Our elementary school canceled Halloween

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I haven’t read this whole thread, and I no longer have kids in elementary. I just think it is sad to cancel Halloween when it is a long standing fun tradition in the county. I grew up with an MCPS elementary school behind my house and loved the days when I was older and saw the parades. If it wasn’t such a long tradition I might feel differently.

Once again for the slow people in the back, that did not happen.

That is EXACTLY what happened. MCPS elementary schools often had fun Halloween parades on the black top. Now, those parades are banned.

That doesn't cancel Halloween.

MCPS did since it's a religious school district now.

Will your porch light be on Oct 31? Will you welcome kids demanding candy? Voila! Halloween is not cancelled.

I understand that it continues to be confusing for some posters here...but this is the "MCPS" board, not the "Real Estate" board.

What's confusing is that some people think Halloween celebrations at school are some sort of Important American Tradition, and that a principal deciding not to take time away from the school day to have parties or parades is destroying the community. Things change. Celebrate all you want in your home and neighborhood. Move on.

You move on. We like our traditions. Traditions hold communities together.

Our neighborhood has had a small Halloween parade for several years. It's much better than having it at school, as kids (and/or adults) of all ages can be included in it together. It would be easy enough to get one started. Mention the idea on you neighborhood listserv, or post a sign on a corner.

Then we better start lobbying to stop that, because streets are for driving on, not having Halloween parades. See how that works?

I had a great time celebrating Halloween in school. So did my older kid. So did the generation before us. Leave that tradition alone -- it's worked for literally generations. It's a screaming good time for kids and creates memories that last a lifetime. It drives parents into the schools to volunteer, giving their own kids an experience they themselves had and remember fondly. Leave it alone.

My school canceled it because about 80 to 100 kids were opting out. It just doesn't make sense to create a tradition when that many families are refusing to participate

The school is not ‘creating’ a tradition. If the school continues to allow Halloween celebrations at school, it is continuing a uniquely American tradition that has been enjoyed by kids for decades.

Instead, the school is choosing to cater to religious families and force everyone to abandon this tradition.

Also, how large is your school? My kid’s elementary school has 700 kids. If 80-100 kids didn’t participate, there are still 600 kids who will! In other words, the schooo is taking something fun away from 600 kids, to appease the religious families?

500 kids so about 1/5 of the kids were not participating. Also from a logistical standpoint it's fine to offer an alternative activity for a handful of kids but when you're getting up to that many kids not participating it's a lot of kids to figure out alternative programming

How about this?

The Halloween festivities start at 2pm. If you don’t want your child to participate, you can pick them up at 2.

Seems like an unfair burden to place on parents who might rely on bus transportation to get their children home.

Or their kids could just participate in something they don't celebrate at home. Not the end of the world to learn how to live in society, with a lot of other people who probably won't be exactly like you.

THIS! This is exactly what America should be about.

I am a kid of immigrants whose parents came from another country. If I went to another country, I would celebrate their holidays, not ask them to cancel them.

They aren't being canceled. Its a school choice but a fall festival is far more inclusive.

How? What if some students don’t celebrate the seasons? What then?

No one celebrates seasons. Grow up.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I haven’t read this whole thread, and I no longer have kids in elementary. I just think it is sad to cancel Halloween when it is a long standing fun tradition in the county. I grew up with an MCPS elementary school behind my house and loved the days when I was older and saw the parades. If it wasn’t such a long tradition I might feel differently.

Once again for the slow people in the back, that did not happen.

That is EXACTLY what happened. MCPS elementary schools often had fun Halloween parades on the black top. Now, those parades are banned.

That doesn't cancel Halloween.

MCPS did since it's a religious school district now.

Will your porch light be on Oct 31? Will you welcome kids demanding candy? Voila! Halloween is not cancelled.

I understand that it continues to be confusing for some posters here...but this is the "MCPS" board, not the "Real Estate" board.

What's confusing is that some people think Halloween celebrations at school are some sort of Important American Tradition, and that a principal deciding not to take time away from the school day to have parties or parades is destroying the community. Things change. Celebrate all you want in your home and neighborhood. Move on.

You move on. We like our traditions. Traditions hold communities together.

Our neighborhood has had a small Halloween parade for several years. It's much better than having it at school, as kids (and/or adults) of all ages can be included in it together. It would be easy enough to get one started. Mention the idea on you neighborhood listserv, or post a sign on a corner.

