Tommy Hawk teaches lesson on teamwork at Hammond Gavit

HAMMOND | Tommy Hawk, the official mascot of the Chicago Blackhawks, had Hammond Gavit sixth-graders chuckling throughout the morning while he taught a lesson on teamwork.

The feathery fowl appeared at the school Monday, shooting confetti into crowds of sixth-grade students, shaking hands and walking along chairs in the auditorium. Tommy Hawk shared the stage with mistress of ceremonies Sarah Hintze.

Using a variety of games, Tommy Hawk had students howling with laughter and chanting his name as they cheered for his team to win over Hintze's team. Throughout the presentation, Hintze told about the importance of working as a team to be successful.

The visit was organized by sixth-grade teacher Rachel Sokolowski, who attended a fan convention in July. About 300 students and 11 sixth-grade teachers attended the event Monday. Students showed their Blackhawks allegiance by naming their favorite players.

LaVita Douglas, 11, said the presentation taught her you can't do everything by yourself, and sometimes it is "important to work together as a team."

Paul Seitz, 12, said students can work well together. He said it's something he "practices at home when doing his chores."