The Pirate Post

Behind the Scenes of Halloween

By: Caden Dillon & Garret Davis

Every October 31st, small goblins and witches crowd sidewalks in search of delicious treats as they knock on doors around neighborhoods. Teenagers line up outside of haunted houses or scream parks that are shrouded in ghoulish blood and gore ready to be petrified. However, Halloween is more than just a fun filled evening of costumes and screams, but has a rich history embedded at its core. Over two thousand years ago, the Celts celebrated Samhain (pronounced “sow-in”) to mark the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter, a time often associated with death and darkness. The belief was that on the night of October 31st, the boundary between the living and the dead blurred, allowing spirits to roam the earth. October 31st, 2025 is fast approaching, and we are eager to see the hordes of people dressing up and attending haunted houses, seeking a horrifying thrill. Let’s dive in deeper to the world of haunted houses, which are the big attraction in the month of October.

At Southeast, one of our teachers coordinates the running of her very own haunted house in Conneaut, Pennsylvania; it’s called Ghost Lake Scream Park. Southeast 8th grade English teacher Tara Stitle puts in her time, effort, and creativity to help ready the actors for the opening of the haunted house each season. “We have over 155 haunted actors, managers, and crew who I spend months preparing for the haunt” Stitle commented. Her haunted house doesn’t just entertain from the actors, it also has rides and other attractions that will terrify. Stitle finds pleasure in watching people go through the haunted house and see or hear their reactions. “I have to say, though, that I still love to scare. I love watching people’s reactions when you terrify them, or even make them laugh” Stitle stated. Stitle helps with the haunted house for more than the reactions, though. Her childhood is rooted in the realm of haunted houses. Starting from age nine, she was involved in helping her father with the haunted house business. Ever since he passed away, she’s been trying to continue her father’s legacy to make him proud. Her hard work and dedication has paid off helping her successfully run Ghost Lake Scream Park. So, take a road trip to Conneaut, Pennsylvania and experience the chills and thrills for yourself. Whether you’re a fan of jump scares or eerie rides, Ghost Lake Scream Park offers a hauntingly good time for everyone.

ABOUT US

The Pirate Post started out as a club in the spring of 2025. This year, it officially became a Journalism and Communications Class, run by students, that is open to anyone! The process to make this an elective, however, was no easy feat. Student Izzy Goodnite (who proposed that we create a school newspaper) wrote a proposal for the school board, and they agreed to make it a class. We aim to inform the student body about things that are new at Southeast: sports, school plays, field trips, and seasonal news. We cover it all! “I feel this newspaper isn’t just about information though, it is also about learning and recognizing people who deserve it,” states Goodnite. If you enjoy writing, Newspaper is the class for you! If you have any article ideas or any questions, you can email our advisor, Julia Dillon: jdillon@sepirates.org or fill out the form at the bottom of our website.