miss having my kids as summer companions.

But their return to school is inevitable. And, to make matters worse, it’s not as simple as I remember it being when I was a kid. There was a time when gearing up to go back-to-school meant little more than picking up a new backpack, “first day of school” outfit and the latest HP calculator. Those days are long gone, and now, even grade-schoolers hope to start the school year with a new smartphone and laptop. Thankfully, Marketplace is here to help.

Turn to page 42 for top tips that will make this a great school year. Moravian Academy’s Upper School Nurse, Marian Grencer, RN, recommends six ways to ensure a healthy and successful school year for parents and kids alike. Kelly Cerimele brings us the best in back-to-school fashion and function; turn to page 32 for all the goods your student needs to kick-off the new semester.

Oh, and by the way, I’m sure you noticed that color is missing from this issue’s cover. I can’t think of a better way to start the school season than with some good old-fashioned coloring. For the second year in a row, we challenge our readers, old and young to a coloring contest. All you have to do is grab your crayons and start coloring. When you are finished, take a picture of your masterpiece and submit it to Marketplace through our Facebook page. See page 13 for details. Winners (in several age categories) will be chosen by our staff and featured in the September issue of Marketplace.

Have fun,
Amy Hines, Editor
amy.hines@meris.com

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