Halloween is a thrilling time for Nanuet students, but no one enjoys it more than the senior class. As per tradition, seniors dress up in their costumes for a breakfast provided by the Junior Class Student Council, followed by a costume contest, and a parade around the halls of the high school. This event mirrors the parades that take place in Miller and in eighth grade at the middle school.
Lots of students stood out this Halloween.
Being able to dress up in imaginative costumes felt fantastic, according to senior Julia Lehane, whose impersonation of former president Donald Trump, complete with a blond wig, bushy eyebrows and orange face paint, stood out as a bold costume choice.
“Last minute, we were figuring out what to be, and I saw what I had at home,” she said. “I saw the face paint, I saw the clothes, I saw the wig, and I said, ‘This is it. This is gonna be the costume.’”
Lehane laughed at herself as she continued, “It’s great to be famous for the day.”
Even some of the teachers stepped up with costumes. Among them was Mrs. Ross, who wore a judge costume that fit with the theme of her students’ mock trials that took place that day. Mr. Breyfogle also dressed up and described his costume as “one of us,” referring to himself dressing up as one of the students.
“I thrifted this,” he said, in a debatably-clever comeback responding to student criticism of his attire, which included a green crew neck and sneakers.
Shane Ethakkan, a junior, was also in the Halloween parade as a prop for a group costume of interpol officers. In this group costume, seniors Alex Gong and Ryan Sung, both dressed in camouflage military gear, held Ethakkan’s hands behind his back and escorted him down the hallway, with Jakus Thomas, Arnav Mehta, Andrew Pastorella, and Sebastian Figueroa walking alongside.
“[Shane] broke the speed limit, so he had to be arrested,” Gong claimed, in reference to Ethakkan’s recent win at the Rockland County Cross Country Championships at Bear Mountain.
Some seniors continued a streak of their favorite costume, while others broke their pattern and chose a new costume after years of tradition. For instance, Gong, one of the members of the Interpol officers costume, was Naruto, a character from a manga of the same name, from freshman year to junior year. Additionally, senior Siya Balapal is on a 4-year streak of dressing up in the same comfortable and cute shark onesie.
Some lucky seniors even took home prizes.
“Best group” went to the Miss Universe girls, who wore dazzling tiaras and stunning dresses, accessorized with rose bouquets and sashes.
“Most creative” was awarded to Emerson Rahaim for her homemade dandelion fairy costume, complete with a gigantic, fluffy hand-held dandelion.
“Best individual” was given to Isabel Gallegos for her Frida Kahlo impersonation.
“Scariest individual” went to Marco Popolitzio for his costume of Gojo, a character from the manga series “Jujutsu Kaisen.”
“Scariest group” went to the Interpol boys.
“Best movie adaptation” went to a recreation of the Night At The Museum movie trilogy by Syntia Corona, Madison Borea, and Ava Ramirez.
“Cutest group” was awarded to Theresa Urzi, Abbie Demoura and Caroline Brennan for their Shrek costume.
The Halloween parade was fun for our seniors, but of course, bittersweet, according to senior Daniel Paneto, who dressed as a matador.
“Watching everyone walk through the halls and watching the costume parade and finally being in it makes me realize I’m graduating”, he said. “I’m leaving soon.”