Operations Snowflake and Snowflurry was held on March 14. when fifth to eighth graders in district 233 come to H-F. Operation Snowflake is for middle schoolers where the event is held from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m, and Operation Snowflurry is for elementary students from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Both are held in the south building.
Over 80 H-F students are participating this year as small group leaders, greeters, support staff and directors. There are 100 children coming from Districts 153 and 161, while 200 students from James Hart, Parker Jr High and Brookwood are attending this event.
The elementary and middle school students are in the lunch room for a large group meeting where they explain what will be happening during the day and break up into small groups, this continues for the whole day where they will go back and forth.
The theme this year, according to Lorrie Maul, the director for all the Snow programs, is from the song “Best Day of My Life” by the American Authors, specifically the lyric “Never Look Back, Never Give Up.”
Maul stated that this program is to help students express the belief that they can love one’s self. Every person in this world can make decisions for his or her life. This program focuses on social development and educational growth.
The programs help students get out of their comfort zones to make new friends, feel free again and know if anything is happening in their life. They have people there that they know they can reach out to.
“We want students to believe they can do anything. They can jump so high and touch the clouds by never looking back and never giving up on their dreams. We want them to start dreaming big when they are young, setting lofty goals and making healthy choices along the way,” Maul said.
Another sponsor for the event who is strongly passionate about this event, Elizabeth Hackett, a counselor at James Hart, has been involved with the program for about 30 years.
“I have been involved with Snowflake since 1996, when I was a 7th grade student at James Hart! I have been involved as an adult since I have worked at James Hart School. My current role is Small Group Director, and I work with teens and adults pairs to lead the small groups at the events,” she said.
There were two guest speakers who came to H-F to share their experiences to the students, Harvie Harrigton, a former football player who now travels the country to be a motivational speaker and Snowflake sponsor Tina Kenebrew. She was on stage sharing her personal story to inspire the young students.
During the program, skits are held for about 10 to 20 minutes. The teacher that is responsible for these events to take place is Paul Fasse, a Math teacher.
“For Snowflurry, I am the support staff director, so I am in charge of developing skits with my support staffers for the opening skits for the fifth and sixth graders, as well as some other things. I do not work with snowflakes [even] though they are on the same day,” he continued to mention that he has been in this event for 23 years.
The Snow Programs teach students that it is okay to be different, and you don’t have to be all the same. Going back to the song, “Best Day of My Life” students are encouraged to treat every day like it is the best day of their life.
