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November 2, 2016Nearly 130 kindergarten and first-grade students from OH Perry and Our Lady of the Lake spent the morning at VASJ for our Halloween on Campus event. The event is a long-standing tradition at VASJ but this year’s attendance was a new record.
“This was the largest number of children we have ever had,” says longtime Religion teacher Bill Raddell ’67 who also serves as VASJ’s Coordinator of Mission Effectiveness.
The addition of Our Lady of the Lake School students was very exciting, as VASJ’s relationship with the parish continues to grow through other activities like the ongoing weekly Mass with Fr. Fortuna.
“As the senior class is growing, we were able to invite a larger group this year,” Director of Campus Ministry Jill Latkovich says. “OH Perry has been coming for years but this is the first time that we were able to invite our neighbors, Our Lady of the Lake, which was very, very special.”
The event is planned by VASJ’s Peer Ministry group and the senior class host the event.
The students were able to go trick-or-treating throughout the decorated classrooms and offices in our building, they were able to hear Halloween stories and do crafts, decorate (and eat) cookies, participate in carnival games, get their picture taken with The Great Pumpkin.
The event is a lot of work to plan and execute but the students always do an amazing job.
“Putting together Halloween on Campus each year is a big task and there are lots of parts that must come together at the right time,” Latkovich, who has been overseeing the event for the last 10 years, says. “I especially want to acknowledge those students who put in the extra effort to stay after school, and on days when there was no school to help with preparations. Without their help, things would not happen as it did.” From the coordination and execution to the interactions with the elementary students, Halloween on Campus allows the faculty and staff an opportunity to see the seniors in a new light.
“I love watching our seniors and the junior Peer Ministers as they interact with the children,” Raddell says. “I think one of the key things our seniors learn is to put others before themselves and learning to put aside their own desires and to focus on another's needs and wants.”
Watching the seniors take on the role of mentor to their little “buddies” is heartwarming each and every year.
“My favorite part is sitting back and observing the interactions between the big buddies and little buddies,” Latkovich says.“It is precious to watch the seniors care for their buddy and to realize how much they have grown and matured since their freshman year. They were very caring, attentive and focused on the little people.”
The fun isn’t just for the students, though. It isn’t clear who enjoys it more: the little students, the VASJ students or the VASJ faculty and staff members.The faculty and staff enjoy dressing up, decorating their classrooms or offices and passing out candy.
“I love the event,” says Debra Fischbach who has worked in the Principal’s Office at VASJ for 11 years. “Kudos to Campus Ministry and all the students who put so much hard work into this day that makes it such a hit year after year! I think it’s just one of the hundreds of reasons that I love my job so much and that makes VASJ one big happy family!”
It is safe to say the Viking family, including our Our Lady of Lake and OH Perry family, enjoyed a wonderful Halloween on Campus.
