Parent volunteers from state and national Parent Teacher Associations are collecting donations -- and snowflakes -- to support students from Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown.
Representatives from both organizations met with PTA leaders of all of the schools in Newtown, including the Sandy Hook PTA, and community leaders who have requested help in supporting the families. They focused their efforts on the students' return to school, and fundraising.
When school resumes for students and teachers from Sandy Hook, it will be in a new building. Parent volunteers are working to ensure that the students are welcomed back by a "winter wonderland" with the entire school decorated with as many unique snowflakes as possible, said Betsy Landers, national PTA president, and Jim Accomando, Connecticut PTSA President.
"We encourage senders to be as creative as possible, remembering that no two snowflakes are alike," they said in a release.
Snowflakes can be sent through Jan. 12, 2013 to: Connecticut PTSA, 60 Connolly Parkway, Building 12, Suite 103, Hamden, CT 06514.
Schools in Fairfield are participating in the snowflake drive, too -- including Osborn Hill, Holland Hill, and Roger Ludlowe Middle School.
Holland Hill students and families can either mail their snowflakes to the Connecticut PTSA (address above) or drop them off in the "SH Snowflake" bin at Holland Hill School by Jan. 9. PTA members will mail the contents of the bin.
Osborn Hill School will be sending its own "OHS Blizzard" to decorate Chalk Hill School, and ask that students bring their snowflakes -- marked with first name, age, and grade -- to school by Jan. 9.
Additionally, the national and state organizations will indefinitely accept donations to the Connecticut PTSA “Sandy Hook Fund” to provide ongoing support to the community. Checks can be mailed to the same address. For student-run coin drives, donations must be submitted by February 14.
Landers and Accomando offered their condolences to the families and communities affected by the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School and said "together, let us pray that they will receive the comfort they so desperately need."
They also offered resources on how to approach the subject of school violence with children on their website: PTA.org/schoolviolence.
The national PTA, which has 5 million members, also plans to share position statements and resolutions related to school violence and child safety, the release stated.
