
SPARK!

At Mesa we consider SPARK! to be an extension of the day that not only provides care and supervision but also offers extracurricular options for TK-8 students. Our TK-3 grade levels participate in weekly themes with related activities that range from arts and crafts, outside exploration to team-building projects. Our upper-grade levels are introduced to a recreational style of program that allows students to explore daily offerings and pick the activity of their choice. Our middle school program creates a safe space for students to remain on campus that need services and will have club options introduced throughout the school year such as cooking, STEM, and athletics.


Hello! My name is Ms. Melissa, and I am the ELO-P Site Supervisor for High Tech Mesa. I have been proudly part of the SPARK! team for the past three years, bringing my passion for creating a safe and engaging environment for students. However, my journey with High Tech goes even further back—I’ve been working the Afterschool Program with High Tech for eight years. I look forward to continuing to support our students and families while fostering a positive and enriching experience for everyone involved!
November Newsletter – SPARK Adventures
Hello SPARK Families,
Happy New Year! We are excited to welcome students back to the SPARK Afterschool Program this January. SPARK provides a safe, supportive, and engaging environment where students can unwind after the school day, build friendships, and explore new interests. As we begin the new year, we look forward to a month filled with creativity, movement, and fun learning opportunities.
JANUARY CLUBS & PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
Here's what students will be enjoying during SPARK this month:
spanish club:
• M/Th/F: 3:30 - 4:30
• Wednesday: 1:00 - 2:00
Students will continue learning basic Spanish vocabulary and simple conversational phrases through interactive games, songs, and group activities. This club encourages confidence, cultural awareness, and excitement for language learning.
ART club:
• Tuesday: 3:15 - 4:15 (3rd)
• Thursday: 1:00 - 2:00 (4/5)
In Art Club, students explore their creativity through hands-on projects such as drawing, painting, mixed media, and seasonal crafts. Activities focus on self-expression, creativity, and fine motor skill development.
Kidokinetics:
• Tuesday: 3:00 - 4:30 (K/1)
• Wednesday: 3:00 - 4:30 (2/4)
Kidokinetics provides fun, non-competitive physical activities designed to build coordination, balance, teamwork, and confidence. Students stay active through structured games and movement-based challenges that promote healthy habits.
Performance Troupe:
• T/Th: 3:00 - 4:00 (5th Grade)
Performance Troupe allows students to explore acting, movement, and performance skills. Participants collaborate on skits, routines, and creative performances while building confidence, teamwork, and stage presence.
Important January dates
-
January 19, Monday: Martin Luther King Jr. Day (No School)
-
January 23: HTeM Family Movie Night 5:30 - 8:00
-
January 13 - 16: HTMM POLs (Half Days) | Middle School Dismissal @ 12:45
Please be sure to review the school calendar and plan accordingly.
FRiendly Reminders
-
Pickup Time: Students must be picked up by 6:00 pm
-
Sign-Out: All students must be signed out by an authorized adult
-
Payments: January program fees are due on the 1st / 15th / end of the month
-
Program Cancellations: Please notify Ms. Melissa of program cancellations (htemafterschool@hightechhigh.org)
As always, thank you for your continued support and for being a part of our SPARK family!
