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Hallloween memories spark joy in hearts of students and faculty

Whether it was watching the scariest movie that your parents would allow or trick-or-treating until your pillowcase was practically bursting with candy, Halloween is a time of rich memories for students and faculty alike. Since this school year’s theme is joy, the Prep News gathered stories from around Backer Memorial Campus to highlight the various joy-inspiring experiences of this beloved holiday.

The Joker and his Henchmen. Photo: Courtesy of Mark Wappler.

Many are familiar with the time and effort that gets put into costumes every year. Many are also familiar with the plethora of stories that flow from theology teacher Dick Wehner. His mind went straight to his childhood escapades on Halloween with his friends, which were always meticulously planned beforehand.

“About the last week in September, we would go over to somebody's house, and we'd sit outside and we'd build a little fire in his backyard,” Wehner recalled. “This is before fire pits, and we were talking about what we were going to be on Halloween. If you're going to be a mummy, then he can't be a mummy. And if I'm going to be the Wolf Man, then you can't be the Wolf Man.”

Costumes are an integral part of Halloween for the family of math teacher Craig Hinders, who has gotten very creative in costume planning since he had kids.

“My wife and I both love Halloween, and now that we have kids, we get them in on the act,” said Hinders. “We do family costumes (yes, we're one of those people). I know it won't last forever, because our kids will eventually stop putting up with it. But we've really enjoyed getting to pick costumes together as a family.”

Senior Ben Harmon, leaves. Photo: Courtesy of Ben Harmon.

Junior Campbell Cornett was introduced to the atmosphere of Halloween practically from birth. Born on Oct. 27, Cornett was brought home for the first time on Halloween, and immediately he was swaddled in a white onesie with the words “My Little Pumpkin.”

Others recalled specific memories of past costumes or Halloween experiences. Junior Alberto Vushaj spoke of the Superman costume he sported as a youth. As Superman was his favorite superhero, Vushaj took this very seriously.

“It was really awesome for me, but I didn't have a cape,” lamented Vushaj. “And every other kid that wore a Superman costume had a cape, so I was really jealous.”

“I was like eight and I was dressed up as a red Power Ranger for the third year in a row and my mask had really small eyes,” said junior George Mikhail. “When I was trying to go and get all the candy, I was racing my cousin to get to the next house, and I ran into a mailbox.”

Sometimes, cape jealousy and mailbox-induced injuries are just the price to pay for a top-tier Halloween experience.

The Hinderses as The Princess Bride. Photo: Courtesy of Craig Hinders.

Sophomore John Posey maximized his holiday by using his mathematical skills and graphs.

“After trick-or-treating, me and my dad would always make a pie graph of what percentage of each type of candy I got,” explained Posey.

Most trick-or-treaters are used to collecting as much candy as possible, but some houses require more than just the phrase “trick or treat!” to earn it.

“My parents in the proud South City tradition demand entertainment from those who come to the house for treats, but happily encourage performance of any sort as an alternative to telling a joke,” said English teacher John Kavanaugh. “We’ve had many songs, dances, instrumental performances, juggling, even poems recited!”

Other students have found joy in frightening younger trick-or-treaters. Fear for the sake of amusement is a commonplace on Halloween, and some take the opportunity to break out their scariest costumes and tricks.

“When I was a kid, my brothers and I would  hide in the back of my mom's car,” said junior Michael Robinson. “When trick or treaters would come by they'd have me scream, and then they’d throw the candy out, that was pretty fun.”

“My friends and I were walking in our neighborhood, and we saw a group of kids with candy,” said junior Mark Faulkner. “So we thought, we should scare them for Halloween, right? So we went back to my friend’s house and got all these ghost face masks. Eventually, we saw the kids again walking, so we hid in a bush. They were so scared.”

Wehner remembers how his father used to scare the trick-or-treaters coming by his childhood home.

“My mom would answer the door and the kids would come in, and my dad would be sitting in a chair with a real scary mask on,” Wehner said. “The kids didn't see him at first, and then they would see him. My dad just loved Halloween. I don't know why he wanted to scare the little kids, but he just loved Halloween.”

Junior Campbell Cornett on his first Halloween. Photo: Courtesy of Campbell Cornett.

In other instances, students remembered most vividly when they were the ones on the opposite end of the jump-scares. Junior Harrison Freihoff shared a peculiar story in which he escaped a frightful encounter with a circus clown.

“I was turning the corner with my friends and I was a blueberry, and there's this dude in a bush but I don’t see him and he jumps out with a katana and he's like, ahhhhh !!!), and then I'm so scared,” said Freihoff. “He starts chasing me as I run away. And then I trip over a sewer. And he trips over the same sewer, and then we're both laying down, face to face, eye to eye on the sidewalk, right? And this dude is biking down the street, and then he bikes over the clown’s face. And then he starts crying. So then I get up and walk away. That was my favorite Halloween.”

Members of the SLUH community have had a vast array of unique adventures on Halloweens past, but in the end, sophomore Murphy Daly summed up the essence of the holiday in one succinct phrase.

“Eating candy until I throw up,” said Daly.

 

 


 

 

 

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