Trick or Treat, smell my feet…or just head to Rocky for some TREATS! On Wednesday, October 29, Rocky hosted Trick or Treat Street (TOTS) to provide an enriching experience for children in the community. This annual event created an environment that’s safe and inclusive–all provided by high school students who volunteer and donate candy.
While the goal for the event was to provide a safe and inclusive environment for children, it was also a fun way to include the whole Rocky community. Students decorated the halls, set up stations, and handed out candy to kids, on the Wednesday before Halloween.
It’s not only an exciting time for kids, but also for Rocky students and staff who got to dress up and pass out candy. Many staff members have children they brought to TOTS to get treats. It was also a positive way for clubs to come together and give back to the community.
Trick or Treat Streets started at schools around the country as a way for children to stay safe and off the streets. Traffic, as well as unpredictable weather, inappropriate costumes, and stranger danger are not issues at Trick or Treat Street. Doing it in a neighborhood school building allows parents to feel at ease with a holiday tradition.
“It is just a kind of low-stakes environment for folks to get out of the unpredictable Colorado weather outside,” Stuco advisor Mrs. Perry said. “Who knows what trick-or-treating conditions will be on actual Halloween?”
This year, 38 clubs set up tables throughout the halls where students who belong to those clubs distributed candy to each child who walked through. There were tables decorated around themes and students dressed to match. The Peers were various colors of crayons, while the admin team had a Wizard of Oz theme. Students went all out with the decorations and lights around the school. At the end of the route, kids could play games and climb on the rocks. Usually, around 1,000 attendees participate in this two hour event and this year was about the same.
Feeder schools in the Poudre School District helped advertise Trick-or-Treat Street, and it was a great way for children to get a sense of the Rocky community and a school they may attend when they get older.
The student council is in charge of this event and provided additional candy and support to the clubs. In 2023, TOTS ran out of candy, so Stuco reps had to leave the event to go purchase more. Since then, they have planned how many clubs would be attending and purchased extra candy accordingly–usually spending around $2,000 to make sure there’s enough to last the whole night.
“Trick or Treat Street is important because it gives the children an opportunity to experience the Halloween spirit, especially the ones who can’t go out on Halloween. All the kids have good attitudes and it’s super fun,” senior Lexine Wilson said.
