The Georgia College & State University (GCSU) High Achievers Program celebrated “Lights on Afterschool” Oct. 24 by partnering with the Youth Empowerment Series (YES) program at Oak Hill Middle School with “literacy” as the overarching theme.
Launched in October 2000, Lights on Afterschool is a nationwide event that shines a light on afterschool and “out of school” programs and their role in the lives of children, families and communities. The High Achievers Program is an afterschool program for high school students that focuses on leadership and personal development through Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) and mental/physical health activities.
The YES Program is funded by the Georgia Department of Education and is an extension of the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers. This program impacts Lakeview Academy and Oak Hill Middle School by providing students academic, social, and physical activities beyond school hours.
As both programs occur after school and partner throughout the year, High Achievers Coordinator Kenntheh Daniels and YES Program Site Manager Shekita Shinholster decided to host a collaborative event that would promote literacy, creativity, and leadership.
“Research has shown that kids that are involved with a program after school or out of school do better academically and are more well-rounded as these programs teach necessary skills such as public speaking, critical thinking, and more,” said Daniels.
High Achievers were transported to Oak Hill Middle School Oct. 16 and drew light bulbs on canvas to display in support of the YES Program’s literacy efforts at their planned parent meeting.
“The High Achievers drew large light bulbs, which represents “Lights on Afterschool,” on these large canvases to prep them so the YES Program could use it in their enrichment program,” said Daniels. “Each program participant also cut-out and decorated their own “light bulb” to be displayed in our program’s meeting space, a classroom also used by GCSU academic classes.”
Daniels also wrote in his report of the celebrations to the Afterschool Alliance that the light bulbs will be visible to college students who might find interest in supporting the program and that “the best light bulbs will be placed on a display board and used for recruitment and information purposes.”
On the day of “Lights on Afterschool,” YES program enrichment activities were showcased and High Achievers “manned” various stations to assist teachers, program participants, and parents. The GCSU Academic Outreach team, led by director Ruth Eilers, were onsite for assistance, as well.
“YES Program participants and their parents rotated through each station to partake in the various enrichment activities. The stations included painting, making stress balls, crocheting, chess, cosmetology, art displays, and the ‘Wheel of Knowledge,’” said Daniels. “There were about 100 people in attendance.”
Plans for next year’s “Lights on Afterschool” celebrations are under discussion and Daniels said he hopes to be able to host a community project for a future celebration of the day.