Back to School Hacks to shop at Orion Springfield Central in Ipswich
Make the new school year feel easier (and less stressful)
When back to school rolls around, the morning routine can go from calm to chaotic very quickly. Between packing lunches, organising uniforms, finding school shoes and getting kids out the door on time, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed — especially at the start of a new school year.
The good news? With a few smart back to school hacks (and plenty of practical lunch box hacks woven in), you can get organised in one easy visit to Orion Springfield Central. From fresh food and lunch prep to stationery, uniforms and everyday essentials, here’s how to set your family up for a smoother school year ahead.
1) Create a “launch pad” near the front door
School hack: Set up one dedicated spot at home where everything lives for weekday mornings — school bag, lunchbox, drink bottle, notes and homework. This small system helps save time and reduces daily stress.
Shop it at Orion Springfield Central:
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Hot Bargain for hooks, folders, storage tubs and organisers
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Smiggle for bag tags, labels and keyrings (great for kids who forget things)
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Cotton On Kids, shop HERE, for spare hats, socks and hair accessories that can live in the launch pad
Quick tip: Keep a small back-up kit nearby with bandaids and hand sanitiser from Priceline, so minor hiccups don’t derail your morning.
2) Lunch box hacks that reduce weekday stress
If school lunches feel like the hardest part of the day, a little planning goes a long way. The key is building a simple rotation that works for the entire week — especially if you’re dealing with picky eaters.
Shop lunch essentials at Orion Springfield Central:
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Coles, Woolworths or ALDI for fruit, bread, cheese, yoghurt, snacks and lunchbox staples
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Bakers Delight for sandwich bread, rolls and savoury snacks
Lunch box hacks to try this week:
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Prep once, pack fast: wash and cut fruit, carrots and cucumber after your shop and store in the fridge
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Freeze-friendly wins: freeze bread or sandwiches so lunches can be packed the night before
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Two-of-everything rule: spare lunchboxes and drink bottles help save time mid-week
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Use leftovers: roast chicken or veggies from dinner make easy lunchbox fillers the next day
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Make it fun: let kids choose one lunchbox “extra” for the week to reduce stress and food waste
3) Upgrade the school bag, not the chaos
A school bag that’s easy to open, comfortable to carry and well organised makes mornings run more smoothly — especially when kids start packing their own bags.
Where to shop at Orion Springfield Central:
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BIG W for backpacks, lunch bags, drink bottles and pencil cases
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Smiggle for lunchboxes, drink bottles and fun stationery
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Robins Kitchen, shop HERE, for fun and colourful cooler bags
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Rebel Sport for bags, bottles and accessories
Hack: Add a name label and pack the bag the night before at the launch pad to avoid the morning scramble.
4) School shoes without the guesswork
School shoes are one of those items parents often leave too late. Shopping earlier gives kids time to try styles properly — and avoids sore feet during the first weeks back.
Where to shop at Orion Springfield Central:
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Williams The Shoemen, shop HERE, for junior, senior and sport school shoe options
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Spendless Shoes for affordable, everyday school shoes for boys and girls
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Skechers, shop HERE, for comfortable, machine-washable and PE-friendly styles
Hack: Bring the socks your child actually wears to school so the fit is right — no blisters, no complaints.
5) Beat the stationery panic with one-stop shopping
If your child’s list is long — or you’re shopping for multiple kids — keeping everything in one place makes back-to-school shopping much easier.
Orion Springfield Central stationery favourites:
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BIG W for budget-friendly stationery, uniforms, book list items and tech
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Smiggle for pencil cases, notebooks and creative stationery
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Australia Post for stationery, printing, packaging and organisation essentials
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Nextra Newsagents for a great selection of stationery where parents can also drop off their list for the friendly staff to pack the order
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Hot Bargain for folders, pens, texters and bulk stationery
Hack: Set up a simple “homework station” at home with one tub for pencils, scissors, glue and spare paper so everything is ready when homework time hits.
6) A “spare set” hack that saves the week
Spills, forgotten hats and missing lunchbox lids happen — often at the worst possible time.
Keep a small spare set ready:
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spare socks or underwear
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a basic snack
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bandaids and hand sanitiser
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a spare pen or notebook
Shop it at Orion Springfield Central:
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Priceline for first aid and everyday health items
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Coles, Woolworths or ALDI for snack backups
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Best & Less and Lowes for affordable school clothing extras
7) Keep kids engaged during the school holiday lead-in
The final week of summer holidays can feel long. Adding a little structure helps kids transition back into routine — and builds excitement for the year ahead.
Easy ideas to try:
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Pick one afternoon to organise bags, lunchboxes and stationery
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Let kids choose one “fun” item — a new pencil case, lunchbox or drink bottle
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Start adjusting bedtimes and morning routines a few days early
Where to shop:
Get set for the year ahead at Orion Springfield Central
With the right back to school hacks, mornings can feel calmer, packing lunches quicker, and the school year far more manageable. Download a copy of our Weekly Calendar HERE to help organise your week and create structure at the beginning of, and throughout, the school year. From lunch box hacks and fresh food to stationery, uniforms and school shoes, Orion Springfield Central makes it easy to get organised in one convenient trip.