Then we better start lobbying to stop that, because streets are for driving on, not having Halloween parades. See how that works?

I had a great time celebrating Halloween in school. So did my older kid. So did the generation before us. Leave that tradition alone -- it's worked for literally generations. It's a screaming good time for kids and creates memories that last a lifetime. It drives parents into the schools to volunteer, giving their own kids an experience they themselves had and remember fondly. Leave it alone.

My school canceled it because about 80 to 100 kids were opting out. It just doesn't make sense to create a tradition when that many families are refusing to participate

The school is not ‘creating’ a tradition. If the school continues to allow Halloween celebrations at school, it is continuing a uniquely American tradition that has been enjoyed by kids for decades.

Instead, the school is choosing to cater to religious families and force everyone to abandon this tradition.

Also, how large is your school? My kid’s elementary school has 700 kids. If 80-100 kids didn’t participate, there are still 600 kids who will! In other words, the schooo is taking something fun away from 600 kids, to appease the religious families?

500 kids so about 1/5 of the kids were not participating. Also from a logistical standpoint it's fine to offer an alternative activity for a handful of kids but when you're getting up to that many kids not participating it's a lot of kids to figure out alternative programming

How about this?

The Halloween festivities start at 2pm. If you don’t want your child to participate, you can pick them up at 2.

Seems like an unfair burden to place on parents who might rely on bus transportation to get their children home.

Or their kids could just participate in something they don't celebrate at home. Not the end of the world to learn how to live in society, with a lot of other people who probably won't be exactly like you.

THIS! This is exactly what America should be about.

I am a kid of immigrants whose parents came from another country. If I went to another country, I would celebrate their holidays, not ask them to cancel them.

They aren't being canceled. Its a school choice but a fall festival is far more inclusive.

How? What if some students don’t celebrate the seasons? What then?

No one celebrates seasons. Grow up.

Then why have a Fall Festival? Or is it okay for everybody to do it because nobody does it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I haven’t read this whole thread, and I no longer have kids in elementary. I just think it is sad to cancel Halloween when it is a long standing fun tradition in the county. I grew up with an MCPS elementary school behind my house and loved the days when I was older and saw the parades. If it wasn’t such a long tradition I might feel differently.

Once again for the slow people in the back, that did not happen.

That is EXACTLY what happened. MCPS elementary schools often had fun Halloween parades on the black top. Now, those parades are banned.

That doesn't cancel Halloween.

MCPS did since it's a religious school district now.

Will your porch light be on Oct 31? Will you welcome kids demanding candy? Voila! Halloween is not cancelled.

I understand that it continues to be confusing for some posters here...but this is the "MCPS" board, not the "Real Estate" board.

What's confusing is that some people think Halloween celebrations at school are some sort of Important American Tradition, and that a principal deciding not to take time away from the school day to have parties or parades is destroying the community. Things change. Celebrate all you want in your home and neighborhood. Move on.

You move on. We like our traditions. Traditions hold communities together.

Our neighborhood has had a small Halloween parade for several years. It's much better than having it at school, as kids (and/or adults) of all ages can be included in it together. It would be easy enough to get one started. Mention the idea on you neighborhood listserv, or post a sign on a corner.

Then we better start lobbying to stop that, because streets are for driving on, not having Halloween parades. See how that works?

I had a great time celebrating Halloween in school. So did my older kid. So did the generation before us. Leave that tradition alone -- it's worked for literally generations. It's a screaming good time for kids and creates memories that last a lifetime. It drives parents into the schools to volunteer, giving their own kids an experience they themselves had and remember fondly. Leave it alone.

My school canceled it because about 80 to 100 kids were opting out. It just doesn't make sense to create a tradition when that many families are refusing to participate

The school is not ‘creating’ a tradition. If the school continues to allow Halloween celebrations at school, it is continuing a uniquely American tradition that has been enjoyed by kids for decades.

Instead, the school is choosing to cater to religious families and force everyone to abandon this tradition.

Also, how large is your school? My kid’s elementary school has 700 kids. If 80-100 kids didn’t participate, there are still 600 kids who will! In other words, the schooo is taking something fun away from 600 kids, to appease the religious families?

