2012 - A new school year & our launch pad

I can't believe that my eldest is about to start Year 3, which means he's going into his 4th year of school.  That means 4 years of school drop offs, pick ups, homework & all that goes with having a school aged child, doesn't seem that long ago that we dropped him off for his first day in Kindergarten.


Last year things started to get a little out of control with our routine & organisation. Mornings were always a rush, homework was a last minute thought by the boy and me.  News due on a Friday, was done on a Friday morning as we were rushing out the door.  It was not pretty.


So over the past almost 6 weeks of holidays, I have been working on my new strategy to get the boy, the family & me organised. I knew that some big changes needed to happen so the house can run like clock work and be a less stressful place each day. From all accounts we know there is going to be alot more homework & assignments this year too, so doing it the morning its due, definitely isn't going to work.


So I have trawled the internet looking for inspiration, but knew I had to make it my own to allow it to work.


I have found the perfect wall to put our "launch pad".  Its at the end of our entrance way, just around the corner from the hallway that leads to the bedrooms.

Here is the wall after the shelf was installed (forgot to take a before shot)

The launch pad consists of a shelf, which has a basket to put our wallets, phones, etc in. Some bag hooks to hold school bags, swimming bags & hubbys work bag.


This is also where I have our 2organise term planner which will have all our activities, etc recorded.  A central point for everyone to see the comings & goings of the year.


I am also planning on putting a whiteboard to the right of the term planner, to record the boys school timetable, ie - sports day, library, vocal ensemble, etc.

Almost finished space (so happy with it)

Close up of bag hooks

Term Planner

I am still deciding if I will put some shoe storage here. It would definitely be neater and make it easier access to shoes needed more regularly.  That might be a work in progress over the coming weeks. At the moment this is the front runner for the spot.  I would get some baskets to put inside the spots.

I have also added a magnetic bulldog clip to the front of the fridge & labelled it school notes, the boy knows when he unpacks his school bag he has to put an notes there otherwise I won't read them.  We do get alot of our notes emailed these days, so overtime this won't be used nearly as much.


I have also put a hook on his wardrobe door, so each night going to bed we get out the uniform required for the next day.





Mel x