![Dressed up as the varsity girls’ tennis coach Katelyn Arenos, senior Kate Johnson and junior Mireya David hand out candy at West High’s annual trunk or treat event. This year, the trunk or treat was moved inside as a result of adverse weather. “As a senior, I care less about Halloween now. Teachers will bring their kids and families [to West’s Trunk or Treat], but there were fewer [this year] because they just thought it was canceled [due to the] rain. [With] Halloween, I think you care less the older you get,” Johnson said.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/DSC00892-1-1200x800.jpg)
At 9 a.m., Attendance Secretary Mary Howard is greeted by a pile of never-ending excuses, late arrivals, and early dismissal requests. At 9:30 a.m., students swarm in, and she prepares for mass attendance changes, all while juggling emails, ID checks, and late buses. In the afternoon, parents frantically call her to ask where their child is, and teachers urgently email her, asking her why a student isn’t in class. At 2:30 p.m., dismissal begins, and early release students crowd the window. At 3 p.m, she digs through data and timestamps to track down who left campus without checking out. As she pieces the puzzle pieces of attendance together all day, it’s a miracle if she gets a second to breathe. Yet, behind each phone call, each tardy slip, and each computer click...
