By Katie Landes, Director of GSAN
Lights On Afterschool is less than 3 weeks away! This week-long event, which is part of the nationwide Afterschool Alliance’s 16th annual Lights On Afterschool, calls attention to the importance of afterschool programs and the resources required to keep the lights on and the doors open.
Governor Nathan Deal showed his support again this year by proclaiming October 19-23, 2015 as Lights On Afterschool Week in the state of Georgia!
During this week, afterschool programs from across the state will celebrate the positive impacts that Georgia’s afterschool programs have on youth’s lives, while Georgia’s families, communities, and leaders will be invited to visit afterschool programs where they can meet staff members, engage with students and witness the quality learning that Georgia’s afterschool programs provide.
Throughout Georgia, afterschool sites provide the kind of enriching afterschool environment that has been consistently proven to be a keystone to academic success. The connection is clear: when students report positive afterschool experiences, teachers report gains in the classroom. Your support of these programs is vital, and your participation in Lights on Afterschool Week will be an opportunity for you to see first-hand how these programs are positively affecting your community.
To register your program’s Lights On Afterschool celebration, please visit the Afterschool Alliance’s registration page. Registering your event will allow you to receive resources from the Afterschool Alliance and will enable us to provide you with Georgia specific tools and tips to help you host a successful Lights On Afterschool Week celebration.
Last year there were more than 250 registered events in the state of Georgia! Wouldn’t it be awesome to have more than 350 events this year? If you do not register your event, we will not be able to count it towards this year’s total.
We look forward to working together to ensure quality out-of-school time opportunities are available for all of Georgia’s youth!