As the summer holidays creep towards their end, it is time to go through the check list to make sure that all is order for a smooth start for the back to school process. I utilised the post from a similar time last year and modified it for what we need to do this year!
(1). Uniforms.
Ensuring that everything is accounted for and in its right spot. I realise already that a hat didn’t make it home last year, so will need to be replaced. I was organised enough to give all the uniforms a good soak before washing and ironing them at the end of last year. It is amazing how much better they looked after the soak!
(2). Shoes.
I have already purchased three new sets of school shoes and three new pairs of runners. It was rather unfortunate for the budget that they all needed new ones at the same time, but at least I know that they all fit properly and are in great condition.
(3). Stationery and Accessories.
Although the majority of the items we purchase through the school ordering system, there were a few bits and pieces that needed to be purchased. My children are slightly obsessed with Smiggle products, so with the proviso that it is to last for more than one year, we went shopping for Smiggle pencil cases. It did make me laugh at how much they liked them. They have been telling every one about them.
(4). Lunch boxes and drink bottles.
Ours are definitely due for a very thorough scrub, as they have been all over the place these holidays.
(5). Evening and morning routines.
A week before school returns, I like to start reverting to our term routines as much as possible. My children like to have time to take things at their own pace in the morning. This means that so they can happily get up at a time to do this, they need to start going to bed earlier again too.
(6).Labels.
Labeling for stationary is something I like the school children to do themselves. I can have them with me in the study while I am on the laptop, and they can work away writing their names on their belongings or using the labeling machine where appropriate. As the clothes labels need to be ironed on, I usually do these ones myself.
(7). Scooter/bike/helmet/pram check.
We endeavour to walk/ride to school every day, so to avoid any last minute hiccups, I will get Mr I to check that all modes of transport and helmets are in working order before the first day of school.
(8). Paper work.
There is always a form lurking somewhere that needs to be completed, whether it be end of year reports, registration papers or consent forms. It is much easier to complete them now before the new batch arrives.
(9). Restock the pantry.
We tend to have different morning and afternoon tea snacks during the holidays, than what the children would necessarily take as snacks in their lunch boxes. I also tend to bake more during school terms, so I need to make sure I have all the essential ingredients on hand.
(10). Confirm after school activities.
We are changing a few things in Term 1 this year and I need to confirm the times we have been allocated for the new after school activities.
What are you doing as preparation for the “back to school” process?Tweet
6 comments...read them below or add one
What a great post – lots of good ideas.
Libby
Libbys last blog post..Nelson’s Bay Holiday
Thank you so much for this list.
Annie is starting Prep this year and it is such a steep learning curve for both of us.
We are practicing eating at Recess and Lunch time this week – along with packing lunch boxes in the morning. I did a blog post about it yesterday.
Got to get another school dress for Annie and iron on the labels.
Can’t I hide in the …….. um coolish living room and pretend that we aren’t going back to school yet? Please? Pwetty please??
I’m just not ready! *stamps foot*
Mistress Bs last blog post..It’s raining, it’s pouring
This is our first year with school in the mix too, and our third baby is due three weeks after school starts, so this list is very timely for me! Some of it I have already done –
1. Uniforms are all ready & labelled, and the schoolgirl has had several practices of dressing herself fully for school.
2. We’ve also been practising being ready to leave the house at 8:30am (the time we need to leave for school / kinder for the 3-year-old) and are doing pretty well with that; both girls are consistently ready and just looking at books by 8:20am. (Of course, this is before the baby is in the mix …!)
3. Extra curricular activities – ballet, swimming and (for the 3-year-old only) gymnastics – are also locked in and indeed paid for term 1, as are school and kinder for the whole year (I budgeted term 1 fees out of hubby’s Christmas bonus and school / kinder fees out of my performance bonus last November – term 2, 3 & 4 fees for the extras will come out of the baby bonus!)
4. I *think* I’ve done all the paperwork, but time will tell …
What I definitely have yet to do is the pantry side – mine is devoid of school & kinder snack ideas other than fruit – and I want to put together a simple running sheet for the week, both for my own benefit and for the use of hubby and my mother who’ll be helping out / doing much of it while I’m in my “babymoon” from late Feb to late March. (Given that I’m having a c-section, there will be lots I can’t and shouldn’t do, and also, it’s nice to be able to settle in with baby! Hubby has 3 weeks off for this purpose, with my Mum coming to stay a week as well). I want to put as much as possible on this sheet – right down to my usual day & time of the week for cleaning bathrooms, the day & time I grocery shop, the day of the month that the gardener comes, etc – so it’s easy for others to use and serves as a real mnemonic for me. (Combined with the menu plan, of course, which I’m working on …!)
Kathys last blog post..Menu Plan Monday: Back in the swing
This is my first year too, and added to the mix is the knowledge that we will probably be moving within a month, so I’m wary of overdoing it. She has one top and one bottom and that’s it. I’ll be washing every night. Well, I do anyway so it’s no big drama, but still.
Thanks for the list. I’ll add it to my school supplies box I’ve been building for the last 3 months, ever since we got the lists of what we’d need.
Kins last blog post..Fried Rice Recipe
[...] for short. We have taken care of all the basic infrastructure type of activities as outlined in the Back To School Checklist and it is just over a week when Possum will head have her first day of [...]