With the holidays fast approaching, it is the perfect time to spread holiday cheer. Many people bake cookies, go shopping for presents, or watch holiday movies; however, we all know that the best way to get into the holiday spirit is to do these things with others.

Last week, the students of German Honor Society, along with their adviser, German teacher Sviatlana Khalpukova, shared company, cookies, and classic holiday songs with the elderly folks they visited at Brookdale Senior Living Community. The students incorporated German into their visit by singing the holiday classics in the language.

“The generations have different mindsets and values, as well as communication preferences,” Khalpukova said. “Our trip to Brookdale provided both sides with the opportunity to build bridges between generations and work on a better mutual understanding.”

The trip was enjoyed by students and seniors alike who got to experience interaction with a member of a different generation.

“The trip went very well,” Khalpukova said. “We all had a feeling of satisfaction that one usually has after doing something nice for others. I think that I would take my students on a similar trip next year again to provide them with this kind of experience.”

The German students continued their holiday-themed activities yesterday, when the German Club, advised by Meike Kirk, hosted a gingerbread house competition after school. The competition received over 30 student participants from all four grades.

“We had great results this year!” German Club co-president and German Honor Society treasurer Jeff Cowen said. “The turnout was great, and people looked like they were having a good time.”

Gingerbread houses first became popular in Germany after famous authors Brothers Grimm published Hansel and Gretel. The German Club first held its gingerbread house competition last year when the new German club was formed. After the success of the first competition, the club couldn’t pass up another opportunity to host the event again.

“My favorite part was seeing Frau K’s reaction when she saw my gingerbread house,” Cowen said. “It was somewhere between horror and great disappointment.”

German students received extra credit for attending, along with the person who created the best gingerbread house. The winner will be decided by Frau Khalpukova and Frau Kirk sometime today.

“The students enjoy building their gingerbread houses with their friends while learning about German traditions and the static construction of houses,” Kirk said. “It was nice to see the joy in the students’ faces. As a teacher, it is heartwarming to see the students enjoy the events.”