Back to School Checklist for Middle Schoolers

BAY CITY, Mich.,–– The summer is almost over, which can only mean one thing: school is starting again! Whether your kids love it or hate it, you can tell it's the end of the summer when it's time to go back to school shopping. Get everything done ahead of schedule this year with our back to school checklist for middle schoolers to beat the traffic and get the best deals possible! From 6th to 8th grade, we've put together a list of necessities that will make shopping a breeze. Some teachers release lists of supplies students are required to bring, but these supplies will help to organize and prepare your middle schooler for the next few years!

6th Grade

Purchasing school supplies for 6th graders can be difficult. It's tough to know what supplies will work best for your child as they become more organized and prepared for classes than ever before. Here are a few items we think will help your 6th grader get off to a great start:

• An agenda for organization
• (5-6) 2-pocket folders per class
• (2) 3-subject notebooks w/dividers
• (12) No. 2 pencils
• (2) red pens for corrections
• Hand wipes, sanitizer, etc.
• Plastic flip-top drink container for water
• (2) packages of pocket tissue packs
• (1) pencil case
• Magnetic locker basket for easy organization
• Small umbrella for rainy days
• Pair of gym shoes
• (10) pens, blue and/or black
• (1) package of loose leaf paper
• 12" ruler
• Pair of scissors

7th Grade

In the 7th grade, your child will start to enjoy a more personalized schedule. They'll be able to pick certain classes they enjoy while also taking part in the required core classes every middle schooler has to take. They'll probably be a little more knowledgeable about what they need, but it's better to be prepared for anything! Make sure you get these supplies before the school year starts:

• Package of graphing paper for math
• Agenda for organization
• 2 GB flash drive
• Graphing compass
• Scotch tape
• (4-5) 3-prong folders with pockets
• (12) pencils with extra erasers
• Composition notebook
• (4) packages of dividers
• Black, blue, and red pens
• Dry erase markers
• Class-specific requirements (instrument, art supplies, etc.)
• Handheld pencil sharpener w/lid
• College lined loose leaf paper
• White out

8th Grade

With one year left in middle school, your 8th grader probably wants to get back to school shopping done as quickly as possible. Since you've probably acquired most of the supplies you'll need over the past couple years, shopping with your 8th grader will be much easier. However, don't forget any of these extremely important supplies:

• Graphing calculator
• (3) 3-ring binders
• Protractor 
• Dry erase marker/whiteboard
• Package of sticky notes
• (5) packages of dividers
• (12) pencils w/extra erasers
• White out
• Agenda or planner for organization
• Stapler and staple remover
• Blue, black, and red pens
• Sharp scissors
• (3) highlighters, different colors
• Colored pencils
• (4) composition notebooks

Back to school shopping can be an enjoyable and easy experience if you are prepared and get organized ahead of time. Stay ahead of the curve this year with our back to school checklist for middle schoolers so you aren't lost or stuck Googling school supplies while you shop! Before school starts up, plan a fun getaway during Labor Day with some fresh and fun family-friendly activities. Planning a cookout for Labor Day weekend? Try some of these mouth-watering recipes to give your tastebuds the vacation they deserve! If you're going on vacation soon, make sure you double check everything you pack to ensure you aren't missing one of the top 10 most forgotten vacation items! 

Hank Graff Chevy is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706 and we are here to help our community grow to become an even better place to call home! For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our website: www.GraffBayCity.com.

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Tips to Keep Your Carpool Safe This School Year

BAY CITY, Mich.––It's easy for safety checks to get lost in the mix of homework, new school schedules, sports, errands, and everything else that comes along with the season. However easy safety checks go missing, they're one of the most important things to do at the beginning of the school year, especially if you'll be partaking in a carpool. Not only are you, as a driver, responsible for your own students, but others as well. Follow our tips to keep your carpool safe this school year, and don't hesitate to ask us at Graff Bay City for help.

1. Have your brakes inspected at your next oil change

Your brakes are one of the most important safety components, so having them checked at your next oil change at Graff Bay City will ensure you have the stopping power needed in any situation. Some signs you can look out for if your brakes need service include: a squealing noise when applying brakes, soft or spongy feeling brakes, shaky steering wheel when stopping, and a visibly worn brake pad.

2. Put on new wiper blades and top off your washer fluid

You can do this step right at home with store bought wipers and washer fluid, but we can take care of it at your next oil change if that's more convenient for you! With new wiper blades and a full washer fluid tank, you'll be prepared for any type of weather or dirt that hits your windshield Remember, your wiper blades and washer fluid are there to help you see clearly and can save your life in some emergency situations where visibility is down.

3. Check your tires for damage and inflate them to the recommended level

Doing a basic check for visible damage, like bulging or uneven tread wear, on your tires is a great first step to safe tires. Take it a step further and make sure you have properly inflated tires. You can find the suggested PSI for your tires in your owner's manual or on the sticker on the inside of your driver's side door. Check the PSI level of your tires while they're cold, and adjust as needed. This will help with your vehicle's efficiency and reduce the risk of a popped tire.

