SPARK: Life on Campus
SPARK - Science for Middle School Students
Supervision
SPARK students are supervised throughout the program by a team of carefully selected and trained Residential Advisors (RAs) who live in residence halls with SPARK students and chaperone students in class, and to and from classes and meals. An average student/RA ratio of 12:1 guarantees that students will receive the personal attention they need. A professional live-in staff member who oversees student supervision is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Housing
Students live in Brown’s residence halls within walking distance of classrooms and dining halls. Students are randomly assigned to single or double occupancy rooms on single-sex floors with single-sex shared bathrooms. We will attempt to honor roommate and single-room requests for SPARK students. Rooms provide typical college furniture, and do not have central air conditioning. Students must abide by a 10pm curfew - after 10:00pm, students must be in their own rooms for the remainder of the evening. Lights are out in rooms after 11:00pm.
Meals
SPARK students eat together in one of Brown’s dining halls, under the supervision of Residential Advisors.
A Typical Day at SPARK
Breakfast - 7:30am – 9:00am
Breakfast is served in one of Brown’s dining halls
Residential staff will escort students to the dining hall and to their class
Commuter Student Drop off - 8:30am
Classes in Session - 9:00am - 12:00 noon
Classes meet every morning for 3 hours. A residential staff member is assigned to escort students to and from class.
Lunch - 12 noon - 1:00pm
Lunch is served in one of Brown’s dining halls. Students are supervised by residential staff.
Afternoons - 1:30pm - 4pm
Classes are in session on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Some classes conduct field trips during this time - location varies by class. Instructors and Residential Advisors chaperone field trips. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons, students participate in science-related activities.
Commuter Student Pick up - 4:30pm
Dinner and Evening Activities
After dinner, students participate in popular supervised social events such as bowling, laser tag, movies, and a talent show.
Please note that SPARK classes that take place off-campus may have an earlier start time to allow transportation to off-site location.
Friday Afternoon Closing Event
On Fridays at the close of each session, parents and students are invited to join instructors and staff for a closing event highlighting the work of SPARK students. Light refreshments will be served.
Commuter Students
Parents should plan to drop off their student on campus at 8:30am and pick them up at 4:30pm. The drop off and pick up location will be confirmed when students and parents check in on Sunday. Commuter students are directly supervised by highly selected and trained Residential Advisors and will receive the personal attention they need when they are on campus. Please note that the commuter student meal plan includes lunch only. Please note the special pickup time on Friday following the closing event.