Not-Halloween Halloween celebrations--name your school

[Anonymous]

Not in MCPS, but Book Character Costume Parade on Halloween morning or, when Halloween is on a weekend, the Friday before (which I prefer).

Basically all costumers are allowed as long as without weaponry and not covering face entirely. You can find a book about anything, even movies and tv show characters

The family association usually puts on a Fall Festival earlier in October, but that's not holiday related at all, just outdoors and sometimes includes pumpkin painting

[Anonymous]

My kids went to the Cluster schools on the Hill (Peabody/Watkins)— schools that are often trashed on DCUM. They do Book Character Day with costumes, and I loved it. The best person to contact about it is probably Ms. Susan Bloom, the librarian at Peabody. She’s been doing it for decades, and is so great about finding books for kids who don’t have a book to bring to the parade. https://www.capitolhillclusterschool.org/peabody-staff

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids went to the Cluster schools on the Hill (Peabody/Watkins)— schools that are often trashed on DCUM. They do Book Character Day with costumes, and I loved it. The best person to contact about it is probably Ms. Susan Bloom, the librarian at Peabody. She’s been doing it for decades, and is so great about finding books for kids who don’t have a book to bring to the parade. https://www.capitolhillclusterschool.org/peabody-staff

Forgot to add— the event is usually held the morning of Halloween or the day closest to it, right after drop off. The kids wear their costumes for the rest of the day.

[Anonymous]

There is a very serious and pervasive staffing shortage in public schools right now. Staff do not need to be planning a party on top of everything they are already doing. Nor do they need to be spending hours of their time responding to parent emails and phone calls explaining to whining parents why they aren’t planning the party.

I suggest you organize your own celebration and then your child can have just the experience you want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is a very serious and pervasive staffing shortage in public schools right now. Staff do not need to be planning a party on top of everything they are already doing. Nor do they need to be spending hours of their time responding to parent emails and phone calls explaining to whining parents why they aren’t planning the party.

I suggest you organize your own celebration and then your child can have just the experience you want.

A staffing shortage has exactly zero to do with any of this. But you’re free to continue spinning.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Interesting most people assumed I'm speaking from my role as a parent. I'm a staff member at an elementary school in which admin cancelled Halloween celebrations in recent years with only lip-service to gathering input from stakeholders. There has been discussion among leadership about bringing it back, in the interest of having more fun things in school, and perhaps considering that we never really discussed the reasons behind canceling it in the first place. I was looking for specific schools that have the "fall" celebrations, so that I could reach out with more pointed questions (what is thinking behind not calling it Halloween? If it's related to attendance, has the change addressed that issue? How have they elicited feedback? etc). If we were able to construct a party during the school day that involved the fun of costumes, a parade, and family involvement, yet did not cause some families to opt out, it would be a very special compromise.

Yes, plenty of staff think of parties as fluff that can be a big hassle, but most of us are willing to put up with it for the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Interesting most people assumed I'm speaking from my role as a parent. I'm a staff member at an elementary school in which admin cancelled Halloween celebrations in recent years with only lip-service to gathering input from stakeholders. There has been discussion among leadership about bringing it back, in the interest of having more fun things in school, and perhaps considering that we never really discussed the reasons behind canceling it in the first place. I was looking for specific schools that have the "fall" celebrations, so that I could reach out with more pointed questions (what is thinking behind not calling it Halloween? If it's related to attendance, has the change addressed that issue? How have they elicited feedback? etc). If we were able to construct a party during the school day that involved the fun of costumes, a parade, and family involvement, yet did not cause some families to opt out, it would be a very special compromise.

Yes, plenty of staff think of parties as fluff that can be a big hassle, but most of us are willing to put up with it for the kids.

I would rather not name my school but we have a huge population of Muslim and pentacostal Christians who tell me that Halloween is the devil's birthday and they can't celebrate Halloween.

[Anonymous]

MCPS ES parent here. We have a harvest parade and crafts. Kids come to school in costumes, do a parade. There are snacks and crafts as the special that day. Its low key but lovely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS ES parent here. We have a harvest parade and crafts. Kids come to school in costumes, do a parade. There are snacks and crafts as the special that day. Its low key but lovely.

So Halloween parade without the word Halloween. OK.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting that only one school has been named so far.

That's because OP wants a school that allows costumes, and many schools won't allow costumes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Interesting most people assumed I'm speaking from my role as a parent. I'm a staff member at an elementary school in which admin cancelled Halloween celebrations in recent years with only lip-service to gathering input from stakeholders. There has been discussion among leadership about bringing it back, in the interest of having more fun things in school, and perhaps considering that we never really discussed the reasons behind canceling it in the first place. I was looking for specific schools that have the "fall" celebrations, so that I could reach out with more pointed questions (what is thinking behind not calling it Halloween? If it's related to attendance, has the change addressed that issue? How have they elicited feedback? etc). If we were able to construct a party during the school day that involved the fun of costumes, a parade, and family involvement, yet did not cause some families to opt out, it would be a very special compromise.

Yes, plenty of staff think of parties as fluff that can be a big hassle, but most of us are willing to put up with it for the kids.

OP, why not name your school? Perhaps, other posters will be more forthcoming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Interesting most people assumed I'm speaking from my role as a parent. I'm a staff member at an elementary school in which admin cancelled Halloween celebrations in recent years with only lip-service to gathering input from stakeholders. There has been discussion among leadership about bringing it back, in the interest of having more fun things in school, and perhaps considering that we never really discussed the reasons behind canceling it in the first place. I was looking for specific schools that have the "fall" celebrations, so that I could reach out with more pointed questions (what is thinking behind not calling it Halloween? If it's related to attendance, has the change addressed that issue? How have they elicited feedback? etc). If we were able to construct a party during the school day that involved the fun of costumes, a parade, and family involvement, yet did not cause some families to opt out, it would be a very special compromise.

Yes, plenty of staff think of parties as fluff that can be a big hassle, but most of us are willing to put up with it for the kids.

Skip the costumes, do some crafts/party games fall related vs. halloween and cake/cupcakes, drinks, maybe pizza, fruit, snacks.... easy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting that only one school has been named so far.

That's because OP wants a school that allows costumes, and many schools won't allow costumes.

Maybe have the kids wear a fun shirt vs. a costume. They are a nightmare to get everyone in them, costumes get lost, etc.

[Anonymous]

Very odd most people won’t name their school. What is the big deal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Very odd most people won’t name their school. What is the big deal?

People worry their school will be harassed by something posted on DCUM.