Valerie Cassity-Kern Valley Sun

Kernville Elementary School offers hope for the children of working parents each day through their afterschool HOPE program, and last Thursday, Oct. 18, they worked to ensure that that chance is given to children across the country when they partnered with afterschool programs across the nation to present a Lights on Afterschool program.

The one day annual program consisted of approximately one million people rallying at more than 7,500 schools, community centers, parks, city halls, shopping centers and other venues across the country for the afterschool programs that keep kids safe, inspire them to learn, and help working families. 'Local Lights On Afterschool events give youth a chance to showcase the skills and talents acquired at their afterschool programs, and to send the message that millions more children need afterschool programs," said Jodi Grant, Executive Director of the Afterschool Alliance, which organizes the event.

Parents and students enjoy refreshments provided by Kernville Elementary staff as well as El Jacalito and El Rio Resteraunts.

At Kernville Elementary School, HOPE Director Pam Alten organized the event, which took place there from 4:30-6 with student performances, guest speakers, and more as part of the nationwide celebration of the after school programs across the country. Wallace Elementary School in Lake Isabella also offered a similar program. The children were given the opportunity to perform songs and poetry, and artwork that the HOPE students have created was displayed throughout the cafetorium. 'The students are running the show,' said Alten.

Miss Andrews’ kindergarten class performed '5 Little Pumpkins,' followed by Miss Isabel’s 2-3rd graders singing 'Pumpkin Bells,' which was a version of 'Jingle Bells' modified to fit upcoming Halloween. Next was Miss Weber’s 3rd grade class, and each student took turns reciting a haiku they had written, and then they performed a dance to the inspirational song 'When your Spirit Sings.' All of the students wore radically different hats, and made the audience smile with their enthusiasm. Lastly, Miss Rebecca’s 4-5th grade students each took a turn stating why they enjoyed the HOPE program, which included playing on the computer and the many clubs that are available, such as the sewing, chess, and gardening clubs. 'I like HOPE because my homework gets done and there are great teachers and I get to play with my friends,' said one girl.

Following the performances were refreshments generously provided by Kernville Elementary staff as well as El Jacalito and El Rio restaurants. There was then a family math night where friends, family, and people from the community worked at one of the eight different stations to play games, which were designed to be fun for the entire family while learning about probability, Venn diagrams, proportional reasoning, sequences, developing number sense, and creating strategies. There was also a station where kids assisted in making fresh peanut butter and then had the opportunity to taste the fruits of their labor.

48 Governors and hundreds of mayors have declared October 18th Lights On Afterschool Day. This year’s Lights On Afterschool events on October 18 also kicked-off a year-long celebration of the 10th anniversary of 21st Century Community Learning Centers, the chief federal funding stream for afterschool programs. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, a longtime proponent of children’s’ health, is National Chair of Lights On Afterschool again this year, a position he has held since 2001.

'More than 14 million children have no place to go after the school day ends, and the peak hours for juvenile crime are 3-6 p.m.,' said Alten, demonstrating the importance of quality afterschool programs in our schools.

To learn more about the HOPE Program at Kernville Elementary school, call Pam at 376-6075.