William Penn School District                                 

Community & Public Relations Office, Administration Building                                                                                          610-284-8005 x237

100 Green Avenue- Annex, Lansdowne, Pennsylvania  19050-2095                                                                                 610-284-8053 (Fax)

                                                                                                                                                                pbittle@wpsd.k12.pa.us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: 

Pamela A. Bittle                                                                                                                   Antonio M. Greene, Coordinator

Public Relations Specialist                                                                                                                After-School Programs

610-284-8005 ext. 237 – Office                                                                                                       610-284-8005 ext. 271 (day)

610-842-1728 – Mobile                                                                                                                          610-972-1019 (anytime)

pbittle@wpsd.k12.pa.us                                                                                                                           greene@wpsd.k12.pa.us

Media Alert – Press, Photographers & TV Media are invited to attend.

William Penn School District’s 21^st Century Program

Hosting Lights On Afterschool

7,500 Celebrations Nationwide Aim to Make Afterschool Programs Available to All

            Lansdowne, PA (October 15, 2009) –The William Penn School District, under the direction of Antonio Greene, Afterschool Activities Coordinator, will sponsor a Lights On Afterschool event on Thursday, October 22 from 4:00- 6:00 p.m. in the gymnasium at the Penn Wood Middle School, 121 Summit Street in Darby.  This initiative, in support of after-school programs, will be one of more than 7,500 such events around the nation that day – the tenth annual Lights On Afterschool celebration, organized by the Afterschool Alliance. 

Lights On Afterschool is a call for expanding after-school opportunities so that every child who needs a program has access to one.  William Penn’s Lights On Afterschool celebration will highlight three of the significant contributions that after-school programs make to the William Penn School District communities:  (1) keeping children safe and healthy; (2) inspiring children to learn; and (3) relieving working parents of worries about their children's activities during the afternoon hours.   

- 2 -

            Guest speaker will be Clyde Jones, Associated Press Class AAAA Coach of the Year and Head Coach of the 2009 PIAA Class AAAA State Champion Penn Wood High School Patriots Boys’ Basketball Team.  The Penn Wood High School Cheerleaders and representatives from William Penn School District’s Music Department and Athletic Department will be on hand to show support for after-school activities in the school district.  Several school-based and community-based organizations will be available to provide information for students who are interested in signing up for an after-school program. 

Activities planned for the event include arts & crafts, karate, “Money Matters’ program, moon bounce, and dance.  Snacks will also be available for this free event.

            For more information or to find out how you can assist with the celebration, contact Antonio Greene at 610-284-8005, ext. 271.