EdAdvance to hold LightsOn! event

LITCHFIELD — EdAdvance School Age Programs will host their 18th annual Lights On! Afterschool events on Thursday. Community members, students, families, legislators, school officials and staff are all invited to join a celebration of what afterschool programs are all about. Each of the School Age ProgramsBASES (Before and After School Enrichment Services) will host an open house with events including fall activities as well as game nights and family dinners.

"It is exciting for all of us to be a part of this national celebration recognizing the importance of afterschool programs that keep kids safe, help working families and enhance students' academic achievement," said Tracey Lay, Director of School Age Programs for EdAdvance and chairwoman of the National Afterschool Association Board of Directors. Celebrated last year by over a million people throughout the United States at over 8,100 events, Lights On! Afterschool is the only national rally for afterschool programs.

Lay said, "It is powerful to participate in an awareness-raising project that actually lights up the Empire State Building and Mount Rushmore for the event. And it is a meaningful event for our team, our students, their families, and communities as we shine the light on our own local programs. We are honored to open our programs to the community and to share the kinds of hands-on, engaging activities that our students are experiencing all in the safe, caring environment that our talented staff provide after school every day."

BASES programming features STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics) and literacy enrichment programs, arts and crafts, recreational activities, assistance with homework, and nutritious snacks. To learn more about BASES, or the Lights On! Afterschool events, contact Lay at 860-5670863 x143 or lay@edadvance.org.