As fall arrives, so do the fan favorites of pumpkin spice treats, chilly weather, and last but not least, Halloween. Whether it be costumes or decoration, for everyone who celebrates, this spooky holiday requires lots of preparation. One group of Berkeley High School students, though, have been looking forward to and preparing for this holiday more than most. Recently featured in the school bulletin, the BHS Halloween club was founded this year and brought to life by president Jin Jones and vice president Jessica (last name+grade) to celebrate the spooky season.
In elementary and middle school, students dress up or have celebrations at school; however, when entering high school, this tends to stop. The club’s goal is to bring the spirit of Halloween to BHS, where it’s currently lacking, according to Jones.
The club has a unique backstory. “I founded the Halloween club because last year I tried and failed to get a giant pumpkin put in a roundabout in the Berkeley hills. I really wanted to do something for Halloween still, so I decided to make a club where we could decorate the school and watch movies and stuff,” Jones said. According to him, it’s a club less about the actual holiday of Halloween, and looking back, “The Halloween Planning Club” would have been a more accurate name.
The club meets each Monday in Ms. Pratt’s room, where over lunch, they discuss Halloween plans and enjoy each other's company. “I’m usually at the front of the class like a teacher belting out commands and trying to keep everyone on track. I think by the end of October though, when we accomplish some of the things we set out to do we're just gonna watch a movie or something. I might bring snacks,” Jones said.
The Halloween club has plans for bringing the holiday’s spirit to BHS. In the bulletin, it was mentioned that they planned to make decorations and hang them up around Berkeley. In reality, it may stay more localized around the campus. “This year we plan to decorate the cafeteria and we’ve coordinated with the librarians to decorate their display cabinet,” said Jones. How elaborate these decorations will be is still unknown, but students will be able to see their efforts in BHS’s library.
To the dismay of the club and its members, Halloween will inevitably pass, but they have an idea for what it may become following October. “I don’t know if it will exist after Halloween. If we wanna keep it going, I guess it would have to become a Thanksgiving club, which sounds pretty lit. Imagine a potluck at lunchtime,” Jones said.
Whether announcements about a Thanksgiving Club will soon begin, BHS students they have yet to see. In any case, the Halloween Club has helped to return the spirit of Halloween to the school and bring students with shared love for the holiday together.