Students at East Franklin Junior High School listen to guest speaker Kevin Stickland.

Launched in October 2000, “Lights On Afterschool” is the only nationwide event that celebrates afterschool programs and their important role in the lives of children, families, and communities.

The hallmark of the afterschool movement, the Afterschool Alliance, organizes “Lights On Afterschool” to draw attention to the many ways afterschool programs support students by offering them opportunities to learn new things such as science, community service, engineering, technology, and more.

These events send a powerful message that millions more kids need quality afterschool programs (from The Afterschool Alliance).

The Franklin County TRACKS Programs are proud to participate and celebrate our own high quality afterschool programs in six of our county schools.

During October, all Franklin County schools hosted their “Lights On Afterschool” celebrations, which included parents and guests coming and working together to learn how to use iPads, learning about fire safety, which included a visit from a local fire department, decorating the halls of their schools with enrichment activities and artwork done at the TRACKS Program, learning about being hosts as they showed their guests around during Lights on Afterschool, some sites had guest speakers during their event, parents were able to get a tour of the afterschool program and meet with the workers, and learning about Being Your Best Self.

The Franklin County TRACKS Programs and site lead teachers are: Red Bay High School (Jeri Mayo), Vina High School (Bryna Lawler), Belgreen High School (Carla Hutto), Phil Campbell Elementary School (Kathy Canida), East Franklin Jr. High School (Sherry Smith), and Tharptown Elementary School (Samantha Bain).