500 kids so about 1/5 of the kids were not participating. Also from a logistical standpoint it's fine to offer an alternative activity for a handful of kids but when you're getting up to that many kids not participating it's a lot of kids to figure out alternative programming

How about this?

The Halloween festivities start at 2pm. If you don’t want your child to participate, you can pick them up at 2.

Seems like an unfair burden to place on parents who might rely on bus transportation to get their children home.

Or their kids could just participate in something they don't celebrate at home. Not the end of the world to learn how to live in society, with a lot of other people who probably won't be exactly like you.

THIS! This is exactly what America should be about.

I am a kid of immigrants whose parents came from another country. If I went to another country, I would celebrate their holidays, not ask them to cancel them.

They aren't being canceled. Its a school choice but a fall festival is far more inclusive.

How? What if some students don’t celebrate the seasons? What then?

No one celebrates seasons. Grow up.

Then why have a Fall Festival? Or is it okay for everybody to do it because nobody does it?

It's this, exactly. Meaningless drivel that can't possibly offend anyone because no one cares about it. Fall festival. Give me a break.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I haven’t read this whole thread, and I no longer have kids in elementary. I just think it is sad to cancel Halloween when it is a long standing fun tradition in the county. I grew up with an MCPS elementary school behind my house and loved the days when I was older and saw the parades. If it wasn’t such a long tradition I might feel differently.

Once again for the slow people in the back, that did not happen.

That is EXACTLY what happened. MCPS elementary schools often had fun Halloween parades on the black top. Now, those parades are banned.

That doesn't cancel Halloween.

MCPS did since it's a religious school district now.

Will your porch light be on Oct 31? Will you welcome kids demanding candy? Voila! Halloween is not cancelled.

I understand that it continues to be confusing for some posters here...but this is the "MCPS" board, not the "Real Estate" board.

What's confusing is that some people think Halloween celebrations at school are some sort of Important American Tradition, and that a principal deciding not to take time away from the school day to have parties or parades is destroying the community. Things change. Celebrate all you want in your home and neighborhood. Move on.

You move on. We like our traditions. Traditions hold communities together.

Our neighborhood has had a small Halloween parade for several years. It's much better than having it at school, as kids (and/or adults) of all ages can be included in it together. It would be easy enough to get one started. Mention the idea on you neighborhood listserv, or post a sign on a corner.

Then we better start lobbying to stop that, because streets are for driving on, not having Halloween parades. See how that works?

I had a great time celebrating Halloween in school. So did my older kid. So did the generation before us. Leave that tradition alone -- it's worked for literally generations. It's a screaming good time for kids and creates memories that last a lifetime. It drives parents into the schools to volunteer, giving their own kids an experience they themselves had and remember fondly. Leave it alone.

My school canceled it because about 80 to 100 kids were opting out. It just doesn't make sense to create a tradition when that many families are refusing to participate

The school is not ‘creating’ a tradition. If the school continues to allow Halloween celebrations at school, it is continuing a uniquely American tradition that has been enjoyed by kids for decades.

Instead, the school is choosing to cater to religious families and force everyone to abandon this tradition.

Also, how large is your school? My kid’s elementary school has 700 kids. If 80-100 kids didn’t participate, there are still 600 kids who will! In other words, the schooo is taking something fun away from 600 kids, to appease the religious families?

500 kids so about 1/5 of the kids were not participating. Also from a logistical standpoint it's fine to offer an alternative activity for a handful of kids but when you're getting up to that many kids not participating it's a lot of kids to figure out alternative programming

How about this?

The Halloween festivities start at 2pm. If you don’t want your child to participate, you can pick them up at 2.

Seems like an unfair burden to place on parents who might rely on bus transportation to get their children home.

Or their kids could just participate in something they don't celebrate at home. Not the end of the world to learn how to live in society, with a lot of other people who probably won't be exactly like you.

THIS! This is exactly what America should be about.

I am a kid of immigrants whose parents came from another country. If I went to another country, I would celebrate their holidays, not ask them to cancel them.

I propose next year instead of Yom Kippur being a non instructional day we have everyone come to school and fast and beat their chests and recite all of their sins because you know that is what Yom Kippur is actually about how it's supposed to be celebrated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:"Livid"? Okay but why? Yes it's fun, but not everyone doe's celebrate Halloween. For the kids who don't, 1-4 adults have to be held back in the gym to take those kids who don't and do some activity while the rest of the school parties. Dealing with the influx of parent volunteers or spectators is hectic for the front office. Dealing with parents who refuse to follow the rules for what kind of food can be brought in is annoying. Some room parents do a lot and that class gets a cake, a ton of candy, and goody bags, whereas the other classroom next door gets much less because that parent didn't know that next door would be a big bash.

