Special Areas

The Physical Education Program

All students at Sparks Elementary will be provided with and expected to participate in physical education classes.  It is important that students be prepared for activities with appropriate attire.  Active wear that allows ease of movement and tennis shoes are required for class (no slip-on shoes).  County policy prohibits unprepared students from participation for safety purposes. Students who are not prepared for class will not participate in the activities and will receive a written worksheet to complete for their daily grade. Parents will be notified of P.E. days so that you may help your child to be prepared for class.    Thank you for your cooperation.

The Vocal Music Program

The vocal music program provides students with the opportunity to enjoy and appreciate a wide variety of musical experiences on a regularly scheduled basis.

In the primary grades students learn about the basics of music and movement with an emphasis placed on developing their singing voice and developing beat competency.  In 3rd grade, the program expands to develop in our students a more in depth understanding, and using the recorder, note reading.  In 4th grade, folk music and dance becomes the primary vehicle for instruction as students prepare for their first public concert.  In addition to continuing their learning of music, 5th grade students perform twice a year as members of the chorus.  In addition to these opportunities, students in the upper grades also have the option of joining the handbell chorus as an after school activity

Instrumental Music Program

Instrumental music begins in fourth grade with the Exploratory Music Program. Each fourth grade class participates in Exploratory Music once a week throughout the entire year in order to learn the basics of playing the violin, clarinet, and trumpet. During the twelve weeks on each instrument, the students will explore the other members of the instrument family.

With this experience and knowledge, students (if they desire) select an instrument of their choice to play in fifth grade. Those students will meet with the Instrumental Music Teacher twice a week for lessons. An evening concert in winter and spring will showcase the accomplishments of the students taking instrumental music.

Art Program

All students at Sparks Elementary School will have one 50-minute class of art instruction each week throughout the school year. The program at Sparks is based on the Baltimore County Visual Arts Program which is aligned with the National Core Arts Standards. Its mission is to educate all students in creative thinking and production, and the artistic process while developing their understanding and appreciation of the artistic achievements of people from different times, places, and cultures. Students, while immersed in the artistic process, develop skills in creative problem solving, critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and visual literacy. These 21st Century Skills prepare students to be globally competitive citizens. Technology is infused in lessons, which are rigorous, relevant, and responsive to the individual needs of all students. Students need to be prepared for class with an art smock. Art work is on display year-round and can be seen on the walls throughout the school building. 


Library Program

Library Media Programs and Digital Resources  provides leadership for the school library media program and ensures that students and teachers have equitable access to an organized and centrally managed collection of library resources, instructional materials, and information and instructional technologies in order to improve instruction, accelerate student learning, and facilitate student critical thinking, problem-solving, and research.  

Key initiatives supported:

Provide quality and diverse library media center resource collections to ensure that all students have equitable access to books, media, virtual, and digital resources to support classroom instruction and research.

Use technology to effectively and efficiently manage school resources through the use of a centrally administered Destiny Catalog a Web-based union catalog and inventory system.

Provide 24-hour access to authoritative digital content, virtual resources, and online database resources for students, staff, and parents from school and home.

Expand educational outreach to students and their families in the safe and ethical use of information technologies.