Classroom Happenings: A Sense of Belonging

Spartans know that reading can be life-changing. The written word can transport, delight, provoke. Steward faculty encourage students of all ages to dive into books and explore the landscapes, both real and imagined, that books can reveal. 

When Middle School English Teacher Danny Spiziri assigned his students to read “The House on Mango Street,” he wanted students to build upon the joy of reading in a truly hands-on way. 

“One of the main themes in ‘The House on Mango Street,’ by Sandra Cisneros, is the importance of having a space where one can be who they truly are and have a place to call home,” said Mr. Spiziri. “After reading the book, I instructed students to create their own dream home and build a 3D model of a space where they could feel comfortable and live a fulfilled life.” Within each of the students’ 3D homes are symbols and objects that connect to the memoirs they wrote in tandem with constructing the models.

Emily Stefanick ’28 designed her home, which she named Enzo’s Hideaway, with what she described as “a coastal vibe with very pastel colors … and minimalistic.” Inspired by her love of pasta, Emily wrote in her memoir, “Eating pasta is comforting, like going under a warm blanket by a fire in the winter. That is how I felt when I walked into Enzo’s Hideaway’s dimly lit dining room.” Reading “The House on Mango Street” and writing a memoir helped enrich her learning experience “because I learned how Ms. Cisneros constructed her memoir,” added Emily. 

The model that Gabriel Zepeda ’28 created was inspired by his love of the Premier Lacrosse League. Constructed of cardboard and painted light blue, it includes an outdoor Lego fireplace and a cardboard evergreen tree. Above the front door are two crisscrossed lacrosse sticks, and the main floor (completely made of Lego) includes a gaming set, PC monitor, and chair, plus a kitchen, dining room, and sitting area. 

“Next to my gaming station is my Lego dog eating from his bowl!” said Gabriel. “This is an open floor plan, with ‘hardwood’ floors. Upstairs is my gargantuan bed (that took way too long to build!) and my dog’s bed.” Giant windows, a wraparound balcony, a workout area, and a hot tub complete the house. “The hot tub is to unwind in after a long day of being a millionaire,” added Gabriel. “To me, [the house] means a dream,” he wrote in his memoir. “It’s a sign of making it and it means that all my hard work has paid off. It’s a dream that will become reality.”