SPARK Garden Lights Event Showcases Student Talent and Service

Springdale Park Elementary School’s Garden Lights event. Photo credit: APS ©

Springdale Park Elementary School hosted its annual SPARK Garden Lights and Makers Market over the holidays, a two-day school event that combined student performances with a student-run marketplace and a community service effort. Students participated as vendors in the Makers Market, selling homemade goods, food, and artwork to families and community members.

Musical performances were a central part of the event, with concerts held on consecutive evenings. The SPARK Chorus performed the first night, followed by band and orchestra performances the next evening. Both concerts featured fourth- and fifth-grade students at different stages of musical development.

For fourth graders, the concert marked a milestone after being introduced to instruments in August. Fifth graders, who have played for more than a year, performed more advanced pieces.

Springdale Park Elementary School’s Garden Lights event. Photo credit: APS ©

Benjamin Shirley, band and orchestra director at Springdale Park Elementary School, said the music was selected to reflect the students’ progress and skill level.

“I wanted to show off what we’ve been working on,” Shirley said. “Pieces that are musically good but also show off what they’ve learned. Of course, I wanted to have a few pieces like ‘Simple Gifts’ because it has a famous melody and it’s a nice arrangement. They get to play different pitches and rhythms, and for the fifth graders, it gives them a bit of a challenge.”

The event also supported the school’s project-based learning focus on addressing food insecurity in Atlanta. In place of an admission fee, attendees were encouraged to donate to Intown Cares, and students created handmade gifts to thank donors for their contributions.

Enjoy the self-advancing slideshow below, featuring photos from the Springdale Park Elementary School’s Garden Lights event. Photo credit: APS ©