Ah, we wish you could smell this post! More than 80 beautifully decorated, handcrafted gingerbread houses are now on display in the library and throughout the halls of the Senior High, bringing festive cheer to delight students’ and staff’s eyes—as well as their noses. This beloved annual tradition, created in the Foods & Nutrition and Sports Nutrition classes, seems to grow more impressive every year, with this year’s creations showcasing inventive themes, meticulous detail and extraordinary student creativity.

Over the course of two weeks, students handcraft their houses using only edible ingredients, building everything from walls and roofs to colorful accents made of candy, icing or even windows poured from melted Jolly Ranchers or isomalt—a crystallized sweetener popular in professional baking. Teachers Mrs. Anne Thomas and Ms. Courtney Preston provide a template for the gingerbread house’s foundation as well as bags of icing, while students are able to bring in additional candy or choose from a large bin of donated treats.

“They don’t have to spend a ton of money to make something beautiful,” said Ms. Preston. “A house iced really well can be just as impressive as one covered in candy. What we’re grading is execution–walls, roofs, landscaping, decorative accents and overall neatness.” The project, which has existed for decades, predates both teachers, and remains one of the most anticipated assignments of the year. “Students who take our classes in the spring are genuinely disappointed they don’t get to do gingerbread,” laughed Mrs. Thomas. “They look forward to this.”

This year’s houses drew inspiration from students’ favorite things, such as shows like Gilmore Girls, Stranger Things and Peanuts, as well as local favorites eateries like Chick-fil-A and Starbucks. The Exeter Township Fire Department even has its own gingerbread firehouse, complete with a ladder truck. Some students also chose to decorate not just the exteriors of their houses, but also the interiors, including a greenhouse filled with flowers, greenery and a Christmas tree.

The teachers say that every year brings a mix of results—some students surprise themselves by creating breathtaking houses, while some discover along the way that their ambitions may have exceeded their construction skills. “Some kids are blown away by what they created,” Ms. Preston explained. “Others realize they overshot their grand plans and scale back. But that’s part of the learning—it’s just like cooking.”

Despite the occasional frustration from students who underestimate the patience and precision needed, both teachers say the magic of the project outweighs the challenges. “The kids who love it make us love teaching it,” said Mrs. Thomas. “And when the houses go on display, teachers and students are always amazed at what comes out of these classrooms.”

Once finished, the gingerbread houses become a schoolwide attraction. Teachers bring classes through the library to vote for their favorites, and participation is enthusiastic—hundreds of votes pour in each year. “Kids start asking to vote before the houses are even in the cases,” said Mrs. Thomas. “It’s something the whole building looks forward to.”

And while the project may be messy, time-consuming and occasionally chaotic, the results speak for themselves: Rows of charming gingerbread homes, each one a reflection of student imagination, perseverance and holiday spirit. “It’s two weeks of hard work,” Ms. Preston said with a smile. “But when you walk into the library and see all those houses together—it's worth every second.”