I also loved watching the parades when my kids were younger. It's sad when a school cancels it, but they didn't cancel Halloween--your kid can still go trick or treating. They just canceled it IN school. I would be sad, not livid.

Who cares about the kids who don’t? The rest of the school has to be held hostage to their freakish ways? This is just another example of right-wing, Christian influence in our schools. I am sick of right wingers and their cancel culture.

Wait, who cares about the kids who don’t? That’s a low blow to the KIDS whose family will not allow them to participate. The truth is, I love Halloween but I also understand that if we are having school wide events DURING the school day, it must be inclusive of ALL children. Halloween is not celebrated by some organized religious groups but the same holds true for Christmas and Easter. The schools also do not celebrate these holidays because it’s not inclusive of all. School should be the one place that all children can fully participate in EVERY SINGLE DAY!

So you think kids should only be exposed to activities that are inclusive of all children?

That’s the best way to prepare them for life, right?

Where everything is inclusive and fair and sunshine and roses?

Do you see Tattoo often on the island?

In that case you won’t mind if your Christian kid celebrates all Jewish holidays at your school and no Christian holidays.

[Anonymous]

Update: assuming this thread was started by someone from a greenwood, here’s an update. The not-Halloween-fall-party is on FRI the 28th (can’t hold it on the 31st) and the rule is you cannot serve any food/treats.

Way to suck the fun out of everything!

Curious who is leading this bizarre shift?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Update: assuming this thread was started by someone from a greenwood, here’s an update. The not-Halloween-fall-party is on FRI the 28th (can’t hold it on the 31st) and the rule is you cannot serve any food/treats.

Way to suck the fun out of everything!

Curious who is leading this bizarre shift?

Are pumpkins allowed? They're technically not a food in this context, but they may be offensive to some of the zealots that only tolerate their own superstitions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Update: assuming this thread was started by someone from a greenwood, here’s an update. The not-Halloween-fall-party is on FRI the 28th (can’t hold it on the 31st) and the rule is you cannot serve any food/treats.

Way to suck the fun out of everything!

Curious who is leading this bizarre shift?

Did you ask your principal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Update: assuming this thread was started by someone from a greenwood, here’s an update. The not-Halloween-fall-party is on FRI the 28th (can’t hold it on the 31st) and the rule is you cannot serve any food/treats.

Way to suck the fun out of everything!

Curious who is leading this bizarre shift?

How long have you been at the school? Because the previous principal started this trend. Pre-COVID she eliminated food at parties, banned parents from attending (i’d be grudgingly agreed with her on this) except for 2 parents per class. I might be mistaken on this part but I think she only allowed two parties per year. Halloween and Valentines. The new principal went along with the old principles rules and didn’t change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Update: assuming this thread was started by someone from a greenwood, here’s an update. The not-Halloween-fall-party is on FRI the 28th (can’t hold it on the 31st) and the rule is you cannot serve any food/treats.

Way to suck the fun out of everything!

Curious who is leading this bizarre shift?

How long have you been at the school? Because the previous principal started this trend. Pre-COVID she eliminated food at parties, banned parents from attending (i’d be grudgingly agreed with her on this) except for 2 parents per class. I might be mistaken on this part but I think she only allowed two parties per year. Halloween and Valentines. The new principal went along with the old principles rules and didn’t change.

So the previous principal did allow Halloween and Valentines?

Will Valentines also be cancelled this year?

Does Greenwood allow birthdays? Our ES even got rid of any birthday treats this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Update: assuming this thread was started by someone from a greenwood, here’s an update. The not-Halloween-fall-party is on FRI the 28th (can’t hold it on the 31st) and the rule is you cannot serve any food/treats.

Way to suck the fun out of everything!

Curious who is leading this bizarre shift?

How long have you been at the school? Because the previous principal started this trend. Pre-COVID she eliminated food at parties, banned parents from attending (i’d be grudgingly agreed with her on this) except for 2 parents per class. I might be mistaken on this part but I think she only allowed two parties per year. Halloween and Valentines. The new principal went along with the old principles rules and didn’t change.

