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Published August 20, 2008
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Back to High School
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| By Sophie Braccini |
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| Bonnie Hazarabedian views Campo’s online registration Photo Sophie Braccini |
Bonnie Hazarabedian feels she has the back-to-high-school routine under control this year. Son Zachary is entering 10th grade at Campolindo High and she won’t get the surprises she got last year. “First, parents are in for a big sticker shock,” remembers Bonnie, “What you have to pay when your children are in middle school is nothing compared with the big check in high school.”
Her son plays football and fees can add up rapidly with each sport having a registration fee and Boosters’ Club; the same goes for the performing arts program. The other thing she was not prepared for was the haircut. “I didn’t know the children’s pictures would be taken on Cougar Day,” remembers Hazarabedian. This year, the haircut was done ahead of time.
Another big issue is transportation. “There are no school buses for the high schools, so we work a mix of carpooling and public transportation.” That means a trip to Loard’s. In addition to ice cream, both the Orinda and the Moraga stores sell bus passes, saving a trip to Walnut Creek.
After Loard’s, the next trip will be to Costco. “I buy my kids one meal a week from the school’s hot lunch menu,” says Hazarabedian, “the rest is prepared at home, so before school starts I go to Costco to stock up on healthy food that can survive hot back-packs and lockers.” Her favorites are turkey jerky, fruit juice boxes, granola bars and dried fruits. “Food is a big item for my son,” explains the caring mother, “with football right after school he needs to plan for two lunches.”
On the other hand, she luckily bypassed the clothing and accessory headache. “Zach couldn’t care less,” says his mother, “he’s been running around with the same back-pack for years; it’s all beaten up, but he wouldn’t change it.” It will probably be a different story when sister Callie reaches Campo. |
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| Reach Sophie Braccini at: sophie@lamorindaweekly.com |
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA