Welcome to the first edition of School Parents, we are looking forward to bringing you this ezine covering the topics that parents deal with while their kids are at school.

Here we go again! Launching into another year - getting back into a routine, trying to find time for all the things we want to do and those we feel we should.

Finding the time to get involved in the school is something a lot of us promise ourselves to do at the beginning of the year - but then reality takes over, life gets busy and the next thing you know it’s December again.

This year I’ve made the decision to get more involved in my kids’ school.  Not just because I feel I should or because latest research shows my kids will do better if I’m actively involved, but because the fact is I really enjoy it when I do.

Getting involved doesn’t have to be a huge commitment or even a regular one.  There are loads of ways to help out around the school using whatever skills and time you have to spare.

So, I’ve offered to help with the school website. Other parents are going to put their names down for school excursions.  One of my friends has declared herself the Lamington Queen this year and has decided cake stalls will be her thing. Either way we do what we can, and the kids benefit.

Class parents, canteen volunteers, school working bees – what do you do to help out where you can – and have you got any scheduling hints for the rest of us? (One of our classes has “tag-team” class parents. One mum gets up to the school regularly to get the latest news, the other works online five days a week – so she puts out emails to all the parents to keep them up to date.) Any other suggestions? Anyone?