10/08/2026
This week, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade SPARK students from across Stephens County came together for our very first SPARK Ignite Day!
Ignite Day is a new monthly opportunity designed to bring our gifted learners together to collaborate, explore new interests, and learn from one another through unique enrichment experiences.
For our first Ignite Day, students rotated through hands-on experiences with chess, checkers, and 3D printing, while also supporting our 5th grade young entrepreneurs during their SPARK Classroom Expo.
We were especially excited to welcome Sean Hotalen as our special guest, who shared his knowledge and passion for chess with our students. Students learned about the game, explored the personalities and roles of the chess pieces, and had the opportunity to put their thinking and strategy skills to work.
"I was honored to have the opportunity to share something I am passionate about with the next generation," said Hotalen. "It was very exciting to see how engaged the kids were and how they picked up the game of chess so fast."
SPARK Ignite Day is all about giving students opportunities to think deeply, try something new, collaborate across grade levels, and discover new areas of interest.
What an exciting first Ignite Day—and just the beginning of what’s ahead for our SPARK students!
⚡SPARK — Igniting Greatness!
