Now, we don’t want to jinx this, but all signs are pointing to a more normal school year this year. Students throughout the Tri-State — and parents, too — can’t wait to get kids back to the classroom and away from school on the screen.
This shift back to the classroom calls for the biggest new school year shopping trip in years. We at Rookwood want to help our Cincinnati area students feel their best for their first day at school and every day after. When you’re browsing for the perfect back-to-school items, stop by five of our favorite school-approved stores right here in Rookwood Commons and Pavilion.
Old Navy
With something to style every member of the family, Old Navy is the perfect place to kick off your school year shopping excursion. From tees to jeans, it’s easy to efficiently stock up on all the necessities for kindergarteners and teenagers at this one store, helping you save time — and stave off any meltdowns. Old Navy offers low everyday prices and endless sales, so you can give your kids free reign to express their personal style.
Athleta
Women know and love Athleta for their comfortable athleisure that fits every occasion, from the sweatiest in-studio classes to the most professional seminar settings. We love that Athleta carries a complete line for young girls, too. After all, what little girl doesn’t love cute and comfortable clothes? Kids athleisure will be even more appreciated this year as they catch up on some much-needed recess time with their fellow classmates.
DSW
We admit, life in fuzzy socks and cozy slippers has its perks. But, there’s nothing quite like a new pair of shoes for the new school year. Kids deserve to walk the halls confidently and comfortable, especially after semesters of taking just a few steps to get from bedroom to classroom. DSW has row after row of school-approved sneakers, flip flops, and more for your kiddos.
Bath & Body Works
Cleanliness will continue to be a top priority at school this year and for the foreseeable future. Bath & Body Works has countless collections of cleansing accessories to keep students safe all school year. From backpack-ready hand sanitizer keychains to pocket-sized antibacterial, you can trust your kids will have what they need to keep clean and healthy from the first bell to the last.
Joseph-Beth Booksellers
The transition back to in-person classes full-time won’t always be easy. Help students adjust with a new set of books. They’re sure to get plenty of educational reading assigned to them this year, but finding a few “easy reads” will help keep a sense of calm even when the adjustment feels a little crazy. We love how Joseph-Beth Booksellers organizes each book category, making it easier to find the right topics and age-appropriate titles for every kind of kid.
Parents, as you help your kids get ready for this shift back to “normal,” keep in mind that the exact plan for back to school season looks differently in every district and is likely to change with the state of the pandemic.
Cincinnati Public Schools announced that it will resume five-days-a-week, in-person learning for the 2021-2022 school year. The end of the 2020-2021 school year proved that the safety measures they put in place resulted in low transmission rates of COVID-19. Families can feel confident with cleaning and disinfecting procedures, improved indoor air quality, mask requirements, and more.
Of course, for those students that aren’t quite ready to get back into the classroom, Cincinnati Digital Academy will still be up and running. This alternative online learning option is perfect for families who still would like to keep distance learning going a little longer.
School districts throughout the Cincinnati area are finding their own best practices to get students back into the classroom. For example, some districts will make masks optional. Currently, the Princeton City School District, Lakota Local School District, Sunman-Dearborn Community Schools, Fairfield City School District, Lawrenceburg Community School Corporation, Mt. Healthy City Schools, and Deer Park Community School say masks will not be required. The Archdiocese of Cincinnati will also not be issuing an Archdiocesan-wide policy requiring face masks in schools, leaving the decision to local Catholic school leadership
In-person learning may look a little different from school district to school district. But one thing’s for certain: in-person learning has proven critical for most students…and, a spa day at Mitchell’s will be a well-deserved treat (aka necessity) for every parent. Book your appointment today to celebrate the start of school and the official shift back to some normalcy.