GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.-- The 2014-2015 school year is officially underway for West Michigan students.

On Sept. 2, which was the official start of classes for most schools, State Superintendent Mike Flanagan released this statement: 

"It’s a great day to be Back to School in Michigan !

Let me take a moment to wish everyone a positive and successful school year.

Our team here at the Michigan Department of Education, the State Board of Education, and I appreciate the hard work and daily dedication teachers, administrators, school board members, and other school staff devote to our children in Michigan.

The start of the 2014-15 schools year is just around the corner.

As a parent, don’t let the start of a new school year catch you off guard- start preparing your students now to hit the books this fall.  While some activities, like waking up early, may be met with less enthusiasm, back-to-school preparation can be fun. 

Educators at Michigan Connections Academy have developed four fun, yet educational, activities parents and students can do together to help prepare for a successful start to the new school year— and the best part is the students won’t even realize they are learning!

GREENVILLE, Mich.—School is out but learning isn’t taking a break at Baldwin Heights Elementary School.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 15, the school library will be open for students to check out books.The library will be open during that same time every Tuesday throughout the summer. 

The district has also started a new Summer Mail Home Program, which allows students to pick books to be mailed to them throughout the summer to prevent summer reading loss.  More than 120 students are participating this summer. The district says it takes just six books to stop the academic summer slide.