On Sunday afternoon, the Alberton School Gymnasium transformed into a gingerbread house manufacturing plant as parents, guardians and kids came in to build and have fun.

Graham crackers were used instead of gingerbread so boxes were spaced out on the lunchroom tables with an aluminum foil mat in place for the building site. A plastic bag of vanilla frosting was set in each construction zone to be used as adhesive sealant and the trim and accessories (candy) were lined up in bowls on the stage for the builders to help themselves to for the finish work.

The Alberton Schools Parent Teachers Student Association (PTSA) was disbanded about 10 years before Felicity Day became the president two years ago.

“A couple of parents pitched the idea of bringing back the PTSA and my kids were enrolled here and I wanted to get involved. I wanted to support the teachers,” Day shared.

A PTSA is a formal organization composed of parents, teachers and staff that is intended to facilitate parental participation with their children in school activities. A PTA, Parent-Teachers Association, focuses on what students need to be successful in their learning, including nutrition, health, school safety, physical fitness and general well-being.

“Me, being a teacher myself, it’s important to have that support whether from the community or (school) administration and the parents and students,” Day said.

Day is the owner of the Alberton Early Learning Center (AELC) which is a safe and fun place where children up to age 5 learn through play and outdoor adventures to grow and thrive for the classroom. AELC is about a year old and has grown from a single teacher in a small out-building on the Day’s property, to a house at 154 Railroad Ave., which is being remodeled with a staff of three more certified teachers.

PTSA volunteers were ready and waiting to assist as needed when the first round of construction teams arrived for the 2-hour build. Natasha Knight and her husband moved to Alberton last year and they have a 1-year-old son. She became a construction site supervisor for the day as she wants to get out and meet people and know the community better.

“We came for the Halloween event and that’s when I decided I needed to get more involved. It’s a really, really great community to be around,” she smiles. “I think it’s great (PTSA) puts on so many events because we meet people you may not normally meet. Sometimes we get so busy with work and everything else that to have something like this for 2 hours, is terrific for a family project.”

When the quitin’ time’ whistle blew, dozens of people helped clean up and showed each other their finished project that they took home. All that were missing was hearing and eye protection but thankfully, no accidents were reported other than too many Whoppers eaten during the foundation building phase.

The PTSA meets on the second Saturday of every month at 9 a.m. in the Alberton School cafeteria with an open door for visitors.