By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Sierra High stages ‘Ward 51’ haunted house
Mad Scientist Laboratory
Manteca’s Mad Scientist Laboratory returns on Halloween evening. See details in story. - photo by Bulletin file photo

Tonight, the haunts at Sierra High School’s “Ward 51” – an insane asylum-themed haunted house being organized by the Sierra High School leadership class – will serve up more than just scares to the feeder school students and families that will one day call the campus home. 

It’ll also serve up a dose of family and familiarity for the future Timberwolves – some of whom will be attending the school next year. 

According to Sierra High School leadership teacher Jared Rio, the event serves as an opportunity for future students and their families to get to know the campus, the students, and the staff, while having a good time. 

“It was something that we did last year as well, and it was a good event – we want to get the families on campus any way we can, be that sports, music, or activities,” Rio said. “It’s a lot of fun and we encourage people come on out and enjoy it.”

The event will take place tonight from 5 to 8 p.m. at Sierra High School – located at 1700 Thomas Street – and will be centered on Classroom 51 and a pair of additional classrooms that will provide additional activities. The event is free to families from Stella Brockman, Nile Garden, Brock Elliott, and Veritas Elementary Schools. 

Individual classes will be offering refreshments and snacks – including a pizza and drink dinner, hot chocolate, popcorn, and candy – to raise money.  Activities like the arts and crafts, the haunted house, and the free movie, all of which will be taking place around Classroom 51, will be free to all attendees.

According to Rio, the entire Sierra High School leadership class works to make the event possible, and once this is completed work on additional events later in the school year will begin to provide additional opportunities for future students and their families.

The event is geared to all ages and open to all students regardless of whether they are in primary grades or middle school. 

Rio said that sometimes forging those relationships with students can make all of the difference in the world when starting out in a new environment and takes on an even more critical role when the school community itself is growing – welcoming this year the largest freshman class ever. 

“I see things differently now through the leadership program, but you see a lot of that early exposure through sports and when those students do come in as freshman, they’re more comfortable because they’ve been here and they’ve interacted with a staff member or a program,” Rio said. “And there are a lot of students that will mention that they have a brother here, or a sister here, and you see that these families are embedded. 

“We want to keep that going, and these events help us do that.”


Mad Scientist 

Laboratory

open Halloween night

Rick Feuerstein is bringing back his popular Mad Scientist Laboratory on Thursday, Oct. 31, from 6:30 to 10 p.m. in the garage of his home at 1373 Pajaro Ave.

The free event is recommended for ages 5 and up. There will be candy for kids.

It’ll mark the 27th year that Feuerstein has turned his garage into a spooky laboratory reminiscent of the Fright Night horror movies he used to enjoy watching as a kid, and he hopes that the regulars who visit him every year on Halloween as well as some newcomers stop by to have a look. 


Safe Halloween

tonight at St. Paul’s

The free Safe Halloween Carnival takes place Wednesday, Oct. 30, from 6 to 8 p.m. at St Paul’s United Methodist Church 910 E. North Street.

It is open to community with free hot dogs, games, petting zoo and everything for the young at heart. The carnival is sponsored by St Paul’s Wednesday Night Revive Group.


To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.