School readies for scary-licious night out

Suzie Harrison

The school district and community is behind a scary movement.

Fortunately, it’s only temporary and for a pretty good cause. It’s

time for El Morro Elementary School’s annual Boo Blast.

“It’s open to the entire community,” El Morro PTA president

Melanie Lewis said. “Lots of kids come from Top of the World and

private schools too.”

The Boo Blast is a tradition more than 20 years old at El Morro.

Principal Chris Duddy, who made a transition from Thurston Middle

School to El Morro this fall, will experience it for the first time.

“I’m excited, there’s a sense of anticipation that is building as

we get closer to the event,” Duddy said.

The event is sponsored by the PTA and the profits are used to aid

programs at El Morro.

This year’s theme is “Haunted Beach Town,” and the campus will be

decorated with surf and beach scenes in a scary style. Even the

haunted house has splashy spooks of its own.

Beth Saxe and Susan Heitmann are co-chairs in charge of the

haunted house. With the help from Tracie Shields, the committee has

grand plans for its design.

Under-water scenes will include a sunken ship and shark area.

Along with a new theme, the haunted house has a new home. Instead of

being on a stage, it will be in the multi-purpose room, which makes

it bigger than it has been in the past.

“I came up with the ideas mostly, and Susan was somehow able to

implement them,” Saxe said.

This year $15 wristbands, which offer convenience with unlimited

access to all the rides, are available for purchase.

“It will make it easier on the parents,” Lewis said. “The $15

figure is based on the amount of people and cost of the rides. It’s

not meant to gouge just to simplify.”

Tickets can be purchased to access games, the haunted house, rides

and food items.

Jackson Yamasaki, 10, said he has been going every year since he

was in kindergarten.

“I like the haunted house mostly ... it’s pretty fun and scary,”

Jackson said.

Lewis said all the favorites will be at this year’s Boo Blast,

including a lot of games, a DJ, raffle, cakewalk, bake sale, food and

more rides than usual.

“We have a ‘Soarin over El Morro’ Ferris wheel, a giant shark

slide, a kid’s train called the ‘Surfliner,’ spinning cups and the

‘Swinging’ Safari’ swing ride,” Lewis said.

Jamie Swintex is a fifth-grade teacher at El Morro. She remembers

all the years she went to Boo Blast as an El Morro student.

“I remember it being so much fun, I love all the game booths,”

Swintex said.

April Carlson, 10, said her best memories of Boo Blast are the

haunted house.

“I like going into the haunted house, being freaked out and

getting that weird feeling in your stomach ... it’s a cool feeling,”

April said.

Lewis wanted to remind everyone that there is no parking at El

Morro anywhere on campus. Crystal Cove State Park, at Reef point off

of North Coast Highway, has donated free parking with the city’s free

shuttles running continuously to the event. Boo Blast is from 2:30 to

7:30 p.m. Oct. 29. For information about business donations for the

raffle or to sponsor a banner, call Tracey Williams at (949)

499-6286. El Morro Elementary School is at 8681 N. Coast Highway. For

information, call (949) 497-7780.