No Tricks, Just Treats

By Alyssa Wu

January 5, 2026

Jericho Middle School celebrated Halloween on October 31 with a full day of costumes, activities, and seasonal excitement. Students arrived dressed in a wide range of creative outfits, while teachers and staff also joined in the festivities.

Halloween is a fun day where all students should be able to feel included. During an interview, guidance counselor Ms. Murray emphasized the importance of making Halloween an inclusive event and what that means: “Including everyone in Halloween basically makes everyone feel comfortable instead of feeling left out,” she said. She explained that Halloween should be a day when students can have fun with friends both in and out of school, while still making sure no one feels excluded. Ms. Murray noted that allowing costumes gives students a chance to express themselves and “show their own self,” though she observed that fewer students wore costumes this year compared to last year. 

She also referenced JMS Principal Mr. Gleason’s reminder about the school dress code. Costumes must be school-appropriate, free of curse words, and designed in a way that aligns with school guidelines. In addition, students may not wear costumes that include scars, realistic-looking injuries, or any type of weapon. She noted that the goal is to keep the celebration fun, safe, and to let all the students feel welcomed.

Halloween’s origin dates back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. This day also marked the start of winter and the beginning of the dark, cold season, a time often associated with death and the need to spread away evil spirits. In England, people decorated jack o’ lanterns for protection and celebration. Scotland also has a special tradition of hosting bonfire parties where the fire is used to ward off all the evil spirits. After the celebration, people take embers from the bonfire to relight their hearths for warmth and protection throughout the winter. The practice of building large fires to burn animal bones may also be the origin of the term “bonfire.” In the U.S., some might celebrate Halloween by bobbing for apples. This comes from a game where an apple would be thrown and the first person to catch it was believed to be the next to marry.

JMS does have some Halloween activities, but it does not have any formal trick-or-treating events. “It’s Halloween! No tricks, just treats!” one student said enthusiastically, their mask barely hiding their smile.

The school’s hallways are filled with colorful creativity as students showed off their costumes. Staff members also joined in, dressing up in a variety of imaginative outfits that added to the lively atmosphere. With costumes, activities, and schoolwide participation, the day once again highlighted the community’s enthusiasm for tradition, and the growing hope that trick or treating may someday become part of the celebration as well!