Montera’s annual Costume Competition was held on Halloween this Thursday during first period in the MUR. The winners, Isadora Karjian, Arabella Geminiuc, and Nick Vlahos each received a bag of Candyfish Bulk Candy.
Each grade had a winning costume. There was a winning costume for each grade. Isadora Karjian, 6th, was Sally from “The Nightmare Before Christmas”. Arabella Geminiuc, 7th, dressed as an escapee from Alcatraz. Nick Vlajos, 8th, was Nux from “Mad Max”.
There were three separate competitions by grade level. The 6th graders competed first. competition was first. Four teachers and four students from Mx. J’s Leadership class judged the competition. There were four teacher judges and four student judges selected from Mx. J’s Leadership class. Student judges were prohibited not allowed to from judging their own grade to prevent bias.
The PA system announced that teachers should “only send the best costumes” to the competition, Teachers were asked over the loudspeaker to “only send the best costumes” to the competition. The contestants lined up against the wall. Each costume was assigned a number card. A group costume would get one number and competed in the same competition as individual costumes. One by one (not in number order), the judges called up each costume each costume got called to the front and given a chance to explain their costume.
Each judge had a sheet to rate each costume. They wrote down the costume’s number and rated it out of ten based on originality, detail, and presentation. After all the costumes presented, they added to get the total score out of 30. Then the teachers and students deliberated until they agreed on each grade’s winner.
Previous judges said they were looking for originality and effort in costumes. Samuel Cooper, 6th grade dean and cross country-track coach, said he was impressed by handmade costumes. The more effort, the better.
Cooper said a costume that “looks like it comes out of a box” likely would not win.
Art teacher Rebecca Recco agreed. Recco said she appreciates handmade costumes with “clever details”. Recco prefers costumes relating to students’ passions.
“They’re super passionate about it, so they have all the details.” Recco said. She has been a judge before and judged again this year.
Dorothy and Glinda, Beetlejuice, Twenty-One Pilots, and Jesus were all also spotted at the costume competition. Some other costumes at the competition were Dorothy and Glinda, Beetlejuice, Twenty One Pilots, and a Jesus with a broccoli haircut.