![Freshman Milan Earl and sophomore Lucy Kaplan sit with their grandparents at Archer’s annual Grandparents and Special Friends Day Friday, March 15. The event took place over three 75-minute sessions. “[I hope my grandparents] gain an understanding about what I do, Kaplan said, because I know they ask a lot of questions and can sort of see what I do in school and what the experience is like to be here.](https://archeroracle.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/grandparents-day-option-2-1200x800.jpg)
Students celebrate Archer’s Halloween Festival
Archer girls participating in a Halloween activity in their classroom. Photo by Cece Bobbitt ’15
Last Thursday was Archer’s Halloween celebration—that one time of year when even the sweet sixth graders can transform into frightening ghosts and witches, or other creative characters.
Throughout the half-day, costumed students attended 30-minute class periods and then assembled in the courtyard for the day’s lively festivities, including the haunted house, the school-wide costume contest, the pumpkin decorating contest, and the ever-popular “Pie-the-Teacher” event. It seems the tradition of pieing a teacher has held enduring appeal to Archer students. This ceremony is most notable for the eagerness of its many participants.
The Oracle sent out a survey asking students to reflect on their Halloween experiences. It revealed an unsurprising statistic: most Archer girls enjoy Halloween. However, a select few of students stated they dislike the holiday because it is “scary and…too chaotic,” or because they didn’t have any plans this Halloween. An overview of the event itself at Archer—including results and quotes from the student survey—is displayed below.
![Freshman Milan Earl and sophomore Lucy Kaplan sit with their grandparents at Archer’s annual Grandparents and Special Friends Day Friday, March 15. The event took place over three 75-minute sessions. “[I hope my grandparents] gain an understanding about what I do, Kaplan said, because I know they ask a lot of questions and can sort of see what I do in school and what the experience is like to be here.](https://archeroracle.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/grandparents-day-option-2-600x400.jpg)
Marisa London • Nov 12, 2013 at 4:20 am
Now as a senior looking back at my seven years of Archer Halloweens, I can truly appreciate the sense of community that accompanies this holiday. Leave it to Archer to become more unified on the holiday focused on eating candy all day. I am not surprised that the majority of students who responded to the survey enjoy Halloween; it’s pretty hard not to when you get to see your friends, teachers, and even head of school dress up in some pretty incredible costumes. Great article!
Gloria Ryoo • Nov 12, 2013 at 4:39 am
Continuing this train of thought and looking back, I never really liked Halloween until I came to Archer. When I was a 6th Grader, the seniors were dressed in mourning dresses for the whole entire week and would not speak to us; instead, they enjoyed bursting into tears (or laughter) or staring creepily at us. Bawling in fright with my fellow class as I took my first step into the Haunted House, I still remember the intense terror of going into the Blackbox Theater and immediately running out with 3 other girls. This awesome tradition of the senior class getting real deep in Halloween preparations has been a delight and I’m pretty sure that scaring the whole entire school on Halloween is a must-do for every senior class (trust me, it’s hilarious until you find yourself in between middle schoolers screaming at pitches fit for hyenas and you get frightened by them).
Aviva • Nov 10, 2013 at 4:39 am
Halloween was awesome this year, great article!
Hero Stevenson • Nov 9, 2013 at 12:40 am
Love the way the survey and data was incorporated! Super interesting!