faculty, often in grade level or department teams. Their work will be fully coordinated and planned. Parents and community members are invited to observe us at work. (Please call the superintendent or principals to arrange for a visit or to find out what project the teachers may be working on when you wish to visit. Parents and community members will be asked for their input and advice on many of the projects we undertake.) Because the work we will be doing is so important, a strict set of guidelines and ground rules will govern how this "Common Planning Time" may be used. Each Wednesday, students will begin their school day at 9:45. (Career Center students will be bused to the Career Center at the usual time.) Buses will run their regular routes, but on a delayed schedule, picking students up about two hours later than the other week days. All classes will meet, but for a shorter period of time. The school day has been extended for secondary students by ten minutes in the morning and ten minutes in the afternoon each day of the week (except Wednesday morning) in order to meet state and North Central Association requirements; in all, secondary students will lose only 25 minutes of classroom time per week. Contact time for elementary students will still exceed state and North Central recommendations by nearly 200 minutes. While we are concerned about the "quantity" of classroom time students receive each week, we are even more concerned about the quality of education they receive at each grade level while they are in those classrooms. While many students will benefit from two extra hours each Wednesday morning (to study, arrange orthodontist appointments, or even to "sleep in" and get rested for the end of the week), we realize that this pilot program will create an inconvenience for some parents and students because of child care concerns. We urge you to read the section which follows entitled "Questions and Concerns about the Common Planning Schedule" for suggestions which may help you solve your child care concerns.

The Board of Education, administration, and faculty wish to thank the many parents and community members who attended the meetings and offered input and advice about this innovative pilot program which can yield such benefits for our students. As the African proverb states: "It takes a whole village to educate a child." We truly appreciate your participation in our efforts to make our schools even better for children, and your support as we attempt to move Grass Lake Community Schools toward the next century. SUGGESTED WEDNESDAY MORNING ACTIVITIES -Complete assigned classroom work/activity -Read a good book or magazine -Work on a craft project (birdhouse, collage, sewing, etc.) -View an educational program -Begin a daily journal or diary -Play a board game - Scrabble, Spill & Spell -Practice your instrument -Take care of household chores -Write a letter to a friend or relative -Exercise! -Draw a picture -Study your spelling words or for a test -Start a collection - baseball cards, buttons -Invent something that will save you time! KIDS' CLUB Beginning Monday, August 30, the Grass Lake Community schools will be offering a before and after school child care program. The KIDS' CLUB is available for children in grades K-6. Parents need to register children prior to starting the service. For information on the fee structure and other pertinent details, please call the superintendent's office at 522-8491.

Are you available to baby-sit on Wednesday mornings? Do you need someone to watch your children on Wednesday mornings? Call 522-8491 for more information.