Palatine High School Presents Trick or Treat with Pirate Pete

Palatine High School will host its annual Trick-or Treat with Pirate Pete event on Thursday, October 25th from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m., at Palatine High School, 1111 N. Rohlwing Rd. Children ages ten and under, accompanied by an adult, are invited to attend this FREE annual celebration of the fall season. Students from a variety of Palatine High School clubs, organizations, programs, and athletic teams will staff the event.

The gym and cafeteria will have a large selection of carnival type games for the children to play, including a Pirate Ship Moon Jump Slide. Speech Team and Drama Club will host a petting zoo with a snake, hedgehog, and other furry animals in the gym hallway. The transportation department will be hosting a Halloween school bus outside Exit 1.

Classrooms throughout the first floor of the school will be decorated using themes. Each classroom has a sign outside letting parents know if the room is "scary" or "not scary" for the children. Treats will be handed out at the event.

Twenty-four years ago, Gary Steiger, now principal at Palatine High School, had three young children. It was Halloween and the weather was cold and rainy. A friend told him that Randhurst Mall was hosting an indoor trick-or-treat event at their facility. The Steiger family attended the event, and the idea was born to host a similar event at Palatine High School.

Gary Steiger planned the first trick-or-treat event at Fremd High School, and has been hosting the event at Palatine for the last 23 years. Steiger looks at the event as a way to give back to the Palatine Community. His grandson, Vince, has enjoyed the event for the past 7 years. This will be Mr. Steiger's last time hosting the event, since he retires at the end of this academic year.

Palatine High School science teacher, Nicki O'Keefe, remembers Trick-or-Treat with Pirate Pete when she was a student at PHS. O'Keefe said, "This is a great opportunity for families to bring their children to a warm, safe, and friendly environment to trick-or-treat."

The event is sponsored by Palatine High School staff and student groups, along with community organizations and businesses. One of the annual sponsors is the Palatine High School Pirate Boosters. The Booster Club provides an annual grant of $2,000 to subsidize the supplies and candy purchases. The American Cancer Society donated candy with an invitation to join Relay for Life and help make cancer less spooky.

For more information about Trick-or-Treat with Pirate Pete, please call Palatine High School at (847) 755 - 1600.