BROOKVILLE — The Brookville Local School District’s Whole Child event was held at the school.

Guest speaker Stacy Swasey, program manager of Cartwheel, a mental health organization located in Cambridge, Mass., that focuses on the well being of children, talked to the audience about being a “Spark Champion.”

“Kids shouldn’t just inspire to get out of bed and drag themselves to class. They should be able to experience joy. They deserve to envision and build a life they’re excited to live,” Swasey said.

“It is important how we all can participate in assisting children in building a life filled with excitement and joy,” Swasey continued.

Swasey said “sparks is a concept developed by the Search Institute (located in Minneapolis, Minn.) and a particular research project called the ‘Teen Voice 2010, Relationships that Matter to America’s Teens.’”

“Sparks are those activities that interest their talents that produce energy and joy and brings animation to life,” Swasey said.

“They are the kinds of things you can get lost in doing. They are the things that cause you to lose track of time and not get bored,” Swasey said.

“They are also the things that you get interested in and get engaged and excited about what is happening in your life,” Swasey continued.

Swasey noted sparks can be a variety of activities that include”

• arts

• sports

• technology

• creative writing and reading

• leadership and service to others

Swasey related that while she was a social worker at the Boston Arts Academy she witnessed the benefits students with a spark can experience.

“I used to work at an arts high school in Boston. It had four different art focuses It was dance, visual art, music and theater,” Swasey said.

“A number of students that I supported over my time there as a social worker would have myriad concerns they might face outside of high school,” Swasey noted.

“The second they walked into those doors, working on designing that set behind the scenes on that show that was coming up, or working on that ballet performance, you could just see the stress disconnect from them and the focus go into what they were doing. You could see the smiles across their faces and the joys they would experience and the sense of purpose they had in that moment indicated they were invested in that activity and felt good about themselves,” Swasey said.

Swasey said adults can play a major role in helping kids find and develop that spark.

“It all starts for so many people by simply asking what is your spark. What do you love. What makes you happy,” Swasey said.

Swasey said adults should spend time with the child when you ask them to identify their spark.

Swasey said adults should “be engaged and showing interest” in the child when talking about the child’s spark.

Swasey also said adults should provide opportunities for children to “connect with the spark” if they can do so.

Swasey noted there may be circumstances where a child still may have problems identifying a spark even after an adult has spent time talking to the child about it.

Swasey said if such a situation is present, the child may benefit from counseling.

Swasey noted children “are more likely to flourish when they are supported and encouraged by the people placed in their lives.”

“If there is just one person in a child’s life that is asking those questions and showing that level of investment and engagement, it can make all the difference,” Swasey said.

In addition to Swasey’s lecture, the event also included a resource fair in the high school gymnasium.

A kids’ fun fair where children from kindergarten to the sixth grade participated in various activities was held in the intermediate school gymnasium.

A raffle with a variety of prizes was held. Prizes included tickets to Kings Island, the Cincinnati Zoo, Dayton Dragons baseball games, gift certificates to various establishments and a smart television.

The event was sponsored by the Brookville Local Schools District, whose mission is “to challenge, prepare and support all students to realize their full potential.”

Reach Terry Baver at [email protected].