For those who are organizationally-challenged, here’s a few tips to help you stay in control of the flood of school paper that is about to descend upon you. Your end-of-summer mantra should be “I will not procrastinate, uuummm…”

Within a week of school starting, it begins. You can almost hear the groaning noises fromtables and countertops, as paper after paper stacks up. Emails fly in daily: Homework, class reminders, past due assignments, and team schedules. Face it…the school year generates a lot of paperwork. By figuring out an effective system that works for you, you will save yourself not only time and energy, but also a lot of headaches.

Implement a Basic Filing System

This key component doesn’t have to be complicated. Find a convenient spot to keep a simple file system. Even a basic file box on the counter works fine. Each school should have a file, and each child who goes to that school gets a folder within that file. All relevant school information for that child – extra classes, teacher information, field trips – gets tossed into his/her folder.

Next, give each activity its own folder to help you quickly find the soccer team roster, the dates for Sunday school, or the rehearsal times for The Nutcracker. “My filing box keeps me sane,” explains busy mom Laura Rehling. “It’s my go-to spot for anything important. I don’t know what I’d do without it.”

Just remember to act on any paper first; that is, sign it, detach it, and enter it on the calendar. Then, and only then, file it away.

Maintain a Family Calendar (not just your PDA)

It may seem old fashioned with all the new technology out there, but a good paper calendar can change your life. With just a quick glance, everyone can see what’s going on. You may know that your son has karate every Wednesday at 5 p.m., but someone else, such as your spouse or one of the kids, may be making other plans without realizing that there’s a conflict.

Feeling creative? Assign a pen color to each family member. “My kids are so conditioned, they often ask to look at my calendar before they make plans, and my daughter, especially, will mark things done and highlight them in purple,” says mom-of-three Julie Leary.

As soon as the school/district calendar comes out, integrate those dates into your family calendar. Don’t let those half-days sneak up on you!

Email Overload

With more and more schools going paperless, you can quickly get swamped with email updates and reminders. If possible, keep your calendar by the computer so you can instantly transfer important due dates. It also helps to create a special folder in your mailbox to hold emails you need to follow up on. Or, if you subscribe to the “out of sight, out of mind” theory, try keeping a notebook near  the computer to remind yourself of items to check back on, such as what size school sweatshirt your daughter needs. A notebook or computer folder saves you time, paper, and ink.

Program Phone Numbers and Emails

Programming school phone numbers and doctor numbers into your cell phone allows you to make a quick call when you’re at work or away from home. Also, add teachers’ and coaches’ emails to your contact list so you can easily drop them a line. You want to make communication as easy as possible. Save yourself the hassle of searching for the scrap of paper that has those numbers or addresses.

Mark Down Websites and Passwords

Many textbooks are now online and some teachers even have their own website. Keep a small notebook near your computer to jot down those websites and passwords. When your child is in the throes of homework anxiety, you’ll want to know how to easily access them.

Hot Spot

Designate a “hot spot” for papers that need a quick turnaround – permission slips, class photos, book orders, etc. You can have one spot on your computer and another one for actual papers. For  tangible papers, develop a creative system, such as individual cubbies or hanging file racks, or simply keep a pile on the counter (as long as you can see at a glance what needs to go out). If you’re super organized, keep this stack in order of due date to make it less likely that something will fall through the cracks. Just remember to get papers out of this pile/file as soon as possible. Again, answer it, sign it, mark it on the calendar, then toss or file it!

Deal with Past Assignments and Art Projects

Art projects, experiments and papers tend to pile up quickly. They are sweet memories but it’s unrealistic to keep them all. Save only the best ones or the ones that show growth or insight. Aby Garvey, a professional organizer, recommends a cooling off period before filing kids’ work. “Simply set up a bin or box to collect papers that you are on the fence about. Once a period of time has passed, sort through them. It will be much easier to pull the treasures from the stack and put the rest in the recycle bin!”

Implementing a few easy systems at the start of the year will free you from the panic and stress of lost papers and missed deadlines. Whew! Now you can concentrate on the other challenges of raising kids, such as cooking healthy meals and doing endless laundry…Don’t forget the hugs and kisses!