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
- Ms. Melissa and the SPARK Team
Payment
Notifications
-
Invoices are sent out monthly at the end of the month
-
Families who do not have a card on file must pay the invoice manually
-
If a card on file fails families will be sent an invoice that must be paid manually
-
Contact Ms. Melissa if your card needs to be updated
Week | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
January 26 - January 30 | Golden Egg | Slime | Bouncy Balls | Rocketships | Build an Astronaut |
January 19 - January 23 | NO SCHOOL | Lemon Volcanoes | Skittles Rainbows | Rainbow Paintings | Leapfrog |
January 12 - January 16 | Rock Painting | Bird Seed Ornaments | Kites | Bird Feeder Houses | Mosaics |
January 5 - January 9 | NO SCHOOL | Build-a-Dragon | Salt Dough Snakes | Sharks and Minnows | Wilderness Explores |
Daily Schedule *
2:45 - 3:15
3:15 - 3:30
3:30 - 4:15
4:15 - 5:00
5:00 - 6:00
Recess
Snack
KBAR: Kick Back and Read
Activity
SPARK-E
* (Excluding Half-Days)
Half-Day Schedule
1:00 - 1:40
1:40 - 2:00
2:00 - 2:45
2:45 - 3:30
3:30 - 4:00
4:00 - 5:00
5:00 - 6:00
Recess
Snack
Showtime
Stations
Recess
Activity
SPARK-E
Weekly Theme | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
January 5 - January 9 | NO SCHOOL | Paper Stained Glass Windows | Crayon Scratch Drawings | Salt Watercolor | Flextangles |
Animal Week: January 12 - January 16 | Tissue Paper Snails | Perler Bead / Chenille STEM Snake | Octopus Foldable | Butterfly Mobile | Caterpillar on a Leaf |
Paper Plates Week: January 19 - January 23 | NO SCHOOL | Paper Plate Fans | Paper Plate Moon & Star | Paper Plate Mushrooms | Alien Spaceship Handprints |
Movie Week: January 26 - January 30 | Handprint Heroes | Popsicle Stick Cars Craft | Paper Plate Characters | Superhero Masks | Movie Bingo |
Daily Schedule *
2:45 - 3:15
3:15 - 3:30
3:30 - 4:15
4:15 - 5:00
5:00 - 6:00
Recess
Snack
KBAR: Kick Back and Read
Activity
SPARK-E
* (Excluding Half-Days)
Half-Day Schedule
1:00 - 1:40
1:40 - 2:00
2:00 - 2:45
2:45 - 3:30
3:30 - 4:00
4:00 - 5:00
5:00 - 6:00
Recess
Snack
SPARK Choice
Recess
Activity
Showtime
SPARK-E
Week | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
January 5 - January 9 | NO SCHOOL | DIY Stickers | Say The Word On Beat Challenge | Stranger Things Bingo | Chinese New Year Lanterns |
January 12 - January 16 | Salt Paintings | Part One: DIY Miffies / Plushies | DIY Helicopter | Part Two: DIY Miffies / Plushies | Part Three: DIY Miffies / Plushies |
January 19 - January 23 | NO SCHOOL | Shell Mirror | Paper Plate Jellyfish & Crabs | Shell Necklaces | Paper Boat Races |
January 26 - January 30 | Karaoke | Tyler, The Creator Craft | Guess the Song | Katseye Craft | Jeopardy |
Daily Schedule *
2:45 - 3:30
3:30 - 3:45
3:45 - 4:00
4:15 - 5:00
5:00 - 6:00
KBAR: Kick Back and Read
Snack
Recess
Activity
SPARK-E
* (Excluding Half-Days)
Half-Day Schedule
1:00 - 2:00
2:00 - 2:45
2:45 - 3:00
3:00 - 3:30
3:30 - 4:00
4:00 - 5:00
5:00 - 6:00
Indoor Recess
SPARK Choice
Recess
Recess
Activity
Showtime
SPARK-E
Weekly Theme | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bug Week: January 5 - January 9 | NO SCHOOL | Paper Plate Ladybugs | Bug Headbands | Dragonfly Craft | Wormies on a Stick |
Color (Theory) Week: January 12 - January 16 | Color Weel KBar Rainbow Craft | Crayon Box Craft | Cool Colors Paintings | Chameleons | Warm Colors Paintings |
Ocean Week: January 19 - January 23 | NO SCHOOL | Sponge-Paint Coral | Jellyfish Plates | Sharks & Minnows | Button Fishies |
Fantasy Week: January 26 - January 30 | Castle Buildings | Paper Loop Dragons | Magic Wands | Dragon Eggs | Fairy Houses |
