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Gene' - Little, community school director for Districts 15 and 156 explained today the community school cpncept in which both districts participate. '•We believe that a good school , cannot thrive and grow without the active support and construct tive interest of the people in the school community. So important and necessary is this relationship between the community and the school that we support What has come to be known as the Community School concept. "'The school, under this concept, is built through the active participation of the citizens. It is built not just for the young, but to be the center of the community for the use of all citizens. Through the development of the community school, education is seen as a continuing factor in the lives of the people as. long as they may live," Little added. At the present time, the Mc- Heftry Community School Concept nas developed an extensive adult education program which involved over 900 adults last year. The McHenry Senior Citizens club has over 230 members who take an active part in a program designed especially toward their •interests. The Teen club, comprised of Junior high students, has the opportunity to use the recreational facilities and plan social activities under adult supervision during after-school hours. This coming year, the recreational and social programs will be started in Hilltop, Valley View, Edgebrook and the high schools. An extensive swimming program for the Jugh schools' and residents of 4he, community is planned. AVAILABLE TO YOUTH , The community schools in McHenry are available to youth groups, free of charge, after arrangements are made through the community school director. Other groups may also use the school facilities for a nominal charge* A community school is anew approach to an old tried and tested idea. The little one-room school house of by-gone rural days served as a center for many activities of all the people in the school area. The new community school serves those same needs for our more complicated urban societies of today. It discovers the needs of the people by involving all the people, and uses of all the resources of the community to serve the heeds of the people. A community school is a school whose total staff considers that a child is the product of not just the classroom but of his total environment -- home, family, recreation, friends, church, the entire community. The main purpose of a community school education program are: to make maximum use of existing school facilities; to provide an environment within which both children and adults can spend worthwhile leisure time; to provide meaningful educational experiences for adults; to make McHenry a better city in which to live through a community education program. A community school director is a member of the McHenry public school system teaching staff who has the responsibility of organizing and directing the community school program. It: is his responsibility to know the children and the families living within his school area. He must know the needs of his community, and he must know the resources available to serve those, needs. FOCAL POINT ' The community school director becomes involved in all the aspects of his school attendance area making the school the focal point for meeting those needs. He constantly evaluates the program to fit changing needs, seeks volunteers, tests new ideas, searches for leaders, counsels and helps children. The community school improves education of children attending the school during a regular school day. The educational needs of regularly enrolled daytime pupils can be supplemented with extra-curricular enrichment programs after school. Patrons and parents participating in programs at the school have the opportunity to become better acquainted with the professional teaching staff. The teacher understands the pupil better as a result of these contacts. The community school serves the adult members of its community by making the school facilities and resources available to those adults. The school buildings are used for community meetings; they are open to adults for recreation, night classes, public affairs meetings and organizational meetings. The school buildings are open twice the number of hours per ing is open. Adults in the community form community school councils which discuss school activities and set general policy, for the community school. The school buildings and facilities are given back to the people in use. The patrons become a part of the school and not just passive parents and taxpayers. The community school costs the same as any other school plus the cost of electric power and heat for additional time the school is open. There are some additional expenses for parttime instructors and community school director's salary for summer months. Adults and youths pay a small fee for their various classes. Every man, woman and child residing in the McHenry public school attendance area, both public and parochial, are eligible for community school education courses and the people served by the community school area, under the leadership of the director, decide which activities would be most suitable. Many different activities or courses are possible. A community school for McHenry offers much needed increased recreational facilities for the school area involved. It offers classes to those many adults looking for continuing education. It serves as a community center for the community where the school is located. It involves adults and youth after school and Saturdays when there is a lack of neighborhood facilities available for healthful and enriching experiences. Residents become involved in their school and therefore, more aware of the educational program. Mutual pride will grow as a result of the community school activities. School facilities will be used by the people instead of standing vacant. "In a successful community school area the people, including parents, non-parents living in j^he..school area, $eacher§, administrative staffs, and businesses located in the school area look upon the school resources, including buildings and staff, as 'Our School*. They feel . free to use the entire resources " .jjf the school for their personal .{benefit as well as to the benefit of their community*', Little concluded. Senior Citizen Winter Program lite District 156 Board of Education approved a special program for senior citizens on Oct. 20. Citizens 62 years of age or older may register free of charge for any of the Adult Education classes offered by District 156 and 15, according to Gene Little, community school director. The program is a portion of the community school concept started in September, 1967, in which school facilities are made available for community use. Hie community school is that school which becomes a center of service to all people in the community regardless of their age, race, creed or socio-economic circumstances. As a social instrument it offers its greatest service when its facilities and staff are available to all people of the community for assistance in fulfilling their basic needs. Its facilities are available 14 to 16 hours each day or longer, if needed. Brochures, which outline and describe all the courses, are being mailed to all McHenry addresses. For further information, call Central Administration, 385-7210. READY MIXED (••• Concrete F®r: Complete • Balding McHenry Ready - Mix Co., Inc. Plants In Antioch - Grayslake - McHenry 920 N. Front Street McHenry, III. Phone 3K-4920