Centre Avenue kindergarten families received an extra-special gift this holiday season: life-sized wooden snowmen that capture their children at exactly age five.

The unique keepsakes were the result of a collaborative project between students in Ms. Brianne Allgier’s and Ms. Linda Grace's kindergarten classes, and the high school technology class. Each snowman stands precisely as tall as its kindergarten creator – a permanent reminder of this moment in time.

The project launched in November with a field trip to the East Rockaway High School woodworking shop. There, high school students carefully measured each kindergartener and cut 2x4 lumber to match their individual heights. Weeks later, the two groups reunited to transform the wooden planks into festive snowmen, adding buttons, scarves, hats and other decorative touches before the kindergarteners brought them home as family gifts.

The collaboration created natural mentorship opportunities between students who rarely interact. High schoolers practiced leadership, patience and problem-solving while guiding their younger partners. Kindergarteners benefited from working alongside older students, gaining confidence and learning through hands-on experience.

The snowman project seamlessly integrated multiple subject areas. Students applied mathematical concepts through precise measurements, explored technology and carpentry in the woodworking shop, expressed creativity through art and design, and developed communication skills through cross-age teamwork.

This type of authentic, project-based learning strengthens the district's commitment to personalized education where students engage in meaningful, real-world experiences. By connecting different grade levels and involving families in the final celebration, the project fostered school-wide community and created lasting memories that extend beyond the classroom.

For parents, these life-sized snowmen represent more than holiday decorations – they're tangible markers of time, capturing their children's kindergarten year in a way no photograph can match.