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In a deep focus, Tayla Score ’25 paints a Trick or Treater’s face at one of the two face painting stations throughout the carnival. Face painting was one of the many fun activities set up around the cafeteria along with bouncy houses, ice cream, a movie, and a petting zoo.
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Surrounded by fluff, Canyon Vista Middle School PALS, Isabel Grey ’26 and Mia Ippolito ’25 take a break from their station to enjoy the petting zoo. In the petting zoo, the kids got to choose between a wide variety of animals such as a hamster, chicks, bunnies, turtles, chickens, and a lizard to pet. “I love the petting zoo because fluffy animals make me happy, especially bunnies,” Grey said.
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Sliding the brush gently, Sydney Daigle ’26 applies face paint to a Trick or Treater’s face after looking at the reference sheet. The National Art Honor Society worked all night to make sure all the kids had neat designs after leaving their station.
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Smiling all around, the Grisham Middle School PALS help the Trick or Treaters learn how to play the game they set up. The game consisted of five boxes filled with different fun things that the kids have to touch, and try to guess what they are touching.
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All watching with anticipation, the members of the Westwood PIC club gather round as one of the Trick or Treaters spins the wheel at their stand to determine what prize they would get. If the Trick or Treaters landed on the orange slot, they won a Mr Beast chocolate, a prize attracted many eager kids.
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Locked in with concentration, Trick or Treaters have a chance to play ring toss for candy at the French Honers Society booth. All the booths set up around school for Trunk or Treat had fun games that kids could play to win candy.
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Shooting their best shot at the Caraway Elementary PALS booth, Trick or Treaters got the chance to play cornhole to try and win some candy for their basket. Before the event, the PALS came early to set up the decorations and game for their booths.
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Smiling with joy, Ali Hight ’26 helps the Trick or Treater quess what is in the box. The Grisham PALS worked hard to prepare for the Trunk or Treat, and were awarded 3rd place in the PALS booth contest.
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Small footsteps flew down the halls, hands gripping brightly colored sacks to hold candy. The school was filled with all sorts of characters, from witches to superheroes, all stopping at the brightly colored tables run by various student organizations. On Monday, Oct. 28, PALS and IB held their annual Trunk or Treat event for children in the Westwood learning community.
A yearly tradition, the Trunk or Treat is jointly run by PALS and IB, while also involving the contributions of a variety of clubs and organizations who each volunteer to run a table at the event. Each table had a different theme and activity for the kids to interact with as they made their way through the school.
“[As] the National French Honor Society, we decided to do something French-related [for our table],” volunteer Alex Correia ‘26 said. “We have some streamers that are in the colors of France, and then we also have a baguette toss [for the kids].”
In keeping with the event’s Halloween theme, both the children invited and the students involved were encouraged to dress up in a Halloween costume.
“[It was so rewarding] just being around the community, and [feeling] the energy that everyone brought, and seeing everyone’s costumes because some of them were really cool,” volunteer Oprah Wei ‘26 said.
The Trunk or Treat invited children from the schools that feed into Westwood, drawing a large crowd to partake in the festivities.
“I think it went pretty well,” PAL Anika Salsberry ‘25 said. “We had a good turnout, the kids had fun at our trivia booth, and we gave out lots of candy.”
Once they arrived at the school, the kids made their way through a path that took them on a loop throughout the main floor, allowing them to stop at tables strategically placed along their route.
“[The most rewarding part of running a table was] seeing kids’ smiles on their faces when they get the [trivia] questions right, and when they get the candy,” Salsberry said. “I think it’s really cute.”
Bringing together multiple generations of kids in the Westwood learning community, the Trunk or Treat provided everyone involved with an opportunity to strengthen the community.
“I think [hosting community events] just really helps bring everyone closer together,” Correia said. “People go above and beyond to give elementary schoolers a good experience and really good memories, so I think [holding these events] just hosts a sense of community, and a sense of family.”
