This year was not at all what we thought it would be, but that’s just how the cookie crumbles. It all began with a thing called COVID-19, but our seniors decided that this could not keep them from enjoying their year. To lift some spirits during the 2020 holiday season, 2021 class president Maggie O’Neill and advisors Ms. Brianne Tartaglia and Mr. Stephen Fuguet started a Gingerbread House competition.

As 2020 wrapped up, the senior class wanted to celebrate some holiday cheer with the whole school by hosting a fun and creative holiday competition open to all grades. There was a $2 entry fee to participate, and the winner chosen on Dec. 21 and Dec. 22 will receive a $25 gift card as well as the title of the 2020 Gingerbread House Champion. The money from this event will help to pay for senior year activities. 

On Dec. 3, a flyer was sent out with all the basic information on the event. Once the participants signed up via Google Form, they were free to build their gingerbread houses however and with anything at all, the only term of the competition being that everything must be edible. All they had to do was construct a house and submit a picture of it by Dec. 18. The structures that they received from the 35 competitors were extravagant. They came in all varieties, from ones full of snow-like icing to others with small gumdrops lining the borders.

The building process was cutthroat but fun, to say the least. Senior Luke Davis said, “My process for decorating the gingerbread house was colorful and bright like a rainbow because it has been such a dark and stormy year. I would like to cheer people up and bring festive holiday vibes to people and show to everyone that positivity matters, even in a competitive environment.”

Just as Luke said, this competition was not only for creating houses, but to have some fun in such difficult times.

Another reason for hosting this event was so that 2020 could feel a bit more normal amid the virtual chaos. Maggie said, “We know everyone is bummed out about being virtual right now, and we thought it would be a fun competition to involve all the grades to celebrate the holidays. Even though it looks different, it will still be fun to continue this tradition.”

But wait – there’s myrrh. Gingerbread house building is not only a Hatters tradition, but also one that resonates within our students’ families. Sophomore Danielle Nugent, a participant in the event, said, “It is tradition to build a gingerbread house with my cousins, but since I can’t do that this year, this competition is a good way to be creative and have some holiday spirit.”

This competition not only gave students a good dose of competition, but also a way to look past all the

crummy events and towards the positives. Luke said, “The feelings towards the competition are going to be competitive but also grateful because although it’s going to be done differently and look different, it will still be fun to decorate and try the best I can to win. I can show effort, creativity and add some bright colors with some extra joy.”

The 2021 class board will narrow the submissions to the top 15, and then there will be an open vote for the teachers to determine the winner. The Gingerbread House Champion will be crowned on Dec. 21 and Dec. 22.

This was a sweet and corny event showcasing our school’s tree-mendous decoration skills that really spruced up the virtual setting. 

Vote for your favorite Gingerbread here: https://forms.gle/KBroaRPmf8W6a6H48