OPEN FOR BUSINESS. Where is the one place in town you can be sure to find all your school supply needs? The York Middle School Store. The YMS Parent Group is opening the store for your back-to-school shopping needs on Aug. 25, with hours continuing through the start of school. And while the store provides one-stop shopping for middle school students to easily pick up all the items requested by individual classroom teachers, the school also has items for students of all ages. Sheilah McGovern-Reynolds of the parent group explained that the goal is to remain competitive with the prices charged for school supplies at much larger stores, while providing convenience for parents, students and staff and raising funds to support special programs at the school. In addition to individual items, ranging from highlighters like the ones fifth-grader Rachel Stevenson is looking at her, to the always popular "Complete Team" packages that can be ordered in advance, the store also includes York Schools water bottles, sweatshirts, fabric book covers and other great items. The store, which is located just down the hall from the YMS cafeteria, will be open for back-to-school shopping on Aug. 25, 27, 29 and 31 from 5 to 7 p.m. and on Aug. 26, 28 and 30, and Sept. 1, Labor Day, from 9 to 11 a.m. To save time and preorder a "Complete Team" package of supplies, e-mail ymspg@yorkschools.org with your name, your child's name and the name of your child's teacher and the store volunteers will have a premade package waiting for you to purchase. And, be watching for more about the store in the weeks ahead, as plans are underway to expand the annual sports equipment sale to include gently-used Halloween costumes, with all proceeds to benefit school programs.
Photo by Jennifer L. Saunders