Pre-K students celebrate holidays with gingerbread

MASSENA — Gingerbread was the word at Jefferson Elementary School when prekindergarten pupils and their families gathered Thursday for a holiday reading of “Gingerbread Babies” and then made their own gingerbread houses.

“We’ve done this in the past, but we’ve done it during the school day,” teacher Abby Hubert said, suggesting an evening event worked better for parents who wouldn’t have to take time off from work to attend.

Mayor James F. Hidy was invited as the guest reader, gathering the young children up on the stage and sharing the tale of the gingerbread baby with them.

After the story was finished, the children returned to their families, where graham crackers, frosting and candies to use as ornaments were on the table, waiting for them.

But there was one element missing.

“Come and get your gingerbread baby,” Ms. Hubert told the students.

Using the white frosting as the sealant to hold the graham crackers together, the families went to work on the gingerbread houses.

Ms. Hubert also had a surprise for them as they worked together on the gingerbread houses.

“I made a little special something for you to watch,” she said, queuing up a video that contained holiday wishes from the pupils to their families.

Mr. Hidy said it was good to see the children and their parents gathered together for the holiday event.

“I commend you parents for being here with your kids. With the advent of electronics, these kids are growing up way too fast. It’s very important that you stay on top of these kids, where they are. They’re great little minds,” he said.