OK, I've been keeping this in for way too long... now it's time to let the beast out!
I'm so upset that our school has chosen to ignore Halloween. It is my absolute favorite time of the year. I love everything about it! I love buying costumes for my kids. I love candy. I love the smells. I love the activities you can do. I love going to school to see the wee ones all dressed up. I love helping during the parties. I love making games for the parties. I love that the only things you have to buy are a costume and some candy. No gifts. No baked goodies. Just fun!!
At the end of the school year last year, all of the families in our school, received a note with some details about this year. Details such as back to school night, when the class lists would be posted, etc. Also included in the letter was details about Halloween. It said we would not be having a Halloween parade. The children would not be able to wear their costumes to school. Instead, they were going to have a carnival the night before in which the kids could wear their costumes. (We got a note about the carnival on Friday stating that our school gets a whopping 10% of the proceeds!) Oh goodie! But then, it reiterated no costumes on Halloween.
I took everything I had NOT to write a not-very-nice letter to the principal over the summer, to tell her she was a MURDERER OF FUN!!!! I've talked to some of the parents on PTA and the "story" is that it's a safety issue. I say, if safety is such an issue, skip the parade! Parents only really want to see their own children anyway. But let the kids wear their costumes for crying out loud. The kids are in elementary school, not BOOTCAMP!!!!
This post wouldn't be complete without a song, so... here it is: I'm So Sick by Flyleaf.
p.s. Just in case I wasn't clear, we will not be participating in the carnival. It costs 10 bucks a person for unlimited "rides" a.k.a. blow-up stuff. Instead we will be giving a check to the school for $4 (the "proceeds" for 4 tickets at $10 each)
Ok, I'm done. Next time I promise I will have something nice to say. Thanks for letting me get that off my chest. I feel better (sort of)
9 comments:
You are an angry elf!
Brandi, I completely agree with you. I think it is so sad that the kids can't come to school in their costumes. I understand the whole safety thing about the parade but why not cancel that and still let them have a day of fun and parties at school. We were thinking about going to the carnival but after getting the letter yesterday we're skipping that. They think it's just fine that kids can't wear their costumes on Halloween because they are doing the carnival. But, seriously if you go the kids are going to want to play games and do rides and pretty soon you've plopped down $50 bucks! We can't afford that! Now, if the carnival was totally free then I might be a little less upset because it wouldn't be excluding any kids who's parents can't afford it. Anyway, I'm right there with ya!!
I agree, and we have decided not to go to the parade either!! Last year we were very disappointed! I don't really mind that they can't wear costumes this year (only because I didn't want to buy them!), but next year will be a different story!!
Brandi Call me and we will chat :)
Hey here is a hot tip for all you bummed about the price of the carnival... Magna rec does one on wed, totally free and from what I hear tons of fun for the kids too. I heard it starts at 6:00 goes tell 8:00 enjoy!
I found out today that Michelle's school is also not wearing costumes or doing a parade. Too bad. My school is, so I guess I don't understand about the safety issue. How is the parade dangerous? (FYI: We do it first thing and then most teachers have students remove their costumes for the rest of the day, especially if it is a full day of school.)
Michelle's school was supposed to do a carnival last Friday but it was cancelled. I'm not sure why, but I got the impression that either they didn't have enough parents willing to volunteer or they were afraid that not enough people would be attending or something. So I don't know if her school is doing ANYTHING for Halloween.
As a teacher, I know that it is very hard to teach the week of Halloween and there is a lot of pressure on us to do MORE and MORE and to get high test scores, etc. But I still think we need to have/make time for some fun things. They are, as you said, kids! It sounds like more of the parents who are in PTA need to voice your concerns and frustrations and see if changes can be made for next year?!
I am behind you 110% I hate that all the schools are doing this now. This was my favorite holiday in school every year! I loved it I still love it. Last year Magna Elementary let the kids do the parade and costumes it was the first time my kids have been able to and they loved it.
This year at Copperhills once again they can't (my only complaint about the school) I back you tho I think it is dumb, it is elementary not boot camp and somebody needs to remind them!
I TOTALLY agree with you!!! I don't even have one in school, but when I saw that I was sad. Those are some of the best memories I have of school are the Halloween parties and dressing up!
Yeah!!! I agree with both of you, Brandi and Cindy! Other schools have not done away with the parade because of safety issues. The carnival is incredibly expensive for the little profit that the school will get back. In addition to everything else that has already been stated, now our kids are expected to be out for two nights in a row? (Thursday carnival, Friday Halloween.) Thursday is not very late, but it is definitely before most dad's get home, so now you have to go join the chaos with just one parent? Doesn't sound like fun to me. I know this subject may offend some of our PTA friends, but I would hope that it would be good to hear what some of the parents feel about the situation, too.
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