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The date was October 18, 2007.   The city of Opelika rallied together to celebrate and show support for after school programs and the children of their community.

The highlights of the program included the reading of a proclamation from the Honorable Gary Fuller, Mayor of the City of Opelika.  Superintendent Mark Neighbors, Board member Patsy Parker, and city councilman Bill Lazenby joined parents and local educators to witness the talents of the students and the benefits of after school programming.

The Carver/West Forest Extended Day students came dressed in their tie-dyed shirts that they designed for this event.  The students, accompanied by Opelika Middle School students, sang "This Little Light of Mine".  The West Forest Intermediate students signed the song.  They have been practicing American Sign Language (ASL) in the after school program.

The Southview/Northside students performed the minuet.  Twenty-six students participated in a ballroom dance mini-camp, and demonstrated their skills.  The girls were dressed in beautiful, elegant dresses and wore corsages; the gentlemen were dressed in dark slacks, tuxedo shirts and bow ties.  It was breathtaking for parents and friends to witness the poise and elegance of these children ages 8-10.

Morris Avenue care provider, best known as Mr. E., was emcee.  Mr. E. was dressed in a red sports jacket that had been creatively, artistically decorated by his students.  A fifth grader, who is a ranked speedstacking champion, demonstrated his stacking skills, and taught a mini session for others to participate in. 

The Opelika Middle School students designed and presented gifts to school and community leaders.  Each presenter exhibited confidence and poise as they demonstrated their public speaking skills. 

One guest presenter, a Lee County Extension Service agent, set up a booth and has planned a superb partnership with the after school programs. 

Each school had displays of some of their activities which included decorated lightbulb jars, paper lanterns, pinatas, a replica of the Parthenon, aerospace projects and experiments, and more.  Each school also sponsored activity tables where they demonstrated typical activities from an Extended School day curriculum. 

Kindergarten students were able to design and decorate inserts to personalize keepsake drinking cups and color an Alabama Mural.  Students were able to read "The Magic Pebble" and decorate their own pet rocks.  Groups discussed friendships and made friendship bracelets and friendship sticks.  There were floor puzzles at each station that complemented the main theme of that station.  Everything that flies was a tremendous hit as students learned about flight and space.  These participants designed and flew a variety of "IFOs", Identified Flying Objects.  There was a face-painting and recycling crafts station, and the Beadbug crafts are an annual encore activity.  Transition time was not wasted time.  The students were allowed to play boardgames as they waited for the program to begin and for parents to pick up after all of the festivities ended.

Yes, it was quite an illuminating time as we rallied to keep the lights on after school in Opelika, Alabama.

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