Schools and Halloween

[dreamer17555]

Just wondering does the school where you live allow the children to dress up for Halloween?

-Becca-

 

[KATHINOWA]

We don't wear costumes to school but they change for the parade at the end of the day.

 

[imabrat]

Nope. Never did.
Something about not wanting to offend some religions, but also let us celebrate Christmas parties.

 

[akhenaten]

yes and they have halloween parades , the parents all come.. it is outside if the weather is good.. in the gym otherwise.
the parades continue til 8th grade.. though parents don't usually go for the older kids...

there are prizes for each grade level...

and then they all go back to class for their halloween parties....

 

[Erin1700]

Our kids bring a costume to put on for the parade and party in the afternoon.

My mom works at a church with a catholic school. Those kids have to dress up like a Saint for their Halloween party.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

yes, thankfully!

K-5th still does a Halloween parade with classroom party after. (yup, we actually still call it Halloween!!!)It is always held on a half day (with parent-teacher conf in afternoon). They ask for no overly gory or otherwise inappropriate costumes and encourage healthy snacks at the parties, but aren't too strict in the enforcement of costumes and the parties are up to the teachers.

I go to watch the parade each year - there are so many cute costumes!!!!

 

[Cool-Beans]

I don't know about the public schools. The religious school my kids attended let them dress up in grades K-4. The 5th-8th graders had a party but weren't allowed to come in costumes. I guess some of the kids were wearing stuff that freaked out the little ones on the bus or looked a little slutty or whatnot, so they cut it back to K-4.

 

[dreamer17555]

Nope. Never did.
Something about not wanting to offend some religions, but also let us celebrate Christmas parties.

Our school is the same. What gets to me isn't the Christmas Parties (I believe we call them Winter Festivals) but the Valentines Days party. I was raised Catholic. Its a saints day that is openly embraced in public school because it has become non denominational. I feel that if Valentines can be celebrated than so can Halloween.

-Becca-

 

[amyhughes]

I think there has only been one school that the boys couldn't dress up at (Child Care, because of it being attached to an Evangelical Church), but other than that they all have had a some type of Halloween party. Whether it is at the school or a school sponsored event off campus.

This year they are each taking their costume to school and my Kindergartner is having a party in the gym in the afternoon (he goes to a parochial, Catholic school) and my preschooler is Trick or Treating around the building with his class (he goes to progressive Pre-K in the mornings at a local Rehab center)

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

Yes and then they have a Halloween Parade before school lets out for the day. I always look forward to it.

 

[Michelle67]

The schools my friends kids go to in Tacoma have "Harvest Festivals," and they are in the evening not during school. Our little school out here in the sticks still has Halloween parties at school. The kids can bring costumes to put on for the parade, but they don't wear them all day long. They do ask that the kids not wear scary costumes.

 

[HunnyPots]

When my daughter was in Kindergarten 15 years ago, they did the whole Halloween thing and did it up big! It was awesome! By the time my son was there 4 years later, they couldn't even say the word Halloween!
Our annual "Spooktacular" became some weak, watered down "Fall Festival" and is now held two weeks before Halloween. Its all one big load of PC crap...

 

[Brianne]

No, they've never allowed costumes at school.

I'm not sure if it's a district-wide thing or just within the elementary school my kids attend, but they only allow two parties a year. One before Winter Break, the other at the end of the year. Anything else is considered a distraction to the learning process, especially when they're cramming for months on end before FCAT testing. The same goes for birthdays--parents are allowed to bring in treats at lunchtime only.

Now, the middle school is a little different (two of my kids at there this year). No costumes on Halloween either, but they are having a Halloween-themed dance the Friday afternoon before. However, they have to dress as someone famous (either dead or alive), but falling within the district dress codes; as the school newsletter said, that leaves out Paris Hilton as a celeb choice.

 

[sdarwkcabemanmy]

DS's school does not allow dress up for Halloween since they go outside and play for part of the day. The costumes might get messed up, torn, etc. I do believe they are having a "Fall Party" in each classroom where the kids get to do Halloween related things and take home a goodie bag. I'm not certain about that though.

 

[freckles and boo]

They are allowed to take their costumes to wear in the afternoon. They have a parade and then classroom parties. No gore. No weapons (including swords). No blood. Everything else is fine.

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

They are allowed to take their costumes to wear in the afternoon. They have a parade and then classroom parties. No gore. No weapons (including swords). No blood. Everything else is fine.

Yeah, that's pretty much how my daughter's school does it.

 

[VirtuallyMe]

My kid's school does- Career Day on Halloween. So all the kids come dressed up for the day as "what they want to be when they grow up.

DD10 will be an artist this year (smock over regular clothes, beret, pallatte)
DS4 will be a garbage man- complete with home made box garbage truck- he is very excited about it all.

In the past my oldest dd (no longer at that school)- did "dancer", "rock star", teacher, SAHM (didn't want to dress up but wanted to be out of uniform).

My other dtr who this is her last year for this fun- had previously worn the same outfit every year- scrubs with stuffed animals- to be a veterinarian.

The younger kids just have a dress up day. The 5th graders all have to do an in depth study into the career- and work on resumes, cover letters, business cards etc based on research they do on their chosen careers. They have to know the schooling necessary, salary ranges, job opportunities etc.

They also have people come and speak about their jobs at the school.

 

[themilesfamily]

My daughter's preschool is having a Halloween party with a costume parade. But we were told no scary costumes -- witch, ghost, etc. Nothing that might cause another child to be scared.

That's okay with us. My daughter is a Teletubbie this year!!!! lol

 

[ThreeMusketeers]

My kid's school does- Career Day on Halloween. So all the kids come dressed up for the day as "what they want to be when they grow up.

DD10 will be an artist this year (smock over regular clothes, beret, pallatte)
DS4 will be a garbage man- complete with home made box garbage truck- he is very excited about it all.

In the past my oldest dd (no longer at that school)- did "dancer", "rock star", teacher, SAHM (didn't want to dress up but wanted to be out of uniform).

My other dtr who this is her last year for this fun- had previously worn the same outfit every year- scrubs with stuffed animals- to be a veterinarian.

The younger kids just have a dress up day. The 5th graders all have to do an in depth study into the career- and work on resumes, cover letters, business cards etc based on research they do on their chosen careers. They have to know the schooling necessary, salary ranges, job opportunities etc.

They also have people come and speak about their jobs at the school.

That is unique.
Do you let your kids pick seperate halloween costumes to trick or treat in? Or if they are an artist for school are they artists for trick or treating too?

 

[HamTown]

Our elementary school has "Book character Day" on Halloween. Each child takes a paper grocery bag and makes a vest. Then they decorate the vest in the style of a character from a book they have read. No store bought costumes allowed. I don't think there is a party involved, can't remember.

Our preschool is a traditional Halloween party. Regular costumes with games and treats.