A sticky, sugary, sweet session

Carleen Wild
Posted 12/18/24

A sugary-sweet tradition at Flandreau Public Schools has once again brought parents, siblings, relatives or friends together with a special child for an afternoon of creativity and connection. Each …

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A sticky, sugary, sweet session

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A sugary-sweet tradition at Flandreau Public Schools has once again brought parents, siblings, relatives or friends together with a special child for an afternoon of creativity and connection.
Each year, elementary students invite someone special to join them in decorating donated gingerbread (or graham cracker) houses, transforming the treats into miniature works of art.
Armed with a colorful array of candies and frosting, students let their imaginations run wild, crafting everything from fences and light posts to intricate gates and holiday trees.

“There’s a bell, a lasso, a fence, whatever that is…and those are Christmas trees,” said Antoni Martin II, a 2nd grader at the school, proudly pointing to his creations.
Antoni’s father joined him for the event, sharing that it was a lot of fun but also bittersweet, as Antoni is the youngest of his three children and the last he’ll share this tradition with.
The festive tradition highlights the vital role our schools play — not just in academic learning, but in building connections that strengthen families and communities.
“It’s fun,” Antoni added with a grin. “Because it just is…you get to make stuff, and then you get to eat it.”