Thursday, October 1, 2026
Kindergartners at Mandalay Elementary School in Wantagh kicked off winter break on a sweet note, wrapping up December with the school’s annual gingerbread house celebration.
The long-standing holiday tradition, held this year on Dec. 22, brought together students, families and lots of candy. Each kindergartner invited one special guest — often a parent, grandparent or other close family member — to join them in building their own unique gingerbread creation.
Using small milk cartons as a base, students coated the outside in frosting before decorating with a colorful mix of treats. Tables were filled with pretzels, marshmallows, gumdrops and an array of other confections. The supplies were donated by parents from every kindergarten class, then sorted and distributed by teachers ahead of time.
While most of the sweets made it onto the gingerbread houses, some were sneaked as snacks in between decorating. The result? Dozens of colorful, candy-covered creations — each one a personal expression of the student and their guest.
After the last gumdrop was placed, the finished houses were carefully packed up and sent home for families to enjoy — or to admire before they disappear piece by piece.
The event remains a beloved way to close out the calendar year at Mandalay, celebrating creativity, togetherness and a bit of holiday cheer before winter break begins.
