Thursday, August 20, 2009 — The countdown to back-to-school is about to begin! Dwindling vacation days make most of us wish that summer could last all year, but it's also fun to start fresh. And, with all the new items listed below, we hope to get you excited to ring in the upcoming school year in style!

So let's face it. When the school year starts, everyone wants to be the hippest when it comes to clothes and new gadgets. So, who will be the first to get their tiger-print laptop? Mrs. Seashore, a teacher at Millsberry Academy, was eager to weigh in. "When I was in school, computers didn't exist. My backpack was heavy with multiple notebooks and papers for each subject. If only we had laptops, then! I was, however, at my strongest during those days...due to the weight of my bags, ha ha!"

We can also assume that Mrs. Seashore didn't ride to school on a motorized scooter. But now you can scoot to school in a stylish two-wheeled vehicle—wearing your helmet, of course. The scooters are making citizens ecstatic to ride to school in style. Makes us wonder if kids will be getting in a lot earlier from now on? Mr. Fort, Millsberry Academy science teacher, told us, "I feel like I grew up in the Dark Ages! I used to walk three miles every morning—just to get to school—and three miles back, every afternoon! To make up for it, I'm going to get a scooter in every color!" We hear you, Mr. Fort...but there's no doubt that all that walking was great exercise!

Townspeople are also getting pumped about some classic school tools—you know, items that have been around for generations, like the shiny class ring! Did you know that the tradition of class rings originated with the class of 1835, at the United States Military Academy at West Point? Maybe that's why nothing says Millsberry Academy spirit quite like this sparkling, yellow-and-blue rock atop white gold with a satin finish.

And—know what else is a little bright and sparkly? A hot pink, diamond-studded locker! Of course, with all the new fall fashions about to be released, you might need more space, so you can also buy yourself a graffiti-splashed model, or one in bright blue!

Phwew, that's one bunch of shiny new toys! So who's excited for school, now?

Well, if you're still not ready, maybe this little brainteaser—to get you in the spelling-bee spirit—might help: Is this word spelled correctly? Chrysanthamum.