What does it mean to live a creative life, and how do we help students imagine one?
At Grayslake North High School, Spark Week is the answer.
Led by Fine Arts Teacher Randy Sweitzer, Spark Week is a four-day schoolwide celebration of creativity across all disciplines. Taking place March 30 – April 2, 2026, the event is now in its next chapter of growth, and Grayslake District 127 is looking for community members to help spark inspiration as Igniters.
“It’s not a job fair. We say that all the time,” says Sweitzer. “Spark Week is about showing students what’s possible, how creativity is everywhere, even in places they wouldn’t expect.”
It’s also about embodying what it means to be a learner at D127, curious enough to ask bold questions, collaborative enough to explore new perspectives, and unfinished in the best way: open to discovery and growth.
Past Igniters have included barbers, biomedical illustrators, chefs, tattoo artists, product designers, and even balloon artists. Students engage in workshops, conversations, and hands-on sessions that highlight how imagination fuels everything from science to business to the arts.
One standout example? A former student who left engineering to pursue product design returned to share her journey, and suddenly, Spark Week clicked for students considering similar paths. “They saw themselves in her,” Sweitzer says. “That one story changed how they saw their future.”
Spark Week will be more targeted than ever before, with workshops that connect directly to student interests and career aspirations, creating a deeper, more meaningful impact. The planning team includes representatives from the English, Career & Technical Education (CTE), and Fine Arts departments, a student intern, and staff from Grayslake North, the District Pathways team, and ESP staff, bringing a wide range of perspectives to this engaging week of exploration.
And to make it happen, Spark Week needs more Igniters.
“We’re especially looking for collaborators outside the traditional creative fields,” says Sweitzer. “If creativity plays a role in your career, or even just in your life, we want students to hear from you.”
Whether you're in architecture, healthcare, culinary arts, science, trades, or technology, if you can speak passionately about your creative process, your story could spark a student’s next step.
Get Involved
Spark Week 2026 Dates: March 30 – April 2
Location: Grayslake North High School
Igniter Deadline: Interested individuals are encouraged to reach out by December 1
To express interest or recommend a speaker, email Randy Sweitzer at rsweitzer@d127.org