Local schools decorate snow globes for charity

When your school looks like a castle – complete with turrets, stone walls, the works – why wouldn’t you put it in a giant snow globe?

That’s exactly what 19 middle schoolers at Maryvale Preparatory School in Lutherville did. Students approached the project like budding engineers and architects. They divided the structure into components – walls, windows, rooflines – then used photos, blueprints and even AI tools to ensure scale and accuracy. The result is a detailed replica complete with turrets, students, a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Santa and his sleigh.

Their artwork is now on display at the Village of Cross Keys in Baltimore, along with 13 other snow globes crafted by Baltimore-area schools participating in Cross Keys’ Snow Globes for Good project.

Each school partnered with a local charity and decorated a large snow globe interpreting the “Shaking Up the Holidays” theme. The snow globes are on display through Dec. 31, and visitors can vote for their favorite. First place receives $5,000 for its charity; second place receives $2,500; third place receives $1,000. All other entries receive $500.

“We took pictures of the castle and decided to get the blueprints of the castle,” said Caroline Hudson, a sixth grader at Maryvale. “We traced the blueprints and used that as template to officially build it. From there, we started decorating.”

Palmer Phelps, a sixth grader at the all-girls school said the most challenging part was getting the textures of the roof and “creating the details on the small designs of the clay students and other figures.”

Despite challenges, the students agreed that working together was a blessing.

“My favorite part was the teamwork aspect,” said Megan Nadelene, an eighth grader. “I really enjoyed how we bounced ideas off each other and figured out how we wanted to represent our school in the snow globe.”

The students recognize the importance of supporting the Women’s Education Alliance, their designated charity, regardless of the contest’s outcome. The organization provides tuition support at Catholic schools in the region.

“It’s really fulfilling to know that even if we don’t get the most votes, the money goes to the charity we want, and we had fun doing it,” said Camille Cooper, an eighth grader.

Students from various grades at The School of the Cathedral in Homeland also have a snow globe on display. Thais Cassel, an art teacher at the school, said the snow globe was inspired by the Nativity scene, reimagined in a peaceful, snowy modern setting.

“[Our snow globe] beautifully ties into the theme ‘Shaking Up the Holidays’ by bringing a fresh, creative twist to a timeless story, and connects with Snow Globes for Good by sharing a message of compassion and joy that reaches beyond our classroom – spreading the true spirit of the season to others,” she said.

Cathedral will be donating to Love & Cornbread, a 501(c)(3) organization that works to find innovative solutions to hunger and waste in Baltimore City. Cassel said the school chose Love & Cornbread as its charity because of its commitment to increasing food equity in Baltimore City – and especially the organization’s belief that everyone deserves healthful, homemade food made with love.

Winners of Snow Globes for Good will be announced Jan. 9 at Cross Keys.

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