Courtesy of Kristen Thomson

The science department poses together in their rat-themed costumes.

Every Halloween, students and teachers alike dress up in creative costumes. Staff departments often collaborate and follow a theme — this year, the science department, office staff and Wellness Center staff in particular came together to coordinate their outfits. 

The science department’s costumes were inspired by a recent “rat incident” in the science wing. Two weeks ago, when assistant principal Matthew Torrens was driving past the science building in his golf cart, he caught sight of a furry rat scurrying outside a classroom. Alarmed, he began to chase the rat with his golf cart. 

In an attempt to escape, the rat scuttled up a drain pipe before sliding downwards and falling into a trash can. Torrens grabbed the can’s trash bag, leapt into his cart and hurried away. With one arm holding up the bag, Torrens drove around frantically, unsure of what to do. Luckily, the maintenance crew was able to catch up to Torrens and help resolve the situation by putting the bag into the trash compactor.

Torrens, immensely proud of this feat, sent the whole science department staff the thrilling story of his heroic deed — disguised as an email. The science teachers, ever so grateful for his work, decided to base their Halloween costumes on this incident.

There were various types of rats: pack rats, lab rats, a kangaroo rat and even Remy from “Ratatouille.” Physics and engineering teacher Matthew Welander dressed as Torrens since the two share a first name. 

With a clear name tag reading: “Mr. Torrens, Professional Rat Catcher,” Welander spent the day armed with a trash bag at his side, an unmistakable plaid shirt and a 3D-printed rat in hand. The idea initially started as a joke between the science teachers, but eventually, they decided to follow through and create their costumes based on this theme.

 

Another department that dressed up with a coordinated theme was the office staff. Dressed as characters in “Despicable Me,” they donned bright banana yellow shirts, beanies, grey goggles and blue jean overalls to dress up as the iconic minions. Campus security supervisor Brandy Fisher wore an orange jumpsuit, short black wig and thick glasses to dress up as Vector, the villain in “Despicable Me 1.” Principal Greg Louie dressed in a large Minion inflatable costume. 

The Wellness Center staff took inspiration from Head Therapist Janae Smith’s favorite Halloween movie, “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” featuring iconic Peanuts characters like Snoopy, Woodstock and Charlie Brown. 

Smith dressed as a pumpkin, Wellness Center coordinator Thea Widmer dressed as Snoopy and therapist Victor Thompson dressed as Charlie Brown. The staff members also arranged activities themed around the movie in the Wellness Center, including pumpkin painting, a Woodstock scavenger hunt and a movie screening for students during tutorial.

From rats to minions to an iconic beagle, the staff found creative ways to celebrate Halloween — these themes seem difficult to top, but there’s always next year.