Students make paper snowflakes for CT school students

BROKEN ARROW, Okla. - People across the country are showing their support for the survivors of the Connecticut school shooting by making paper snowflakes.

The idea from the Connecticut PTSA is to create a winter wonderland for Sandy Hook Elementary students when they go back to school in a new building in January.

Broken Arrow students are helping out with the project and learning to share kindness at the same time.

At Indian Springs Elementary School Kayte Weinacht's kindergarten and first grade students were hard at work this week.

"You know nothing's going to take away the pain, and the heartache that they're experiencing right now. But I hope that they will see that, and know, that we're not right there with them physically, but they are in our hearts, and we care about them," Weinacht said.

Hailey Willmon and her classmates are sending their kind thoughts back East.

"It will make it look pretty and it will help people feel more happy and safe," Willmon said.

"Because sometimes it's a little scary in the middle of the year to go to a new school," said Eli Miller.

A week later the school shooting still hits home for Weinacht.

"As soon as I got into the car that day, I just broke. I mean I'm a mother and I'm a teacher, and we love our students. They're like our own kids. And just thinking of what those parents were going through, it's just unreal," she said.

Weinacht didn't explain all of the details of what happened in Connecticut to students. She left that up to parents.

But she was willing to answer questions if they came up.

"I said, 'Guys I care about you, we will take care of you. But you're safe. You're safe here, we're okay.' So that's heartbreaking to even have to explain," Weinacht said.

So she got involved with the snowflake project, using it as a lesson in kindness.

"I want them to reach out and show a united front. That we're a country and we care about each other," she said.

Some schools at Jenks and Union are also participating in the "Snowflakes for Sandy Hook" project.

If you'd like to send paper snowflakes to students at Sandy Hook Elementary School, send them to:
The Connecticut PTSA, 60 Connolly Parkway, Building 12, Suite 103, Hamden, CT 06514.