Scaring up some fun

Posted: Oct. 1, 2009

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SCOTT ASH/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

OLD HAUNTS - Ghosts and ghouls inhabit the old Oconomowoc Middle School building on Tuesday, Sept. 29. as the Oconomowoc Public Education Foundation prepares for it's first annual "Haunted High." The haunted attraction will be open nine weekend nights Oct. 9-31.

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SCOTT ASH/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

OLD HAUNTS - Ghosts and ghouls inhabit the old Oconomowoc Middle School building on Tuesday, Sept. 29. as the Oconomowoc Public Education Foundation prepares for it's first annual "Haunted High." The haunted attraction will be open nine weekend nights Oct. 9-31.

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Raising money for charitable causes today is a scary feat, but fearless volunteers in Oconomowoc and surrounding communities are bravely facing it. Starting Friday, the former historic Oconomowoc Middle School that was built in the 1900s will come to life as Haunted High.

Oconomowoc Public Education Foundation (OPEF) board member Mike Herro resurrected the idea of having a haunted location in the area, which he hopes will become an annual major fundraiser for the foundation.

"The idea came to me because I was looking for an event that incorporated the kids in the district and that also brings in the adults," said Herro. "It's been a collaborative effort between the people in the community and will be a real fun event.

"Halloween is a fun event anyways and not having any local haunted houses, I thought it was a good idea."

OPEF was created in 2007 to offer the community an avenue to support Oconomowoc schools. Some of its designated funds support Performance Arts Center Enhancements for the Oconomowoc Arts Center, (PACE), the Jennifer Bukosky Fund to support drug and alcohol abuse awareness and prevention, and OPEF awarded two teacher grants for the 2009-10 school year. Herro said he hopes money raised at the haunt will allow for 20 to 30 grants next year.

Along with OPEF, area service organizations, community clubs and local businesses have the opportunity to become Scare-Orama sponsors. This allows the group to build their own Scare-Oramas within the attraction, in stairwells, classrooms or halls. It can be used as a way to promote the sponsoring entity.

Oconomowoc High School marketing teacher Jennifer Starke-White said she has more than 100 students involved through the OHS DECA club. Students have been volunteering their time to promote the event, set up displays for the haunt, prepare for acting roles in Haunted High and serve in other roles.

"It's such a unique idea. Hopefully the enthusiasm will carry through," Starke-White said.

She said the students' involvement in the event is a win-win. The money earned through DECA will go toward the club's charitable efforts, including adopting an impoverished school in Milwaukee. For several years, the club has sent gifts to the school, delivered by Santa himself. It has also adopted families and provided them with gift cards, shampoo, blankets and other essentials they might otherwise go without.

And beyond the fun, Starke-White said students are getting a sense of empowerment from planning and organizing such a feat themselves.

"Today I got an e-mail (from a student) delegating and taking ownership," Starke-White said. "They fail a lot, and they succeed a lot; it's as strong as the kids want to be."

Starke-White said the Arrowhead DECA club is also involved, along with other school groups and clubs from Watertown High School, Marquette University, and Hartford and New Berlin Eisenhower high schools. Groups get $2 of every ticket sold to a student from their school on their designated night. Visit hauntedschool.org for more information.

DECA president, sophomore Natalie Minix, said so far member participation has been a huge success.

"It's been a lot of creativity and thinking outside the box and also collaborating," Minix said. "I'm really proud of how we've pulled together, and we've only had a short amount of time. I'm proud to be president of this club."

Starke-White admitted the students might have taught her a new form of collaborating and communicating during the event's planning.

"We started doing group text messaging" to get the message out about needs, rehearsals and other information. "Kids don't e-mail as much anymore, and that has been a challenge," she said.

What's proven successful is a "connection tree" in which one person texts another to explain needs. "It's not a text message you send out a day before, it's one you send out five minutes before that works; that's just how they operate," Starke-White explained.

The diverse collaboration of parents, students and the community is something all volunteers hope initiates a chain reaction of screams this month.

Go to 'sghoul'

→ Enter, if you dare, the more than 65,000 square feet that is Haunted High beginning Oct. 9.

→ Tickets are $12 at the door; be sure to visit hauntedschool.org for the calendar and FAQs about specials and advance purchase group discounts.

→ Haunted High is at 550 E. Forest St., Oconomowoc. Ticket counter opens at 6:30 p.m. and attraction is open from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturdays Oct. 9 through 31.

→ Volunteers shifts are still available as well as group opportunities for your school, club or business. Visit hauntedschool.org for more information.