On Thursday, October 18, all five of SNBC’s school-based afterschool program sites recognized the importance of afterschool programs with celebrations marking the 8th annual Lights On Afterschool! SNBC was one of more than 7,500 sites across the nation sending the message that afterschool programming is key to children's success, and that we must keep the lights on and doors open after school.

Below are brief descriptions that highlight our Lights On Afterschool celebrations. Check out some fantastic photos from our youth rally and the hands on demonstrations at the middle school!

A.P. Giannini Middle School

A.P. Giannini celebrated the 8th annual Lights On Afterschool by inviting community leaders to engage with students in the afterschool program’s clubs. Hands-on demonstrations and activities were conducted by youth in the DJ Club, Peer Resources Club, Newsletter Club, Flash Animation Club, Cartoon/Anime Club, and the MOUSE Squad. Guests included District 4 Supervisor Carmen Chu, Siddhartha Vivek from the Afterschool Alliance in Washington, DC, Lisa Shell from PG&E, Raminder Bhatia and Sue Lam from Wells Fargo, Angie Chen from the David & Lucile Packard Foundation, Francis Tsang from the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services, Steve Fowler from FowlerHoffman, Artina Lim from the Department of Children, Youth and Their Families, and Officer Eric Leung from the San Francisco Police Department.

In conjunction with the Lights On Afterschool celebration held at A.P. Giannini, PG&E joined SNBC in acknowledging the importance of afterschool programs and also the importance of a cleaner environment. Partnering with SNBC, PG&E distributed 1,000 free energy-efficient light bulbs to the entire Sunset community at a special booth set up in front of the school!

Francis Scott Key Elementary School

The Francis Scott Key After School Learning Program (ASLP) celebrated this year’s Lights On After School Day by holding a march and rally to nearby Sunset Boulevard to raise the public’s awareness of the importance of after school programs. In addition to the rally, which the ASLP has participated in for the last four years, at the rally’s conclusion the program held a Fitness Fair in the schoolyard. Students competed for carnival prizes in games like Ping Pong Paddle Challenge, Mile Pace Roulette, Obstacle Course and Free Throw Contest. A good time was had for minds and bodies all around!

“Yay! We got 135 cars to honk. Then I won 3 bouncy balls in the obstacle course. It was fun!”
– Elizabeth, 5th grader

Robert Louis Stevenson Elementary School

More than 70 students in the 2nd – 5th grades of the Robert Louis Stevenson After School Learning Program made signs and banners that encouraged the Sunset community to show their support for afterschool programming. Joined by parents and high school student volunteers, the youth then held a rally along Sunset Boulevard. First graders in the RLS program also participated in the Lights On Afterschool festivities by holding a “musical instrument march,” in which each student taped signs to their backs and played musical instruments while marching around the school campus.

Sunset Elementary School

Approximately fifty 4th and 5th grade students in the ASLP at Sunset Elementary marched up to Sunset Boulevard to publicly rally for afterschool programs. They carried homemade signs telling supporters to honk if they support afterschool programs. The students had a wonderful time making lots of noise and showing their love for after school programming!

Ulloa Elementary School

Students in the Ulloa After School Learning Program created a giant “Lights On Afterschool” light bulb out of paper mache and more than 75 students made signs and participated in a rally along Sunset Boulevard. An open house was also held inviting parents to see an all-program relay race!