Third graders from Gary and Pioneer elementary schools had a special treat for Halloween as the library held its annual Dare to Scare on Thursday.

At this event, high school students helped to make the third graders feel welcomed.

While the third graders moved between five different stations in the library, high school students helped out.

Child development students worked the Witch’s Brew and Halloween Happenings stations. Art Club led a face painting at Halloween Dazzle.

Spider Mania was a hands-on edible craft manned by librarian Britta Renwick.

“I had a lot of fun entertaining the kids. They were amazing and made my day,” senior Lizeth Romero said.

Nine writers read their stories after submitting it to the Dare to Scare writing contest.

Over 90 students submitted a story to two categories, Dare to Scare Your Peer and Dare to Scare a Third Grader.

Freshman Owen Mantz was the winner for his story “Tell Me I’m Not Alone” for the Dare to Scare Your Peer Contest. The story tells about a kid who is kidnapped and wants to escape.

Freshman Alexandra Romero’s piece “The Five Crow Squad” was the winner for the Dare to Scare a Third Grader contest. The story is about five kids who are trick-or-treating and then a group teens steal their Halloween candy. The kids wanted their candy back and dressed up as crows to scare the teens.

Both students received a $25 gift card of their choice.

Student authors read their story aloud to the third graders at the haunted main stage.

“I relied on our students a lot and they did a fantastic job. A lot of planning took place in order for the event to be successful. The students did a fantastic job with making the kids happy,” library media specialist Donna Leahy said.

Many of the third graders were excited to participate in the many activities Dare to Scare provided.

“They were excited to listen to the authors read their stories. The third graders loved having their hands or faces painted. They couldn’t wait to get to the Witches Brew and touch the insides of the cauldron,” Leahy said.

Dare to Scare gave the third graders the chance to interact with upperclassmen.

“This is an opportunity for them to see the high school and what it is all about. It was a magical morning and they were able to experience just how great this school really is,” Leahy said.