Every year, HHS keeps the Valentine’s spirit alive with Heart-o-Grams, a beloved tradition organized by the choir council. Filled with fun music, festive costumes, and heartfelt performances, this event spreads joy throughout the school.

“I’m excited for Heart-o-Grams! It’ll be fun to be out of school, spending time with people in the choir community because we’re all really close through music. It’ll be great to dress up and bring some fun and laughter to classes,” said Sophia Peterson, Choir Co-President and senior.

The enthusiasm extends beyond just the students.

“I am so excited! I can’t wait—it will be so much fun,” said Choir Director Melissa Hanson.

While there’s no specific dress code, creativity and a Valentine’s theme are encouraged.

“My group is doing a cowboy-cowgirl theme, so I’ll wear a pink cowgirl hat and red, pink, and silver beads,” Peterson shared.

“I’ve done Heart-o-Grams all three years I’ve been at this school, and I have this super fun red sweater that I always wear. I’ll pair it with silver and pink beads and heart glasses,” said Norah Sebesta, Choir Co-President and senior.

“I’ll be wearing a pink and red heart sweater,” added Hanson.

Heart-o-Grams is a school-wide event where choir members deliver singing telegrams to students during first, third, and fourth blocks. The event serves as a fundraiser for the choir department, with students purchasing ‘love letters’ to send to friends and loved ones.

“We have to find out which students are interested in participating, so I put out a form for them to fill out. This year, we have about 50 students involved,” Hanson explained.

“We do Royals Connect rehearsals because there’s no time before or after school for our choir teacher. We’ve been practicing on Wednesdays for about the past month,” said Peterson.

“We rehearse in groups, often a cappella. We use sheet music at first, but our goal is to memorize the songs and stay in key,” said senior Ahnya Gorder.

Each Heart-o-Gram costs $5 and includes a song performed by choir students, a flower, and an assortment of candy. They are available for purchase during lunch periods starting a week before the event. This year, Heart-o-Grams will take place on Thursday, February 13.

However, organizing such a large event presents its own challenges.

“Selecting music is challenging, as is making sure students have enough time to prepare, add harmonies, and make the performance special,” said Hanson.

“Making sure everyone is organized is tough. We have between 40 and 50 students from different grades and skill levels, so keeping everyone on the same page is important,” said Sebesta.

“The hardest part is blending voices. There are so many different vocal types, so teamwork and cohesion are key,” added Peterson.

Many students cherish their time in the choir, calling it one of the most inclusive extracurricular activities at HHS.

“I feel very included. I’m involved in several choir-related extracurriculars, and it’s such a welcoming community,” said Gorder.

“As choir president, I absolutely feel included, and I hope everyone else does too,” said Sebesta.

“A lot of that inclusivity comes from Ms. Hanson. She creates a super welcoming atmosphere for everyone,” Peterson added.

“It’s a really wonderful community that embraces all students, so join choir!” Hanson encouraged.