P.S. ARTS celebrates Lights On Afterschool with SpongeBob

By Oscar Navarrete, program coordinator, Community, at P.S. Arts.

P.S. ARTS is excited to collaborate with the Afterschool Alliance and Nickelodeon in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Lights on Afterschool and SpongeBob Squarepants’ 20th year on-air. Together, we are working to shine a light on the richness that afterschool programs can add to students’ lives.

Strong afterschool programs create dynamic spaces for students that can improve the quality of their educational experience as a whole. Many students attend afterschool programs because they are in need of safe, structured environments after-school while their parents are still at work, others are searching for extra-curricular activities—whatever the reason, afterschool programs provide various avenues for engaged learning. The arts, in particular, serve as a powerful vehicle to navigate those avenues and support students in their development.

P.S. ARTS is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing arts education to underserved public schools and communities. The bulk of our instruction happens during regular school hours, but in recognition of the importance of after-school programs, we provide powerful Theater Arts instruction through our Extended Learning program. Our Inside Out Community Arts (IOCA) program aims to immerse youth in theatre, movement, arts, and media experiences while promoting social and emotional development. 

Our collaboration with Lights on Afterschool and Nickelodeon merges our advocacy for after-school programs, creativity, and the arts by way of seven different SpongeBob-themed art projects grounded in a Creativity Learning Framework that advances visual art skills through innovation, imagination, and play. The learning framework provides background into each of the six most common creativity characteristics in fun, accessible activities designed for all ages. Check out and download the activities on the Afterschool Alliance website and join us in celebration of Lights On!