John Whitney’s house is full of love – proven by the candy-cane heart shaped entrance into his gingerbread home. Photo by Seti Long

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - The doors of the cafeteria stayed open late the evening of Thursday, December 14th, as McKinley School families and children snuck inside for a fun holiday treat.

Two teachers, Mrs. Bozzo and Mrs. Francis invited both their morning and afternoon kindergarten classes and their families to a special gingerbread making night.

The teachers prepped frosting and pre-made bags of goodies to be used as decorations for the empty milk cartons that would function as the gingerbread house’s frames. Graham crackers would be used as siding for the ginger-retreats that students from room 5 and room 2 would build.

Teachers, students, and families from McKinley Primary School's Room 5 and Room 2 celebrate the season with a gingerbread making night. Photo by Seti Long

Families trickled in between 5:00-7:00 pm, picked up starter kits at the door, and made their way to festively decorated tables, complete with hand sanitizing stations.

The evidence of the fun was everywhere – literally. While some children managed to stay somewhat clean, others, and even their parents, ended up getting white frosting all over the place.

Mrs. Francis, who formerly taught for the Biggs School District, says that gingerbread making had been part of Biggs school holiday celebrations for years and she thought it would be a great activity for those at McKinley. Therefore, she posed the idea to fellow K-teacher Mrs. Bozzo and the two went for it with the school’s approval.

Since this was the first time holding the event, Mrs. Bozzo said that they “really wanted to see how the turn out would be” not knowing how well it would be received. Gesturing to the cafeteria filled with laughing, sugar coated children decorating graham cracker ginger-bread houses with their families, she says “This is great!”

John Whitney, from room 5, said that his favorite part of making his gingerbread house was the door. Using two candy-canes, the young man made a heart shaped entrance. When asked if it was because his house was “full of love”, his smile stretched from ear-to-ear, and he replied “yes!”

At the end of the very successful evening, families carried their sweet masterpieces to their vehicles.

Of the inaugural McKinley Gingerbread Night, Mrs. Francis said, “I just wanted to bring some positivity and something different to the school - bring the community together and the families together.” She continues, “I love it! It makes me happy to see the kids happy and their families here.”

The educators shared that they hoped more classrooms would join in the event in future years, making this the beginning of a long-standing gingerbread celebration.