Lights On Afterschool: A National Celebration!

The American Ninja Warrior Challenge makes me feel strong!

The First Stage/Kluge CLC participated in the national Lights On Afterschool celebration on Thursday, October 22 with a special event held afterschool from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m.

Afterschool programs play an important role in the lives of children, families and communities. According to Afterschool Alliance, participation in afterschool programs has increased to nearly 10.2 million students nationwide, but unmet demand for afterschool programs has also increased. For every child in an afterschool program, there are two more whose parents would participate, if a program were available. In addition, one in five students in the country today is unsupervised after the school day ends.

More than one million people nation wide celebrated Lights On Afterschool day this year. “Lights On Afterschool events give students a chance to showcase the skills they learn and talents they develop at their afterschool programs, and to send the message that millions more children and youth need quality afterschool and summer learning programs,” said Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant. “These events spotlight the fun, educational, hands-on activities that quality afterschool programs offer and the ways these programs keep kids safe, inspire them to learn and help working families.”

Samantha Montgomery works with students on the
Spoken Word Challenge

At the First Stage/Kluge CLC Lights On Afterschool celebration, special guests facilitated activities to encourage literacy, math and science skills, physical fitness and more. First Stage Teaching Artists Bill Jackson, Marcy Kearns and Resident Teaching Artist Samatha Montgomery rotated dramatic storytelling sessions, while First Stage Artistic Director Jeff Frank got students moving as they tested their physical fitness in the American Ninja Warrior Challenge. Students worked together, sharing ideas during Samatha Montgomery’s Spoken Word Challenge, and Marcy Kearns led future thespians in a Shakespeare Challenge. Finally, Resident Teaching Artist Brenna Kempf and community volunteer Brian Cummings led students in an Engineering activity.


Our celebration culminated in a student showcase of the skills they’ve learned while attending the CLC this year. Friends, family and teachers couldn’t have been more proud.

Students showcase the skills they've learned