Children in Hamilton County public schools return to classes this week. Here are some helpful back-to-school tips and topics.

SPICE UP LUNCH

When you pack a lunch, think outside the box. Peanut butter and jelly, chips and an apple equal boring. Add some punch to lunch with something more creative. Try pita breads or a tortilla filled with a favorite sandwich meat or chicken salad. Also, it’s easy to make a meat-andcheese kabob, according to southernfood.about.com.

On the side, try chips and salsa or veggie sticks with dip. Fun foods like “ants on a log” are good choices for the younger kids. Simply fill celery sticks with peanut butter and top them with raisins for a nutritious and playful side item. Older children may prefer leftovers from last night’s dinner, so consider pasta dishes and casseroles. They can eat them cold if the school does not have a microwave available for heating them up. Add a salad with a small tub of dressing, and lunch is ready.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL FASHION

Though many local public and private school students are required to wear uniforms, there are some schools that have a more liberal dress code. Those who don’t have to don the required wardrobe may be taking a fashion trip back in time. This year’s must-have back-to-school fashions mirror styles worn in the 1980s, ranging from the grunge look to leggings and oversized sweaters to the layered look.

According to associatedcontent.com, piling layers of clothes that combine the right textures and colors will prove the wearer to be fashionforward.

But the No. 1 fashion staple of the season, the Web site noted, is leggings. Buy now and wear leggings into the fall, winter, and, very possibly, next spring. Leggings are ideal layered under trouser shorts, shift dresses and oversized shirts.

Before parents start to dole out dollars for the latest trends to wear to school, it’s a good idea to verify schools’ dress code policies. Hamilton County public school students can go to www.hcde.org/applications/ school_lists/ to check out each public school’s dress code.

BACKPACK UPDATE

Backpacks, shoulder bags, messenger bags ... there are lots of ways to carry your books around. From stylish shoulder bags large enough to fit a laptop and a lipstick for college women, to character backpacks (anything from Hello Kitty to “High School Musical”) for grade-school girls, there are styles and choices for all ages.

A popular trend is eco-friendly backpacks made from Earth-friendly materials or recycled plastics. There are even “green” bags with solar panels for recharging laptops.

Old-school backpacks and messenger bags are still the trend for older boys. For the extra cool slouchy look, grab a bag like the G-Tech Cyclone, which lets users operate iPods from the strap (careful, some schools prohibit MP3 players). Character backpacks, such as “Batman,” “Star Wars” and “Kung Fu Panda,” are a hit with younger boys.

For parents concerned about kids breaking their backs with books, plenty of companies make backpacks on wheels with handles.

TECH SAVVY

During back-toschool shopping this year, families are expected to spend 13 percent more on electronics such as computers and cell phones, according to the National Retail Federation. Among the items CompUSA says parents should consider are locks for laptops, pocketsized USB flash drives (to portably store papers, presentations, music and photos), an external hard drive to back up data and an ergonomic keyboard and mouse to prevent injury and improve posture. According to Amazon.com, among the hot items for fall are:

Kodak EasyShare M1063 Digital Camera ($159.95),

a pocket-sized camera with face detection and blur reduction technology, an optical zoom and easy sharing techniques.

Slacker 8 GB Portable Radio ($219.99), which includes an MP3 player with 40-station capacity, a built-in Wi-Fi that auto-refreshes Slacker Radio stations, 4-inch color LCD to display album art, reviews and artist bios, and a rechargeable battery.

Netgear RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Router ($100.14),

which allows for two separate but simultaneous wireless networks (one that supports older Wireless-G products, and one for newer, more robust Wireless N standards) and allows users to surf, e-mail, stream HD video, play online games, and make Internet phone calls simultaneously, without interference from neighboring Wi-Fi networks and other wireless devices like Bluetooth or cordless phones.

The Flip Video Mino ($145.84),

a pocket-sized camcorder with which users can view, edit and instantly upload videos to videosharing sites.

The Polaroid PoGo Instant Mobile Printer ($149.95),

which allows the immediate wireless printing and sharing of photos from select camera cell phones and digital cameras.

MOVIE MANIA

If the thought of going back to school bums you out, these movies will remind you how much fun the halls of academia can be (or make you thankful your school is so boring):

“The Faculty” — Long before he was breaking hearts in “Pearl Harbor,” teen heartthrob Josh Hartnett was avoiding death at the hands of extraterrestrial teachers in this 1998 thriller.

“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” or “The Breakfast Club” — No director has ever captured the high school spirit as well as writer/director John Hughes. These two flicks from the ’80s are absolutely classic tales of teenagers outwitting power hungry and flat-footed principals (Paul Gleason and Jeffrey Jones, respectively).

“Kindergarten Cop” — Call it the “Teachernator,” if you want, but worried parents could do a lot worse for their child’s first teacher than Arnold Schwarzenegger, who plays an undercover cop in this 1990 action/comedy. A, B, C ... click, click, Boom.

“Dead Poet’s Society” —

Robin Williams plays a private school teacher of a different breed who inspires his poetry class to new heights of extracurricular learning in this Oscar-winning film.

“Remember the Titans” — As far as high school sports films are concerned, this one’s a winner on multiple levels. It’s a great story of equality and overcoming adversity, but beyond that’s it’s also beautifully shot and has a phenomenal cast, including Denzel Washington and Will Patton.

PLAYLIST

Before you cram your head with knowledge, filling your ears with a back-to-school playlist may finally get you out of the summer doldrums and into the new school year. These six songs — three old school classics and three new school hits — speak to the ambivalence every kid feels about attending school.

“School Day (Ring! Ring! Goes the Bell)” by Chuck Berry — Sometimes it is hard to appreciate the long, hard days of school, and the thing you most look forward to is escaping it with rock and roll.

“Be True to Your School” by The Beach Boys — Today’s cheerleaders are more likely to cheer “Bring It On” than “Rah, rah, rah,” but the sheer sincerity heard in these vocals keeps it timeless and keeps us cheering.

“Kodachrome” by Paul Simon — With lyrics like “And my lack of education hasn’t hurt me none,” this song about capturing a moment may remind you of the true color of your experience in school.

“I Don’t Want to Go to School” by The Naked Brothers Band — At 13 years old, Nat Wolff’s punk rock howls perfectly echo the passion of a kid fighting to stay at home.

“What I Go to School For” by The Jonas Brothers — Any reason to stay in school is a good one, even if that reason is a girl.

“Campus” by Vampire Weekend — It may be just a song about a boy bumbling in front of a crush, but with casual references to “kefir” and “keffiyah,” the lyrics remind us that even the most obscure facts and vocabulary words might actually be worthwhile to know.

Contributors: Anne Braly, Clint Cooper, Casey Phillips, Karen Nazor Hill, Holly Leber, Ben Doak