Santee School District Shines Light On After School Programs‎

Santee schools shined the light on their after school programs during a series of rallies Thursday.

The rallies were a part of the 12th annual Lights On Afterschool, a nationwide event that celebrates after school programs that keep children safe, inspire them to learn and help working families, according to the Afterschool Alliance, which works to ensure that all children have access to affordable, quality after school programs. As many as one million people and more than 7,500 communities were expected to participate in the annual event.

“Today’s event is to highlight how important after school programs are to families and communities, and to showcase what it is we do,” said Kristi Sheen, the regional coordinator for the district’s Out-of-School Time Programs.

At 's After School Enrichment and Safety Program, the only grant-funded district program, children worked on homework, created art projects and participated in outdoor activities.

Arts Specialist Becky Linder helped her students at PRIDE Academy learn primary and secondary colors. The children had to change seats to use a new paint color until they used all of the colors set on the table.

“They get to open their minds and they get to explore,” Linder said. “I see so many creative kids.”

All of the after school programs at the district’s nine schools, as well as Santee’s partnership program at the , held similar open house events and welcomed parents and community members to witness the skills children learn and the talents they develop at their after school programs.

 site highlighted the after school enrichment music program. Students at the Cameron Family YMCA—which is a collaboration between two programs with funding from the City Development Block Grant—demonstrated what they have learned in the swim and gym programs.

Sites also had postcards available for parents to write a message to local representatives and senators to advocate funding and support for after school programs. 

In addition to art and music classes, the district’s after school programs offer academic enrichment, soccer clinics and other arts and crafts and outdoor activities, Sheen said.

“Kids who attend our programs generally have higher test scores and do better in school,” Sheen said.

There are roughly 100 students in the ASES Program at PRIDE Academy. Because the program is funded by the state, parents can enroll their children for a small fee, Sheen said.

More than 15 million children are unsupervised each weekday after the school day ends, according to research from the Afterschool Alliance. The Santee School District’s Out-of-School Time Programs serve approximately 900 children.

“Kids look forward to going to the after school programs,” Sheen said. “They don’t want to miss it.”