When students from Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut return to class, hallways and classrooms in their new school environment could feature thousands of snowflakes created by students and parents nationwide, including those from Bayport and Blue Point.
The Sylvan Avenue Elementary and Blue Point Elementary Parent Teacher Associations are involved in a nationwide effort initiated by the National PTA and the Connecticut State PTSA.
The goal is to create snowflake decorations so that Sandy Hook students feel a warm welcome when they head back to class in the wake of the horrific tragedy that took the lives of 20 fellow students and six staff members.
“I found out about it from several places, including the NY State PTA Facebook page and it seems to be taking on a life of its own now,” Kim Hickey, Sylvan PTA president, told Patch in an email.
In a note released this week about the project, the Connecticut PTA group explained the goal is to “ensure that the students are welcomed back by a winter wonderland with the entire school decorated with as many unique snowflakes as possible. We encourage senders to be as creative as possible, remembering that no two snowflakes are alike.”
Any snowflake creations can be sent to the CT PTSA by January 12 at this address:
Connecticut PTSA
60 Connolly Parkway
Building 12, Suite 103
Hamden, CT 06514
Locally, parents and those interested in making snowflakes can drop them off to the respective PTA mailboxes at the schools. Snowflakes are due at Sylvan Avenue Elementary by Friday, Dec. 21. Blue Point Avenue's deadline is Jan. 8.
Michelle Clune, secretary of the Blue Point Elementary PTA, said her school group has reached out to members to let them know about the effort, and one local mom, who is a ninth grade teacher at the Brentwood Freshman Center, is reaching out to 1,200 students at that school to do the same.
“Let's show Newtown that BBP's hearts are with them,” Clune wrote in a note to members.
Snowflake makers may e-mail Clune at theclunes@optonline.net for more information. The response in just a few days has been amazing, Clune told Patch.
“We may actually have to drive them up as it’s likely going to be too much to send in the mail,” she said, adding she expects a total of 500 flakes to be made.
Local Girl Scout troops are also participating in a similar support effort, as six Sandy Hook victims were members of Daisy troops in their hometown. The scouts are making projects made on Trefoils in honor of the scouting connection.
Girl Scout Service Unit Coordinator Laura Rock-Smith explained in a note sent out about the that it’s about helping the Sandy Hook community begin to heal.
"I know we have all read and heard about what happened and I know all of us hugged our own children a little tighter when they got off their buses and got home from school on Friday. There are no real words to express the depths of our despair and frustration over such a senseless act.
”But we can help in the healing...To that end Girl Scounts of Connecticut is asking Girl Scouts everywhere to write down their thoughts, or prayers, or to create art in the shape of the Girl Scout trefoil and send them to out the Hartford Service Center, c/o Trefoil Project, 340 Washington St., Hartford CT, 06106. In mid-January they will be presented to the Newtown Service Unit during a memorial service. I hope some of our troops will be able to do this, I know we shall be asking our troop to do so,” she wrote in the note.
Those wanting more information about the local GS effort can reach Rock-Smith via email at crocuscottage@gmail.com. More information and services can be found on the GS of Connecticut website.
