Not-Halloween Halloween celebrations--name your school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

...costumes are what make it fun. Otherwise it's just some junk food. Costumes are the make-or-break part of the whole thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

...costumes are what make it fun. Otherwise it's just some junk food. Costumes are the make-or-break part of the whole thing.

+1
Exactly

[Anonymous]

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

I think there aren’t many school doing this and ppl won’t name them because it doesn’t exist. Trolls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

...costumes are what make it fun. Otherwise it's just some junk food. Costumes are the make-or-break part of the whole thing.

Let me guess, you are the parent who sends the kids with the elaborate costumes someone else has to help them get on.

[Anonymous]

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

Do not want to invite crazy people to harass the staff at my school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

...costumes are what make it fun. Otherwise it's just some junk food. Costumes are the make-or-break part of the whole thing.

Let me guess, you are the parent who sends the kids with the elaborate costumes someone else has to help them get on.

No, I'm the OP. Never had an issue in 15 years with costumes that are too elaborate or getting lost.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

...costumes are what make it fun. Otherwise it's just some junk food. Costumes are the make-or-break part of the whole thing.

Let me guess, you are the parent who sends the kids with the elaborate costumes someone else has to help them get on.

Let me guess, you are the person who is entirely joyless.

[Anonymous]

The Fall Festival approach is county wide. You’re not going to find any fundamental discrepancy bw MCPS elementary schools. FWIW, Frederick County also replaced Halloween with a Fall Festival celebration in their schools.

[Anonymous]

Fall festival and pajama day at my school. Haven't gotten any information if there are going to be any room parties yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Fall Festival approach is county wide. You’re not going to find any fundamental discrepancy bw MCPS elementary schools. FWIW, Frederick County also replaced Halloween with a Fall Festival celebration in their schools.

...yes you are. Last year, my kids' ES just said they weren't doing anything, and had "spirit week" instead, but it wasn't anything special relating to fall, and very few kids seemed to participate. They're doing it again this year but having "fall fun Friday" with some kind of petting zoo and special activities all day. I haven't heard of any other schools doing that. Plus, isn't it Snowden Farm that ignores it all together and does Friendsgiving? I remember some big time DCUM griping about that.

[Anonymous]

I’m so sad that MCPS is doing this. These kids lost so much of the joy of childhood over the last couple of years. Halloween is, for many kids, the favorite or second favorite holiday.

You all may recall, if you are middle aged, that we did not have partied and parades in the schools. Why? Because we were out trick or treating, unsupervised of course! School parties and parades developed as an alternative for families who don’t live in safe areas (who couldn’t safely celebrate Halloween). Same thing for the trunk thing that some schools do.

I don’t think you’re going to get rid of Halloween MCPS, and I don’t think you’ve gotten all the stakeholder feedback. Time to rethink this one. Halloween dances and haunted houses create a SAFE SPACE for many children.

[Anonymous]

I am a teacher. Our school does not participate in Halloween festivities and quite frankly, I am glad. Halloween is still a holiday that others may participate in outside of school, same for Easter, Christmas, New Years, etc. It is amazing to me what parents focus on. They will reach out to ask if they can pass out halloween candy at school and if Timmy can dress up for Halloween but I can not get them to do a parent teacher conference or to participate in one on one tutoring because Timmy is in the 4th grade reading on a Kindergarten level!

[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.

This is something the room parents and volunteers have always done at our school. All the teachers really do is lead the class around the playground for the parade and hopefully wear a costume themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a teacher. Our school does not participate in Halloween festivities and quite frankly, I am glad. Halloween is still a holiday that others may participate in outside of school, same for Easter, Christmas, New Years, etc. It is amazing to me what parents focus on. They will reach out to ask if they can pass out halloween candy at school and if Timmy can dress up for Halloween but I can not get them to do a parent teacher conference or to participate in one on one tutoring because Timmy is in the 4th grade reading on a Kindergarten level!

What if Timmy is a creative? What if his talents are in costume design?

What if the mom just wants Timmy to feel engaged and connected to his classmates? School needs to be fun and ALL the kids (including those with special needs) need something to look forward to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m so sad that MCPS is doing this. These kids lost so much of the joy of childhood over the last couple of years. Halloween is, for many kids, the favorite or second favorite holiday.

You all may recall, if you are middle aged, that we did not have partied and parades in the schools. Why? Because we were out trick or treating, unsupervised of course! School parties and parades developed as an alternative for families who don’t live in safe areas (who couldn’t safely celebrate Halloween). Same thing for the trunk thing that some schools do.

I don’t think you’re going to get rid of Halloween MCPS, and I don’t think you’ve gotten all the stakeholder feedback. Time to rethink this one. Halloween dances and haunted houses create a SAFE SPACE for many children.

+1 million

There is no good reason for MCPS to ‘cancel’ Halloween in schools. This is so wrong and disappointing.