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Maple School's Snowflake Program Encourages Seventh-Graders to Make Healthy Choices

Maple School's Snowflake Program Encourages Seventh-Graders to Make Healthy Choices
 
Maple School's annual Snowflake program was held for seventh-grade students on December 6. They had the opportunity to spend the day with eighth-grade, high school, and adult mentors who addressed important issues related to substance abuse, with an emphasis on making positive choices and creating a healthy lifestyle. 
 
After the Maple School PTO served staff and students breakfast in the cafetorium, everyone broke into small advisory groups and participated in team building games and discussions.
 
 
This was followed by a performance by Imagination Theater, where there was a new skit on vaping. Imagination Theater specializes in programming that engages audience members to participate, and enables them to explore complex issues, like substance abuse, in safe environments.
 
New speakers this year included young adults from a nearby sober-living community called Providence Farm. Providence Farm is a unique recovery community environment, providing comprehensive age and gender appropriate support, in addition to a drug and alcohol-free residential environment.
 
In the late afternoon, special guest Tony Hoffman talked about how to make good choices in life.
 
He is a former BMX Elite Pro whose career took him to the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. However, before that he became addicted to drugs, then successfully battled his way to sobriety. A changed man, he now works to inspires people to live their lives with purpose.
 
He now dedicates his life to bringing addiction awareness around the country, describing how dangerous prescription pill and heroin abuse are, as well as advocating a shift in thinking towards current addiction-recovery processes. 
 
He reminded the Maple audience, "Today's habits can become your destiny. Thoughts become words. Words become actions. Actions become habits, which can lead to defining your character!" 
 
"Remember to treat people with compassion and empathy, because we don't know what another person is going through in their lives," he added.
 
Today, Tony is one of the most requested substance abuse speakers in the country, traveling 200 days a year to share his inspiring story with various audiences. 
 
Tony’s future goal is to open the Tony Hoffman Wellness Center where he hopes to redirect the lives of those struggling with addiction onto the path of sobriety and purpose.
 
Read more about this inspiring man at http://www.tonyhoffmanspeaking.com/bio
 
View More Photos of the Snowflake Program on District 30's Facebook Page.