TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNT) – In the spirit of Christmas, one Topeka teacher is putting her art training to good use during this holiday season.

Topeka High School Art Teacher Katie Wood built a gingerbread house replica of the school.  It features all of the unique aspects of the building including its iconic bell tower.

It measures 40 inches long, 30 inches high and 20 inches wide and is made up of graham crackers, tootsie rolls, M&M’s, and icing just to name a few.

For Katie it was all a labor of love.

“Well I mean Topeka High is a pretty special place, it’s kind of magical at times and it’s my second home really. I mean I have my own family but I feel like my kids are my family, the staff is my family, and so I guess in a sense I built this for my other family too. It’s other than being at home, this is probably my other favorite place in the world.”

Some of her students also gave her a hand.  Wood started on the project before Thanksgiving and it will be on display at the school through the first of the year.