• Home
  • Maple School
  • News
  • Snowflake Program Provides Students with Drug and Alcohol Awareness and Healthy Decision-Making Tips

Snowflake Program Provides Students with Drug and Alcohol Awareness and Healthy Decision-Making Tips

Snowflake Program Provides Students with Drug and Alcohol Awareness and Healthy Decision-Making Tips

Photos from Snowflake program are on Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/ngsd30?fref=ts

Snowflake Program Provides Students with Drug and Alcohol Awareness and Healthy Decision-Making Tips

On December 3, Maple School eighth-graders participated in the annual Snowflake program, which focused on the power of making healthy choices as it relates to drug and alcohol use.

"We were so excited to collaborate with the Northbrook-Glenview community and bring this valuable experience back to Maple students, after having to take a hiatus last year during the pandemic!" said Principal Sam Kurtz.

This year's program was thoughtfully and carefully designed by seventh-grade English Language Arts teacher Nicky Stannard and School Psychologist Caitlyn MacKnight.

Mr. Kurtz remarked that organizing this program so that students were properly and safely distanced was no small feat, and he was proud of the care that these staff members put into this effort.

Students met in small groups with teachers and high school facilitators in classrooms between listening to speakers throughout the day. They discussed the content that was presented to them and took part in team-building activities.

The Imagination Theater troupe was the first to present their skits to the students. Their program is "Making Healthy Choices" and promotes safe and informed judgments.

Students are taught how to practice using effective communication and positive peer pressure while learning about their health and wellness. Students were told how to make smarter decisions about their bodies even when their peers may not be doing the same. The focus was on managing bullying online and offline, and the dangers of vaping and alcohol.

Following Imagination Theater and small group discussions, three representatives from Providence Farm talked frankly to the kids about their drug and alcohol addiction, and how they are now in recovery. Providence Farm is a local extended care community-based and community-supported sober home for 18-30-year-old men who have completed treatment for substance use disorders.

They credited their families and the community for supporting them. They said that they learned a lot about the importance of reaching out for help when it is needed, the human connection in regards to self-growth, coping mechanisms, and how to continuously work on their mental health while staying sober.

In the afternoon, a motivational speaker on substance abuse, Tony Hoffman spoke to the audience. His story involves his successful journey through sports stardom, mental health struggles, substance use disorder, homelessness, and his quest to coach in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

Afterward, students participated in a "Snow Jam," and heard closing messages from staff and administrators.

Snowflake PTO Chairs, staff members, and high school facilitators were also thanked for their support of this vital program. PTO Chairs include Michelle King, Grace Zuercher, Shae Kelsen, Jana McWilliams, and Lauren Bauer.