4. Have your oil changed every 3,000-5,000 miles

As simple as this may sound, having your oil changed every 3,000-5,000 miles will help your car run its best and eliminate the risk of an overheated engine. Dirty or old oil that has broken down can cause your engine's parts to wear prematurely and can potentially cause your engine to overheat, which can lead to expensive repairs down the road.

5. Check all your external lights and their function

This check takes two people to complete, but it takes less than 5 minutes. Run through each light individually by having one person sit in the car turning the lights on and off, and the other checking the exterior as the lights go on and off. Make a mark of anything that isn't functioning correctly. Your lights are important because they allow other drivers and pedestrians to see you, and are especially important on foggy, rainy, or snowy days.

Use these tips to keep your carpool safe this school year, and to keep your car running smoothly! The routine maintenance pages on our website are there to provide knowledge and understanding of important components on your vehicle. We also offer more vehicle maintenance tips on our Service FAQ page. If you have more specific questions about your vehicle’s maintenance, then contact our Graff Bay City Service Center. Our team of ASE Certified technicians is here to help you and your carpool group get back on the road safe and sound. Schedule your next service center appointment today and have your carpool vehicle inspected.

Hank Graff Chevy is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706 and we can help you find the perfect vehicle for your weekend getaway! For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our website: www.GraffBayCity.com.

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Back to School Organization Ideas

BAY CITY, Mich. – While it's only the second day back to school for local kids, the responsibilities, commitments, and after school activities are already adding up. Is the new year stressing you out already? Don't let it! We've gathered up all of our favorite (and realistic) Back to School Organization Ideas to help you stay sane this school year!

Back to School Organization Ideas

Keep the whole family organized and on schedule with a go-to family command center. Even something as simple as a chalkboard or calendar and a dedicated area for the kids to keep their backpacks can make mornings a breeze!

Help the kids form a habit of completing their homework right when they get home by making sure they are equipped to do so. Creating a homework station with all the supplies they may need will help them stay focused, while designating a specific folder for papers that need to be signed will make sure they get back to school on time.

Kids starving when they get home in the afternoon? Make grabbing a snack on the go easy with a snack station that you can keep stocked in the pantry.

Prepping lunches the night before can help keep everyone on schedule in the morning. You can even streamline the process by creating a lunch station in your pantry or fridge. Just stock up on all of the kids' favorite lunch time foods and snacks and then packing their lunch will be as simple as throwing together a few pre-prepped items!

Rather than battling the outfit wars every morning, take some time to set out outfits for each day of the week on Sunday night so that on weekday mornings you can get up and go! 

Do you have a genius back to school organization idea? Share it with us on social media! And if you need to make sure your vehicle is ready for the demands of never ending activities and car pools, come see us and we will help you out! Hank Graff Chevy is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706 and we can help you find the perfect vehicle for your weekend getaway! For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our website: www.GraffBayCity.com.

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Tips to Keep Your Schoolchildren Safe

BAY CITY, Mich. - With the school year going strong, school zones are in effect and children are filling the streets as they head to and from class. While many think that predators and bullies are the biggest threat to your child at school, it's actually cars! Due to children being unpredictable pedestrians, vehicles are the biggest threat to your kids safety. To keep your kids safe on their walk to and from school, take a look at a few of our tips to keep your schoolchildren safe.

Children are often walking to and from school 6:30a.m. - 8:30a.m. and 2:30p.m. - 4:30p.m. on weekdays from September to June. It is during this time that drivers should be most vigilant, since kids are unpredictable. While crossing guards help teach children when to cross the road, many still cross between parked cars or dart when the crossing signal says no.

With cars being the biggest threat to schoolchildren, it is necessary to take review some tips to keep your schoolchildren safe so that your child knows how to obey pedestrian laws when walking. First, talk to your kids about using traffic signals and crosswalks. Most injuries happen mid-block (meaning not at a crosswalk), so teach your kids about the importance of using a crosswalk. Also, if there is no sidewalk where they are walking, it is okay to walk facing traffic, as long as they stay as far away from vehicles as possible.

Secondly, teach your kids about looking right and left. This may seem pretty obvious, especially since this is a rule that all parents drill into their children's heads from a young age. However, children now have electronic devices to distract them from their surroundings, making it easy to walk into the street without meaning to do so. So teach your children about looking right and left, and crossing the street without the electronic device to distract them.

Another great tip for crossing the street safely: remind kids to make eye contact with drivers before crossing and to watch out for car that are turning or backing up. Most of all, teach your kids to NEVER dart out into the street or cross between parked cars. This is how most schoolchildren are injured, so warn them about crossing the street where it is not marked as a crossing zone.

While you can only do so much to protect your children when they are out and about, Chevy has a variety of ways to protect your family when they are in the car.  If you'd like to discuss all the safety features available to you, our friendly and informative sales team would be more than happy to go over the details. So stop by our Chevrolet Dealership Serving Caro, MI today and we'll be more than happy to show you our selection of New Chevrolet Cars, New Chevrolet Trucks and Used Chevy Cars For Sale.

Hank Graff Chevy is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706. For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our websites: www.GraffBayCity.com.

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