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Best Sunmark Employee Tips, Tricks, and Secrets For Back-to-School

If you have school age kids, you know the story. It’s time to go back to school. You know it. They know it. You want them to go. They don’t want to go.

Can you blame them? Summer and no school are fun, and they don’t want it to end. But how can you make it just a bit easier for both of you to make the big change in routine and get adjusted? We asked our Sunmark employee parents for their tips, tricks, and secrets to get the back-to-school shopping done and the kids out of the house without Mom and Dad going out of their minds.

Jodi Chase, Membership Relationship Manager:

“My kids are in 7th and 9th grade and they both participate in sports.  For us, setting up a routine is important. We have already started talking about it, and we will revisit it a few more times before school starts. We all need to know what the day is going to look like and what is expected of them. Things come up that can change the routine. But the basics, like study time, happen even if they have no homework. We also try to stick with no electronics Monday thru Thursday. Mostly this means no xBox or games on the phone. They can watch whatever we are watching on TV and be on their phones with friends.

Erica Godlewski, Member Relationship Manager, Broadway (Schenectady) Branch:

“Online shopping! Amazon.com free two-day shipping.”

Nicole Sorrentino, Glenville Branch Manager:

“The first week back to school is a nightmare. It takes a couple weeks to get back into the routine. Something we do to save time is get clothes ready ahead of time. I put pants, shirt, socks and underwear together for complete outfits for 5 days. Then the kids just have to pick one ‘set’ out of their dresser each day. No worries or wondering ‘does this match?’ It saves time in the morning. We do the same thing with lunches. In the fridge are bins that have juice boxes/bottled water, fruit/fruit cups, cheese sticks/gogurt. They grab one item from each bin and put it in their lunch box. Then we just need to make a sandwich and they're out the door!”

Mike LaScala, AVP Member Relations:

Order your school supplies online! No need to run to stores looking for supplies that are picked over when you can just have them delivered to your doorstep. You can spend the extra time enjoying the last few days of summer instead!”

Nicole Falzo, Talent Acquisition Specialist:

Routine, routine, routine . . . set sleep schedules for back to school 1-2 weeks ahead of time, talk up all the fun things planned for the school year to shift their minds back into school mode, use Target or Walmart online to order school supplies based on teacher list so you don't run into stores being out of stock (ship to store or have delivered), let your child decorate school folders with fun stickers. Encourage the kids to put out clothes night before. Be consistent with homework and reading. Make school lunches boxes and meals fun, and if possible prep the night before.”

Ohad Oren, Sales Development Specialist, Member Services Center:

“My kids love Target. When you first walk in, they have the discounted items. That's a great and helpful section. My kids’ favorite section is the toy aisles. The best gimmick to get their cooperation to get ready, do their homework, and get them out of the house is to bribe them with a targeted trip to the toy aisles.”

Alissa Sykes, Senior Vice President/Chief Growth Officer:

“I order everything online! Amazon is my best friend this time of year. Then I sit back, enjoy a glass of red wine, and welcome fall! I look forward to our son’s hockey season and welcome the structure of the school year back after a crazy summer!”

Liz Jacobsen, Loan Officer:

“Our school district partners up with Mailboxes and More for school supplies. You fill out a form on their site with your child’s information and teacher, and within 24 hours your list is ready for pick up. This is the best time saver for me. Also, Amazon Prime is worth its weight in gold. I buy as much as I can from Amazon. Book bags, water bottles, snacks, clothes. We have 3 children in school and no time to shop!”

William Beer, Sales Development:

“For my wife and I, it is a sad time for both of us. Especially this year with both of them going to school. We usually will spend this last weekend together doing family stuff.”