Guiding the Way, Lighting the Community
The Lighthouse After-School Program is a partnership between HARC member houses of worship and Washington County Public Schools to provide after-school programs to meet a critical need, enrich the lives of children, provide stable adult role models, and potentially free up parents to work longer days. This program serves around 400 children throughout the school year.
Your help wanted!
As we begin the new school year, we need help with the following to continue to make this program successful:
- Program Leaders who have a skill or hobby to offer and can commit to weekly sessions for at least one marking period (4-8 weeks). This role can be paid or as a volunteer. We try to match you with a school and day of your choosing, and you will have at least one classroom aid from the designated school and typically no more than 15 children. A training will be held Friday, October 9, 3-5 pm with tips for classroom management and more.
- Volunteers who can assist in the clubs
- Volunteers or paid personnel who are willing to substitute for program leads, if needed
For more information or to help with any of the above needs, please contact Angela Yamashita, Program Coordinator, at 240-347-0780 or angela@harc.datachievereview.xyz.
How it works
Program Leaders – from houses of worship, community groups, or from the community at large – provide an after-school program at a school of their 
choice (within select schools) at least one day per week for a full marking period (typically 6-7 weeks). These “clubs” could include just about any talent or interest you can share! Examples of current or past clubs:
- MC/Songwriting
- Financial literacy
- Livin’ It Up (social & emotional skills) – wanted!
- Games – more wanted!
- Arts & crafts – more wanted!
- Astronomy – more wanted!
- Chorus/Musical Theater – more wanted!
- Musical Theater for multilingual students – wanted!
- Mindfulness & Yoga
- Cooking
- Knitting – more wanted!
- Gardening – wanted!
- Kindergarten Literacy – wanted!
- How Government Works (civics) – wanted!
- STEM – wanted!
- How Things Work
Schools offer the clubs to students, and students sign up for the clubs they’re interested in. What skill do you have that you could share?
Schools served in the 2025-2026 school year:
Bester Elementary School
E. Russell Hicks Middle School
Eastern Elementary School
Hickory Elementary School
Jonathan Hager Elementary School
Northern Middle School
Potomac Heights Elementary School
Salem Elementary School (now Thomas Garner Elementary)
