August 21, 2008

Heading back to school, Almaden style

By Shana McLean Moore
Staff Writer

Though many adults have fond memories of heading back to school for a fresh academic start amongst friends we didn’t manage to see enough of during the summer, some kids need the extra nudge of retail therapy to even consider surrendering their summer.

(from left) Griffin, Tyler and Carter Nelson show off their new back-to-school shoes. Photo by Simone Nelson

It seems there’s nothing like new jeans, a standout backpack and a fresh pair of shoes to get Almaden kids back into the swing of a new school year.

Sixth grader Sarah Urban and her friends Caitlyn Weisner and Tatiana Ven-egas know they have little room for personal expression due to the school uniform policy at Castillero Middle School. It’s clear it all boils down to the shoes and backpack when your skirt and shirt colors are mandated by the powers that be.

“I bought black Vans from Tilly’s that are really cool,” said Urban. “I plan on buying a brown corduroy backpack, too. And I bought a tin retro lunchbox decorated with Dots at Powell’s candy store in Los Gatos.”

The lunchbox seems to be a trend. Weisner, too, plans to carry her lunch in one this year; hers with the Tootsie Pop motif. “I bought white Vans with silver stars and a Hurley backpack that’s white with black polka dots,” said Weisner.

Venegas plans to debut white Etne tennis shoes with black dots and a black Ripcurl backpack. In addition to their love of skater and surf brands, all three girls are fans of mechanical pencils over the old-school ones that need to be sharpened.

The elementary set at Los Alamitos is similarly limited in choices due to the school’s uniform. But it doesn’t stop students like fifth grader Christopher Takeuchi from making a statement with his new camouflage backpack in traditional green tones. As for shoes, Takeuchi is forgoing trendier shoes in favor of a pair of white, green and black New Balance tennis shoes that will allow him to play soccer with his friends at lunch. “I can’t wait to start school so I can meet new friends and see all of my old ones,” said Takeuchi.

Leland’s Rachel Hansen rocks her Roxy sundress.

Coincidentally, Los Alamitos first grader Will Hansen will also be donning a camouflage backpack with matching lunchbox next week. When it was noted that camouflage might just be a hot trend for boys this fall, Hansen’s mother quipped: “It’s either that or we moms found them on sale.”

The Nelson brothers of Los Alamitos have put in a lot of thought to their shoes. Their requirements are that the shoes be practical enough to skateboard or ride Ripsticks in, but also make a deliberate fashion statement. Carter, a third grader, has chosen Skecher Z-strap tennis shoes that are orange with skulls, while twin brother Griffin has chosen black and white shoes by famous skateboarder Tony Hawk complete with the head of a hawk and paint splotches. Older brother Tyler, a fifth grader, has chosen a different version of the black and white Tony Hawk shoes with white hawk eyes.

High school students in Almaden are free from the constraints of uniforms and can express their individuality through their personal style. While some students go all out, others like Leland’s Rachel Hansen have a more relaxed approach. “I just like to wear things I am comfortable in,” says Hansen. When asked about her favorite stores, Hansen said, “I shop everywhere—if you shop just at one store, you look repetitive.”

Katie Short, an incoming freshman at Pioneer High School, has pinpointed dark wash jeans as her fall must-have item. She favors the fit of Abercrombie & Fitch for jeans but likes to buy her tops at Forever 21, particularly in shades of off white. For shoes, Short is a fan of dark blue Vans.

Katie’s twin brother Tommy has already started back to school as a freshman at Archbishop Mitty High School. While the school does not require a uniform, it does have a dress policy that prohibits athletic shorts and sweats. Tommy started his first day in new-style Levi jeans and a Quiksilver brand T-shirt. Tommy observed the trend of plaid shorts for guys that hit just at the knee—a perfect solution for those early days back to school when summer temperatures still prevail.

Though the weather still says summer, the calendar says it’s time to dust off those study habits for another year of learning in Almaden’s award-winning schools, and it looks like the kids will be looking good when they hit the blacktop next week.