National School District Afterschool - Spring 2025
As we reflect on the Spring 2025 season of ARTS on Campus, we have so much to share and celebrate! In our fourth season, we've seen both old friendships deepen and new ones flourish among nearly 250 students from the National School District across all 10 campuses. The introduction of K-1 classes at Central and El Toyon was a major highlight — our youngest students embraced the opportunity to explore their creativity, bringing an infectious energy and enthusiasm to the program.
The passion for art was noticeable throughout the season, especially during our new family workshop series, which fostered meaningful connections between students and their families and caregivers. The joy of creating together as a family really brought our community closer.
This Spring, ARTS hosted three Family Workshops nights at the Cental and El Toyon campuses for our K - 1st grade classes. Students brought their family across generations to share in creating artworks and learning new skills together.
Each ARTS on Campus team brings a project to the ARTS Center for our Youth Arts Festival to showcase their students work from the session! This year we had more ARTS on Campus families join us at our festival than we ever had in the past!
A standout event this season was the In Bloom: Youth Arts Festival, which showcased the incredible talent within our program. With almost 350 attendees, a record number of National School District students attended the ARTS Center to see their artwork on display. One coordinator expressed, “It was a proud moment for both students and teachers,” as they celebrated the achievements of our youngest artists.
Stephen accepting his spotlight nomination at our Bright Lights event.
We want to take a moment to recognize Steven Sanchez, Coordinator of Expanded Learning (NSD) who was honored at Bright Lights for his exceptional contributions to building a strong community through meaningful partnerships and collaborations. His work emphasizes the significance of uplifting art and creativity in National School District schools, fostering relationships amongst schools, families, and organizations to enhance student success.
“We owe our students the opportunity to explore their voices, to express their emotions, and to connect with the world around them in meaningful ways.”
“We owe our students the opportunity to explore their voices, to express their emotions, and to connect with the world around them in meaningful ways. Art provides that pathway. It builds critical thinking, innovation, and the unique spirit within each child.” Stephen mentioned in his acceptance speech at our Bright Lights event, “Thanks to the support of ARTS, we are able to provide these enriching experiences to our students. We are giving our students the tools to not only create art but to understand its power and its place in their lives.”
Photos from our Bright Lights celebration where we honored Stephen Sanchez, Adriana Quezada and Megan A from our ARTS on Campus program as Spotlights of our community!
Another highlight from the Bright Lights celebration was Megan A., a student from El Toyon Elementary. Her teacher, Zade Helena, beamed when she said, “Megan is a bright light in the classroom. Her enthusiasm creates a ripple effect that makes our classroom culture fun and lighthearted.” It’s inspiring to see how Megan's confidence and artistic skills have flourished over the year.
Adriana Quezada, a Teaching Artist and one of the founding artists in our partnership with the National School District, was also recognized. Adriana was nominated as a Bright Light of our community for her role as one of the founding teaching artists in our partnership with the National School District. She has been an incredible presence at the Lincoln Acres campus for the past two years and her incredible illustration work brought magic and joy to the branding of our Youth Arts Festival.
To cap off the season, we hosted end-of-session exhibitions at each of our campuses, where young artists proudly showcased their work created through the Spring 2025 session, ranging from drawings to 3d artworks like sewing and multimedia collage. Families were invited to join in the celebration with pizza and cupcakes, creating a lively atmosphere filled with pride and joy.
Results from an “end of the session” survey given to all of our National School District afterschool participants
Adriana shared that many parents expressed pride in their children's achievements. “I had meaningful conversations with family members who noted how our nature-inspired lessons sparked conversations at home,” she explained. Jax’s mom highlighted how important art was for him, sharing, “He always asks me not to pick him up before class ends.” Similarly, Kanye and Berthalinda’s mom remarked on the impact of the ARTS program, stating, “It has been significant for our family, with two older siblings involved in community arts programs as well.”
Jess Garcia from the Ranch de la Nacion Campus added to the excitement, recalling, “When we stepped outside, the students were lined up, bursting with energy. It felt amazing to celebrate their creations together!”
As we look ahead, let’s continue nurturing creativity, supporting one another, and creating spaces where art can thrive. Here’s to more seasons filled with growth, friendship, and artistic exploration in the future!
