On Thursday, October 26th, Walt Whitman Middle School and the Walt Whitman Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) held their annual Fall Fest. The event was a huge success, with hundreds of students, parents, and community members attending. This year’s Fall Fest featured a variety of activities for all ages, including a wax museum and haunted house, trunk-or-treat, games, food vendors, family resources, and a young entrepreneurs expo. Students and families also had the opportunity to engage with their favorite teachers and staff members outside of the classroom.

A Community Event for All Ages

As an annual fundraiser for the PTSA, this year’s event raised approximately $2,800. “This year’s Fall Fest was a fantastic event with so many fun activities!” said Whitman PTSA President Emily Lussier. “The partnership of the Whitman PTSA and the Whitman Administration & Staff was the key to the success of the evening. We are grateful to all of our volunteers and donations to help bring the event together!” Joining the event this year were over 40 Mount Vernon High School students, many of them former Whitman students, who volunteered their time to help set up, run games, and assist with food service and ticket sales.

Each year, the Fall Fest grows as a community event. Working with our Community Schools partner The United Way, Delia Montecinos invites local businesses and resources to the event to support students and families. “The resources available for the families were so great—Ms. Montecinos did such a great job coordinating that part of the event!” said Lussier. Also new this year was a young entrepreneur expo organized by Whitman teacher Marcela Ardaya.  Ms. Ardaya helped student crafters and creators organize table displays to sell their products during the Fall Fest.

Whitman Theatre Department Delivers Thrills and Chills

The Whitman Theatre Department also played a major role in the success of the Fall Fest. The department put on the wax museum and haunted house, which are extremely popular with students and parents alike. This production was a particularly challenging event to put on, as it was the first production of the school year. However, the Whitman Theatre students were able to overcome the challenges and put on a haunted house that was both scary and fun.

This year, the theatre department had about 18 group tours with 15 audience members in each group led by a tour guide who took them through the wax museum and then the haunted house. Overall, the students performed for about 270 patrons, who donated their $5 admission fee to go through, making the Whitman Theatre Department $1,000 each year. The funds gained from this event are used to finance the department’s mainstage production.

“The Whitman PTSA is always an amazing collaborator, helping with donated Halloween decorations, food, and overall an amazing and supportive partner,” says Whitman Theatre Director Phoebe Dillard. “I certainly couldn’t have done this chaotic event without the support of the PTSA and the Whitman faculty and staff. It truly takes a village, and I will always be grateful for our stellar villagers who live here.”

Fall Fest: A Tradition to Continue

The Walt Whitman Middle School Fall Fest is a fun-filled event that the whole family can enjoy. It is a great way to celebrate the fall season and to support the school community. The PTSA hopes to continue this tradition for many years to come.