Hallowe’en Was Eerie-sistible at Sydenham High School

Kelli McRobert | Nov 02, 2022

I must confess that as the leaves fall and crunch under my feet, I start to get a bit excited about the cooler evenings. Thanksgiving is behind us and the next celebration is Hallowe’en, and admittedly, it is one of my favourites! Costumes, candy, and carousing all celebrated with a creepy undertone. I often wonder, as people dress up, how they determine the character that they will portray for the day.

One psychological theory is by Dr. Joanna Weinberg, who wrote “it is very common for children and adults alike to use Halloween as an opportunity to experiment with different identities. The same concept applies when choosing a costume. When you think about it, it’s quite a liberating feeling! For one day out of the year, you have permission to be anyone or anything you want without any judgement from your peers or society. It’s almost as if you can reinvent yourself for 24 hours and live out your wildest dreams in disguise.”

She continues to state that “masking one’s identity entirely is a common theme throughout human history. Many cultures use masks for religious ceremonies, performances, and even war. To obtain magical powers or superhuman strength, masking one’s identity has always been important in these situations. The same concept applies to Halloween costumes. By putting on a mask or full-body suit, we feel more in control and powerful than we would dressed as ourselves.” *CostumeMailer blog

As the sun began to set, the goblins and ghouls on neighbours yards were all lit up, a celebration of sorts, setting the mood for the upcoming door to door onslaught. Sydenham High School was also getting prepared for their Hallowe’en Retro Dance Party. The school has begun scheduled events to help promote and raise funds for their 150th Anniversary Celebrations to be held in August 2023.

The gym at first was quiet as the volunteers finished the final touches on the decorations. The DJ, Randy Mitchell, also a former student, began to set the tone as the music brought the crowd to life and drew them to the dance floor. Maleficent, and her caped friends, lurked about the gym enjoying meeting old friends and making new ones as a wide brimmed pirate danced across the floor. The committee mingled about as they answered questions and ensured their guests were enjoying ‘adult beverages’ responsibly. The continual stream of clowns, witches, vampires, blues brothers, and gangsters made their way into the large gym, exceeding expectations for attendance, as the party continued to rock. Music and boxed snacks kept guests bopping until the wee hours whence the ghosts, goblins, and ghouls, returned to their lairs fearful of exposure to the dreaded ‘sun’.

When I spoke to Marie Wilkins, one of the committee members (the cat), she stated that, “overall the event was a success” and the planning committee would like to thank those that came in support of SHS150 fundraiser.

Honorable mentions to Derek for his ‘Price is Right’ costume “I’d like to bid 701”, and to ‘Paper and Scissors’ (Roxanne Saunders) -very creative!!

Chris Hammer (the Clown) noted that the following are a few upcoming planned events:

• November 26th Santa Claus Parade, Vendor Village at School

And in 2023….

• January 14th Euchre Tournament at Legion, Sydenham
• February 10th Euchre Tournament at Legion, Sydenham
• May 6th Auction
• June 10th Vendor Sale at Football Field, Sydenham
• June 23rd Golf Tournament at Rivendell Golf Club, Verona (Eventbrite)
• August 24-27th Reunion Weekend with pig roast dinner on Saturday

After the fundraising event, any excess funds will donated back to the school for programming, events, and educational opportunities.

Early Bird tickets are $20.00 and $25.00 thereafter, and $50.00 for the dinner.

For more information, to donate or to volunteer please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.