!Bú!

Last Thursday evening Varmond School held its Halloween event, "Chamber of Horror". During this time of year, Varmond usually celebrates Dia de los Muertos, a Mexican holiday. However, it was decided that this year, for the first time, the school would celebrate Halloween. Some of the coordinators of Varmond felt that because it is a bilingual school the students should be exposed to American cultures and holidays as well as their own.

The event took a lot of preparation, with help from faculty and staff, parents, and especially the students. At first, I didn't really understand what was going to happen on Thursday evening. The teachers had been talking about decorations and I just thought the school was going to be a place for families to gather to celebrate the holiday. It was not until the day before the event that I finally understood what was going to happen to Varmond. It was transformed into a haunted school, both inside and outside! This is the reason it occurred in the evening - we needed darkness. Each grade (or classroom) was responsible for a particular section of the haunted school. Themes included: the story of Halloween, Dracula, Frankenstein, Jack Skellington, the Monsters and Addam's family, witches, a barn and cornfield, and many more. I painted almost the entire barn for the sixth grade section by myself. It was large, required a lot of paint, and yes, my arms were sore when finished. I also helped with other decorations throughout the haunted school.

The students and their families were led through the haunted school with a teacher, dressed in a costume, as the guide. Inside the school there was a graveyard, dead "body" hanging from the ceiling, and spooky music, to name a few. The science lab was converted into the Frankenstein section. Outside the path was lit with candles to lead people through the dark. Outside the school was the witches' lair, cornfield with students acting as scarecrows, and the entrance ramp where clam shells were placed on the ground to make a crunching sound. The playground was part of the haunted school, too. Students had to climb through in darkness and go down the winding slide. The final section of the haunted school was the cafeteria. When students passed through the haunted school it was also a combination of trick-or-treating. The students came dressed in costumes and brought their bags to receive candy. Was I wearing a costume? Yes, of course! Watch the slideshow of pictures to see it.

Halloween at Varmond was also celebrated with the Pumpkin Poetry Contest and a pumpkin carving/decorating contest. There are some very intelligent, creative, and artistic students at Varmond. There was also the dance to Thriller done by the secondary school students as well as food.

Some of the teachers asked me what I thought of the event because they wanted my feedback. Honestly, I have never see a school get decorated like Varmond. It was amazing. The students and staff were very excited and had a great time. When I said this, the teachers were surprised. But, all that I said was true. I tried to explain that in Wisconsin, and other parts of the United States, Halloween is just another holiday for us. We put up some decorations, dress in costumes, go trick-or-treating, and when the day is over we kind of forget about it until next year. I think that Varmond benefited from celebrating Halloween this year. It makes me wonder if we should celebrate some Mexican holidays in the United States. The students might learn from them and be able to compare them to U.S. holidays.

After the evening was over, everyone was exhausted but I hope they were proud of what they accomplished. I give Varmond two thumbs up!

View my photos if you dare...

Stephanie