• Groton Elementary will once again be offering it's Out of School Time program (OST) to students before and after school. G.R.A.S.P. (Groton Area School Program), gives students with working parents a safe place to be while they wait for school to start in the morning or to wait for parents to pick them up after school.
• "Our goal is to provide students with a safe environment in which to experience a variety of fun, nurturing activities during those times of transition between home and school." Dan Dalchow, Elementary Principal,
• Supervisors provide a variety of activities for students during OST. Some of the targeted program areas that students learn are: Educational and Personal Development, Citizenship and Leadership Development, Cultural Art Enrichment, Social Recreation, PE and Health Educational Opportunities and Outdoor and Environmental Education. There is tutoring also available for those students who would like additional help on their homework Afternoon snacks are provided for children who wish it, or children may bring their own.
• The OST program is offered every day that school is in session. Before school care runs from 7:00 am to 8:00am. After school care is available until 6:00pm. Last year there were 160 students registered with the program. On average there were about 15 students in the morning program and 35-45 students in the afternoon program. The program is also offered all day during the summer. About 40 students used the program this summer. GRASP started in 2003.
• "OST is a stand-alone program offered by the Groton School District," Dalchow said. "This means the program pays for its self. School money is not used to provide the program, other than to provide the space to hold the program."
• The program pays for its self by charging a fee. A regular rate of $2.50 per hour per student is charged for the OST services. Families with two or more students in the program receive a slightly discounted rate of $2.25 per hour per student.

-Char Telkamp