managing the paperwork from school

[VBMama]

The paperwork for parents, that is! I'd like to be a little more organized this year - so far we've only had one week of school (two different schools, though) and I already have newsletters, fundraising packets, school calendars, classroom notes, snack calendars, soccer picture forms, etc.

Anyone got a great system for keeping it all together? I'm terrible at taming the paper tiger in general, but I'd be happy if I could just keep schools stuff sufficiently organized that my kids don't miss out on anything important.

[2cutiekitties]

how funny.....all mine is spread on the bed and I was just complaining about it to my hubby, lol.

I was thinking of getting a folder but so far havent made it to the store.

[Geofizz]

We have a master folder for each school of stuff we need to keep. That folder is in a set of vertical files near the door where all the school stuff accumulates. Papers are sorted as they come into the house, and recycled asap. Things that need to be filled out are signed and returned as they come. Snack calendars and the like are transcribed to our family calendar for the stuff that applies to us. Cork board near the calendar for the rest. We have to clean it off every few weeks or so as things become irrelevant.

[sewchris2642]

I use a file folder and a calendar. When I get the paper, I put the information on the calendar and file the paper. I use a file box that kept next to the phone books in the kitchen (the calendar and the phone are on the wall over the shelf where the file box and phone books are along with my cook books). I also put the information on the calendar in the sewing room (I work at home). My problem was getting Dylan to give me the papers/announcements in the first place. Now that he's in the charter school, I can access everything online and get emails from the school.

[ollyoxenfree]

Originally Posted by sewchris2642

Now that he's in the charter school, I can access everything online and get emails from the school.

Last year, the school started sending newsletters and forms by e-mail and it was great. Not only did everything come directly to me (less likely to get lost), but I could always print out a second copy if the first was mislaid.

I also use a bright (lime green, orange, purple etc.), vinyl 8 x 12 envelope with a velcro closure for sending stuff (signed forms, money etc.) back to school. The kids know that if something is sent home, it's supposed to go into the envelope, which lives in their backpack.

I have a couple of heavy alligator clips on magnets that go on the fridge - one for each kid. The clips hold notices, forms, schedules etc. So things tend to go straight from the vinyl envelope to the fridge, where they can't (shouldn't) get lost.

[Linda on the move]

I have one master calendar in the kitchen, and when other calendars come into the house, I copy the info to my calendar, and then throw away the other calendar. I cannpt look at more than one calendar, so all information has got to be on the same one.

I return forms to school as quickly as possible just to get rid of them.

Anything that can't be returned yet (because it has to go back on picture day or whatever) gets completed as much as possible, gets the date it goes back written on it, and it goes on the Launch Table. (The Launch Table is a small table near the door that we use to organize things leaving the house, including cell phones, keys, etc).

Some things, like classroom notes and packets of stuff, I try to read through and be realistic about what (if anything) I'll need again, and then throw as much stuff possible away. Paper clutter is a problem for me, and I've learned that I can't find the things I need if I hold on to everything, so I pitch a lot of stuff.

[K1329]

I never kept a calendar before having kids... life was pretty simple back then... LOL

Anyway, I have a combo white board/corkboard that I hung up in our kitchen. I keep a calendar on it, too. I also have a wooden organizer that fits papers on the kitchen counter. Keeping it all in one spot seems to work well for me.

[Emmeline II]

I check ds' bag everyday and fill out the return items, then I mark the calendar--I have a "desk" calendar on a bulletin board that I post important school info on.

[eepster]

Anything with dates and stuff like that goes on the side of the fridge next to the town calender (where we also have appointment cards from Drs, b-day party invites, etc.) Things that I need to keep, but that don't have dates go in a basket near my desk in the dining room. Anything that needs to be filled out to go back to school goes in a hanging basket next to the door (where we also have car keys hanging and coat/bag hooks and our shoes stacked.) Art work that comes home gets hung on the front of the fridge.

DS is still in pre-K, so no homework yet.

[SoCaliMommy]

Master School Calendar/ Monthly Lunch Menu's get put on the fridge. Everything else that needs to go back gets signed/filled out and put back in her folder on the return to school side and put in her backpack the same day i get it.

[mamalisa]

I sort it immediately, fill out what needs to go back to school, plug everything into the calendar and toss all the paper asap. Even if picture forms aren't due for two weeks it gets done that day and right back into the backpack.

[Alyantavid]

Our school calendar is online so I go through at least once a month and copy it onto my calendar. Picture forms, permission slips either get returned right away or they go on a magnetic board I have by the office. That board only has school stuff on it so it makes it easier.

So basically, I try to get rid of everything as fast as possible.

[VBMama]

Awesome. After reading all your great ideas I went and got myself this to hang on a hook in my kitchen. It has enough folders that I can assign one for each school for papers to keep, one for sports, and one for papers-to-be-returned, plus more as I figure out what I need.

I'm transcribing dates to my master calendar, too. I just switched to using an online calendar this year and I'm missing the visual calendar on my fridge a bit, but I really wanted to have it accessible when I'm out & about instead of waiting to get home to "check my calendar".

I like all the advice about getting rid of the paper ASAP by returning, transcribing, or recycling. Thanks!

[sewchris2642]

One thing I forgot to mention is that those papers that need to be kept for an upcoming event are paper clipped to the pertinent calendar page. For example, ComicCon tickets are bought months in advance (in Nov for the following July event). I print out the conformation and paper clip it to the July page on the calendar when the tickets are bought. The conformation paper is needed to pick up the tickets at the door. By having it physically on the calendar, I don't have to remember where I put it when the time comes. And I don't have to worry about the computer crashing or the printer being out of ink when I need the paper.