A Day at the SparkLife Academy

~too~, we're obsessed with this idea, and we're on board to teach digital. But, there's no showering at SparkLife Academy? —Sparkitors

I decided to write this article after I saw Ze_Matheia’s amazing comment on the Friday Awards about a SparkNotes School. To me, the Sparklife Academy is a boarding school that runs from September to June just like every other school, and is located in a small and pretty town. Here's what a typical day at the Academy would be like:

7 a.m. Wake up, but don’t hit snooze, because you can’t wait for another day at the Academy.

7:10 a.m. Wander down to the great hall to eat breakfast. There is one HUGE table that is a circle, so everyone is included, and no one is forced to sit by themselves.

7:20 a.m. Finish getting ready, pack up backpack, and head down to the ground floor, where all your classes are located.

7:30-7:45 a.m. Walk and talk in the halls with other Sparklers while waiting for the bell to ring. Passing Dan in the hall barely makes you hyperventilate anymore!

7:45 a.m. Go to homeroom, where you do not have assigned seats, and talk with your buddies. Everyone is included, and no one sits awkwardly in the corner.

7:50 a.m. Time for first period English with Miss Marm! No one has trouble with grammar anymore, and essays always come back with A’s on them. Her class is very structured, but very fun. Once a month, she comes up with a list of books that the class votes on. The winner is featured in an optional book club.

8:40 a.m. Second period is an Advisory period. People who have something they need help with go to the guidance office to see Auntie SparkNotes. Others walk around campus and do homework. Some just check SparkLife.

9:30 a.m. Third period happens to be our history class, taught by none other than Jon Skindzier. Judging by his accuracy on this post, we’re going to be some of the most intelligent history students on the planet.

10:20 a.m. Fourth period is math, where we aren’t taught by a Sparkitor, but a math teacher like everyone else. However, he isn’t just any math teacher—he loves his subject, wants you to love it, and thinks the best way to make you love it is to be an amazing teacher. Surprisingly, no one hates math anymore.

11:10 a.m. Science is fifth period, which is taught by Sarah. We spend most of the time questioning her about what it’s like to be an intern at SparkNotes. However, when we get out, we’re surprised at how much we’ve learned.

Noon. Lunch time! Sparklers sit at the huge, round table and eat all together. Yet again, no one is left out, Dan’s blogs are quoted, and sarcasm hands are frequently raised.

12:50 p.m. In digital class, our sixth period, we learn high tech and amazing things you can do on computers. The arts of live digital chats, creating open threads, posting Awesome and Cute Things of the Week, and watching Jonas Brothers videos are just some of the topics covered. This is taught by Emily, Emma, and Chelsea. Everyone wears jackets to this class to combat the icy chill, a side effect of Chelsea’s sweat-reducing fans. The coffee pot at Chelsea’s desk is something many students frequently visit.

1:40 p.m. Seventh period, Dan. There really isn’t a name for the class he teaches—it mostly involves floor scooters, watching LOST, seeing who can draw the most elaborate picture of Edward’s hair, and eating pretzel ice cream cones. This is our stress reliever—we just sit in class and laugh hysterically the whole way through.

2:30 p.m. Language class is the last period of the day, which is taught by a different teacher depending on your language. The languages taught at the Academy are not just your basic French-Spanish-Chinese curriculum; you can also take Esperanto, Urdu, Latvian, Georgian, and Slovak, as well as the more standard languages.

3:20 p.m. We’re out! Some Sparklers go back up to their rooms, which they share with three other students. Others go to an after-school club, of which there are many. Community service clubs are particularly active at the Academy, and all clubs are supported by the school. There is a main lounging room, which everyone calls the open thread. We all hang out in there when we finish our homework, and as long as you play one sport per year, you are exempt from gym classes.

Well, there you are! A day at the Sparklife Academy. In summary, our day is 60% learning, 15% socializing, 25% laughter (actually, since laughing makes your life longer, people who attend the SparkLife Academy live longer than the ones who don’t), and 100% fun.

Would you tweak SparkLife Academy in any way?

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