See Our Lights on Afterschool Celebration!

Lights On Afterschool (LOA) is a nationwide event celebrating afterschool programs and their important role in the lives of children, families and communities. The Child Center’s COMPASS afterschool program at P.S. 45 in South Ozone Park, Queens, marked the occasion with artwork, reflections, and fun!

Participants constructed one large paper light bulb—the symbol of LOA—and added circles to represent the lights. Inside the circles, students wrote about a favorite afterschool memory or five things they love about afterschool. The day ended with a bounce house and pizza.

The Child Center of NY offers afterschool programs at 30 schools and community centers. Each one offers services that go beyond supervision. We provide a meaningful connection to the school day, ensuring that children continue to learn after the school bell rings. They also explore an array of enrichment activities, from dance to coding. This provides them with unique and supportive opportunities to discover their strengths and passions, and all the wonderful things they are capable of.

Our COMPASS program at P.S. 45 is one of our newest afterschool programs—just a few weeks old! If the students’ reflections on the poster are any indication, it’s been a great success so far. Children answered the prompt about their favorite part of afterschool with various responses, from basketball and soccer to “making inventions” and making friends, and the staff. “As one child wrote, “Me gusta cuando entro afterschool, y quisiera venir todos los días.” (“I like when I go to afterschool, and I would like to go every day.”)