Gingerbread Towers are Team Successes at Middle School

To celebrate the holidays and work on their teamwork skills, students at Seaford Middle School participated in a gingerbread building challenge on Dec. 19. It was the third of six teaming events this year, designed to foster collaboration and communication. 

All sixth, seventh and eighth graders were assigned to a team of four or five students. Together, they had to use two packs of a graham crackers and a cup of icing to build the tallest tower possible that could support a tennis ball.  

Before the building began, students had discussions about the qualities necessary to work well as a team, looking at it through the lens of the 10 Seaford Scholar traits. They also had follow-up conversations after the challenge ended. 

“The whole point is to talk about teamwork, put it into practice and reflect on it,” Principal Dr. Raphael Morey said. He added that the skills they develop now builds the foundation for being good communicators and collaborators during the rest of their years in school and beyond.  

Dr. Morey explained that the six teaming activities this year are designed to give students a break from their academic rigors and rejuvenate their love of school, while developing life skills along the way.