As the last warm autumn days faded and the walk to the Jack for dinner became more challenging, the Berkshire bears gathered in the Soffer Athletic Center for the annual Halloween Dance. The dance this year was another success, filled with exhilarating fun times, spirited dance moves, and creative costumes. Soffer was impressively set up for this special: carved pumpkins sat on the steps, and fluffy, colorful cotton candies wrapped around sticks were skillfully spun. The air was scented with freshly made popcorn and the long tables at the entry were adorned with sweet snacks like creamed cupcakes, chocolate bars, and buttery cookies. Each treat was lovingly crafted with Halloween elements, reflecting the jolly spirit. 

As the DJ pumped up the volume and spun popular hits, the dance floor came alive with an explosion of excitement and energy. Students grooved to the beats amid the festive ambiance. In the corner of the gym, a photo corner was prepared for students to capture memorable moments. With a warm brick background serving as the backdrop and a big box of Halloween props at their disposal, the corner was soon packed with students, eagerly awaiting their turn to strike a pose and keep the memories they were creating with their friends alive. Each group of friends huddled together, striking playful poses and flashing bright smiles to the camera. The dance floor was a vibrant sea of colors and laughter. On the next night, teachers and staff members opened their doors to students and children for trick-or-treating. Students followed a map, knocked on many doors, and received handfuls of sweets! While we recover from our sugar-filled Trick-or-Treat night, let’s recount some of the especially eye-catching costumes (in no particular order):

• The minion squad (Sahar Sultani, Celine Tsai, Chidera Okeke, Mia Vargas, Noel Yi), and multiple Gru’s (Zamia Barradas, Gabe Dahari, Omar Kulenovic)
• Tiana (Gabby St.Clair)
• Pickle Rick (Riki Ishiyama)
• Alice and Jasper from Twilight (Luka Davis, Chloe Howard)
• The vampire squad (Stella Demmert, Stella Schafer, Serena Smallhorn, Natalie Heldfond, Olive Simpson)
• Ken from “Barbie” (Trevor Sullivan Weinstein)

…And many, many others! From classical characters to group-themed ensembles, students spilled their creativity and thoughts into these costumes. Teachers, too, participated in this friendly contest. Let us also congratulate the science department on winning the faculty costumes contest. The group showed up in either wigs or jerseys, portraying different Taylor Swift albums (Yuki and Sofiia particularly loved Mr. Cooper and Mr. Quilty’s characters!). 

The Halloween dance was a remarkable event that brought our school community together on a festive and memorable day. We can not wait to see more such events that celebrate our school spirit and create lasting memories for years to come!