Daily Schedule *
2:45 - 3:15
3:15 - 3:30
3:30 - 4:15
5:00 - 6:00
Recess
Snack
KBAR: Kick Back and Read
Activity
SPARK-E
* (Excluding Half-Days)
4:15 - 5:00
Half-Day Schedule
1:00 - 1:40
1:40 - 2:00
2:00 - 2:45
2:45 - 3:30
3:30 - 4:00
4:00 - 5:00
5:00 - 6:00
Recess
Snack
SPARK Choice
Recess
Activity
Showtime
SPARK-E
Weekly Theme | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rainbow Week: January 5 - January 9 | NO SCHOOL | Rainbow Twirlers | Rubberband Bracelets | Chalk Art | Rainbow Cloud Streamers |
Monster Week: January 12 - January 16 | Play-Doh Monsters | Monster Puppets | Build-Your-Own Monster | Paper Plate Monsters | Mini Monsters |
Plant Week: January 19 - January 23 | NO SCHOOL | Paper Flower Wreaths | Paper Flower Crowns | Handprint Flowers | Beaded Pipe Cleaner Flowers |
Arctic Week: January 26 - January 30 | Paper Igloos | Fork Polar Bears | Watercolor Penguins | Handprint Poplar Bears | Build-A-Yeti |
4:00 - 5:00
KBAR: Kick Back and Read
Daily Schedule *
2:45 - 3:15
3:15 - 3:30
3:30 - 3:45
3:45 - 4:00
5:00 - 6:00
KBAR: Kick Back and Read
Snack
Recess
Activity
SPARK-E
* (Excluding Half-Days)
Half-Day Schedule
1:00 - 1:40
1:40 - 2:00
2:00 - 2:45
2:45 - 3:30
3:30 - 4:00
4:00 - 5:00
5:00 - 6:00
Recess
Snack
SPARK Choice
Recess
Activity
Showtime
SPARK-E
Weekly Theme | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
January 5 - January 9 | NO SCHOOL | Coffee Filter Snowflakes | Winter Hats | Build-a-Snow Globe | Reindeer / Elf Crowns |
January 12 - January 16 | Leaf Paintings | Foil Moon Stamp Paintings | Alien Spaceships | Paper Rockets | Tea Light Lanterns |
January 19 - January 23 | NO SCHOOL | Build-a-Shark | Paper Plate Fish Bowls | Ocean Crowns & Shell Necklaces | Jellyfish Suncatchers |
January 26 - January 30 | Flapping Butterflies | Build-a-Turtle | Farm Animal Crowns | Build-a-Chicken | Rat Silhouettes |
Daily Schedule *
2:45 - 3:15
3:15 - 3:30
3:30 - 4:15
4:15 - 5:00
5:00 - 6:00
Recess
Snack
KBAR: Kick Back and Read
Activity
SPARK-E
* (Excluding Half-Days)
Half-Day Schedule
1:00 - 1:40
1:40 - 2:00
2:00 - 2:45
2:45 - 3:30
3:30 - 4:00
4:00 - 5:00
5:00 - 6:00
Recess
Snack
Showtime
Stations
Recess
Activity
SPARK-E
Week | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
January 26 - January 30 | New Year's Printable Hats | Pipe Cleaner Superheroes | Sock Puppets | Borax Crystals | Plastic Cup Snowglobes |
January 19 - January 23 | NO SCHOOL | Martin Luther King Jr Activity | New Year's Eve Time Capsules | New Year's Eve Wishing Wands | Build-You-Own Cotton Penguins |
January 12 - January 16 | Paper Plate Snowglobes | Favorite Animal Art | Little Yarn Beanies | Handprint Birds | Tissue Paper Mosaics |
January 5 - January 9 | NO SCHOOL | New Year's Resolutions | New Year's Goals Worksheet | Printable Winter Hats | Forest Watercolor |
Daily Schedule *
2:45 - 3:30
3:30 - 3:45
3:45 - 4:00
4:15 - 5:00
5:00 - 6:00
KBAR: Kick Back and Read
Snack
Recess
Activity
SPARK-E
* (Excluding Half-Days)
Half-Day Schedule
1:00 - 2:00
2:00 - 2:45
2:45 - 3:00
3:00 - 3:30
3:30 - 4:00
4:00 - 5:00
5:00 - 6:00
Indoor Recess
SPARK Choice
Recess
Recess
Activity
Showtime
SPARK-E
Week | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
January 5 - January 9 | NO SCHOOL | Wiffle Ball | Wii-U: Mario Kart | Card Games | Loom Bracelets |
January 12 - January 16 | Chess | Bracelet Making | Mario Kart | Wiffle Ball | Soccer |
January 19 - January 23 | NO SCHOOL | Air Dry Clay | Mario Kart | Free Draw | Wiffle Ball |
January 26 - January 30 | Painting | Wiffle Ball | Mario Kart | Card Games | Bracelet Making |