10th Annual Lights On Afterschool Celebration

Over 260 afterschool programs in Pennsylvania participated in the 10th Annual Lights On Afterschool Celebration on Thursday, October 22, 2009. Lights On Afterschool celebrates the remarkable work being done by students who attend our afterschool programs. It is a powerful reminder that afterschool programs keep children safe, inspire them to learn, and relieve working parents of worries about how their children spend their afternoons.

 

Here are some of the activities that took place in the Central Pennsylvania area:

 

Boys and Girls Club of Lancaster

Our site conducted a ‘healthy lifestyles’ activity which promoted exercise while having fun at the same time.We had several types of relays outside in the park located beside our site. We had four separate groups broken into two teams. Approximately 55 members participated in the event.The first relay was strictly running followed by running backwards, sideways, grapevine and ended with a crab relay.At the conclusion, we had an awards ceremony and the winners were presented with certificates. Each member was presented a certificate of participation.

 

Sherman & Kathryn Hill Clubhouse

Sherman & Kathryn Hill Clubhouse “The Positive Place for Kids” had an outdoor carnival event with games and activity stations for youth of all ages.

  

 

CSIU 21st CCLC program at Shamokin Elementary School

Students pictured represent the V.I.P. (Visionary Imaginative People); fourth through eighth graders from the Shamokin Area School District, in partnership with the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit afterschool program. Students celebrated the Lights On Afterschool program by sharing essay ideas of "Why it's Cool to Stay Afterschool", decorated and colored energy efficient light bulbs, and created a mock Empire State Building with lights to tie inwith the national event. Students also researched the Lindbergh Beacon and Empire State Building to participate in a round of geography trivia. The program hosts approximately 50 students Monday-Friday.

    

 

Tussey Mountain Afterschool Program

Tussey Mountain Afterschool Program from Bedford County 21st CCLC celebrated “Lights on Afterschool in Autumn.”  Students in the program planned the activities and food for the night. They invited parents, teachers, school board members, news media, community members, and local politicians. Students, using mathematics and decision making skills, decided to serve hotdogs, pudding, chocolate covered apples, vegetables, and ice cream floats based upon the allotted budget.  Attendees painted pumpkins, made luminaries, created masks, played “Pin the Nose on the Pumpkin,” and “Broom Ball.” Students also colored and decorated the “Lights on Afterschool” lightbulbs. These light bulbs were hung around the schools and during our open house. 

The night was opened with one of the students reading Governor Rendell’s National Lights on Afterschool proclamation. After the proclamation, students presented the PowerPoint slide show created by the students titled “All About Us.” In each slide, students introduced themselves and commented on why afterschool is important to them.  Tussey Mountain’s “Lights on Afterschool” open house highlights were published in two local newspapers where many community members learned more about the program and importance of afterschool. Everyone who attended the open house had a great time and look forward to the next open house.