All eight public schools in Decatur County held “Lights on Afterschool” events on Thursday afternoon, designed to help parents and citizens learn about the schools’ afterschool learning programs.

Makeesha Kegler, coordinator for the after-school program at Elcan-King Elementary School, said students who need extra help with certain subjects stay after school for two hours a day, four days a week. The students take part in fun activities designed to teach various concepts in math, science, reading and social studies.

After school teachers use games, projection screens, computers and flash cards to help students learn. Students also get homework help and a chance to use the computer lab for their studies before each school day begins.

All of it is funded by the 21st Century Century Community Learning Centers initiative, the principal funding stream for federal support for after-school programs, which was started 10 years ago.