So the previous principal did allow Halloween and Valentines?

Will Valentines also be cancelled this year?

Does Greenwood allow birthdays? Our ES even got rid of any birthday treats this year.

Yes. Halloween part and parade, and a valentines party. Birthdays were announced on the PA system and you would get a pencil.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Update: assuming this thread was started by someone from a greenwood, here’s an update. The not-Halloween-fall-party is on FRI the 28th (can’t hold it on the 31st) and the rule is you cannot serve any food/treats.

Way to suck the fun out of everything!

Curious who is leading this bizarre shift?

Are pumpkins allowed? They're technically not a food in this context, but they may be offensive to some of the zealots that only tolerate their own superstitions.

Pumpkins are allowed (Fall) but jack-o-lanterns are not (Halloween).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Update: assuming this thread was started by someone from a greenwood, here’s an update. The not-Halloween-fall-party is on FRI the 28th (can’t hold it on the 31st) and the rule is you cannot serve any food/treats.

Way to suck the fun out of everything!

Curious who is leading this bizarre shift?

How long have you been at the school? Because the previous principal started this trend. Pre-COVID she eliminated food at parties, banned parents from attending (i’d be grudgingly agreed with her on this) except for 2 parents per class. I might be mistaken on this part but I think she only allowed two parties per year. Halloween and Valentines. The new principal went along with the old principles rules and didn’t change.

So the previous principal did allow Halloween and Valentines?

Will Valentines also be cancelled this year?

Does Greenwood allow birthdays? Our ES even got rid of any birthday treats this year.

Yes. Halloween part and parade, and a valentines party. Birthdays were announced on the PA system and you would get a pencil.

So, the new principal cancelled school Halloween this year, got it. Appears to be in line with the majority of MCPS elementary schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Update: assuming this thread was started by someone from a greenwood, here’s an update. The not-Halloween-fall-party is on FRI the 28th (can’t hold it on the 31st) and the rule is you cannot serve any food/treats.

Way to suck the fun out of everything!

Curious who is leading this bizarre shift?

How long have you been at the school? Because the previous principal started this trend. Pre-COVID she eliminated food at parties, banned parents from attending (i’d be grudgingly agreed with her on this) except for 2 parents per class. I might be mistaken on this part but I think she only allowed two parties per year. Halloween and Valentines. The new principal went along with the old principles rules and didn’t change.

So the previous principal did allow Halloween and Valentines?

Will Valentines also be cancelled this year?

Does Greenwood allow birthdays? Our ES even got rid of any birthday treats this year.

Yes. Halloween part and parade, and a valentines party. Birthdays were announced on the PA system and you would get a pencil.

So, the new principal cancelled school Halloween this year, got it. Appears to be in line with the majority of MCPS elementary schools.

“ Halloween/Fall Festival Update from the Sherwood Cluster Principals
It is important to us that all students feel valued and included in our celebrations and school activities. It has become more clear through feedback and observation that our Halloween celebrations are not fully inclusive events at our schools. Therefore, Sherwood Cluster schools will hold a fall celebration for students, with class parties in every room, but eliminate the custom of Halloween costumes and parades. While we understand that this will be disappointing for some families, we appreciate your understanding of our goal of making all students feel welcome at all of our school events. “

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Update: assuming this thread was started by someone from a greenwood, here’s an update. The not-Halloween-fall-party is on FRI the 28th (can’t hold it on the 31st) and the rule is you cannot serve any food/treats.

Way to suck the fun out of everything!

Curious who is leading this bizarre shift?

How long have you been at the school? Because the previous principal started this trend. Pre-COVID she eliminated food at parties, banned parents from attending (i’d be grudgingly agreed with her on this) except for 2 parents per class. I might be mistaken on this part but I think she only allowed two parties per year. Halloween and Valentines. The new principal went along with the old principles rules and didn’t change.

So the previous principal did allow Halloween and Valentines?

Will Valentines also be cancelled this year?
Burtonsville ES doesn’t do birthdays either except for announcement on PA and a pencil.. it was to disruptive to have to celebrate all 20+ kids with cakes/cookies etc throughout the year. I get it.
Does Greenwood allow birthdays? Our ES even got rid of any birthday treats this year.