By Kyle Arechiga & Julian Bayan

When it comes to choosing Halloween costumes, the planning process can be a lingering pain. Although not everyone celebrates this frightful holiday, those who do find it an opportunity to come together and have some fun. Many Granada Hills Charter (GHC) teachers fully embrace the holiday, making the 31st of October even more fun for their students.

Halloween provides a unique outlet for teachers to explore their creative sides and showcase their inventiveness to students and their colleagues. Pre-Covid, there was even an informal competition between the departments to see which group of teachers could outdo each other within their department’s theme.

Although some teachers opt for popular store-bought costumes, others go the extra mile and create their own unique costumes.

For instance, English teacher Maureen Grandchamp has always had a strong passion for dressing up during Halloween.

“As a kid, we would go out with our pillowcases to collect our candy. It was an all-night thing,” Grandchamp said. “We’d go around knocking on doors and then trade candy afterward. It was such a fun family time. So as an adult and teacher, I’m encouraged to dress up on Halloween to keep those vibes going.”

Grandchamp is usually the English department planner, who encourages other English teachers to collaborate on a theme. Grandchamp always dresses as the villain, dressing up as Voldemort, Beetlejuice, and the Wicked Witch of the West in previous years.

This year, the English department dressed up as characters from “Finding Nemo,” and of course Grandchamp was Darla.

Although not every teacher shares Grandchamp’s enthusiasm for Halloween, many of them embrace the occasion to spread joy to their students.

“I dress up for Halloween for the students,” English teacher and Model United Nations adviser Joshua Mandell said. “The most memorable costume I’ve worn was when I dressed up as Walter White from ‘Breaking Bad.’”

The history department is also well-known for its collaborative costumes. They frequently come dressed as memorable historical figures.

“I think Halloween also brings a sense of collectiveness,” history teacher Jae Hyung Kim said. “We’re all doing it together, so it’s a good conversation starter and is an expression of someone’s personality.”

History teacher Kelly Gomez uses Halloween as an opportunity to play with her creativity.
Gomez goes all out, moving beyond just costumes to decorate her classroom as well. Last year, she transformed her classroom to mimic the vibe of the Netflix series “Stranger Things,” complete with Christmas lights spelling out the alphabet.

“It’s one of the few times I’m truly creative,” Gomez said. “I’m not an artistic person by nature, but it allows me to tap into my creativity especially since I like to DIY things myself.”

The teachers at GHC demonstrate that Halloween doesn’t just have to be about fear. Costumes often reveal a great deal about one’s character or personality.

Halloween serves as an occasion for everyone to come together, embrace the festive spirit, and enjoy the camaraderie it fosters.