Halloween Events Oct. 29
Dear Families, we are excited to be able to host classroom Halloween events this Friday. We have received the following guidelines from Public Heath and HWDSB. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher as the events in each class may be different.
- Students can wear costumes to school as per prior years of practice (e.g., no cultural appropriation, no offensive and insensitive costumes, no weapons, no costume masks that might impede vision, no inappropriate images, etc.).
- Students choosing to wear a costume should come to the school already wearing the costume and keep the costume on for the duration of the day.
- Student costumes must be able to accommodate a face covering as per COVID requirements.
- A costume mask is not a substitute for a face covering. A costume mask should not be worn over a non-medical mask or face covering because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe.
- No costume parades are permitted indoors or outdoors.
- No in-person assemblies are permitted.
- Activities must take place within a student cohort and not involve a mixing of cohorts.
- Students may bring own their treats but are asked not to share or distribute treats to other students.
- Maintain safe practices including physical distancing and hand hygiene.
- Staff are aware that all students may not participate in Halloween activities and their choices will be respected and the activities in the classroom will not interfere with their schooling.
- Cultural Appropriation and Costumes: Cultural appropriation means taking or borrowing a look or trait from a culture that is not your own. Costumes that are based on people’s culture are offensive, harmful and insensitive.The following are suggested questions, to reflect on when choosing a costume to avoid being disrespectful or offensive, that schools can share to their school community:
- Is my costume making fun of a group of people, their culture, religion and/or belief systems?
- Does my costume reinforce jokes and stereotypes about certain groups, cultures, religions and/or
belief systems?
- Am I altering my skin colour, facial/body features to make it like a particular race, ethnicity, or cultural group?
- Am I dressing up as a culture or borrowing from a religion that is not my own or is not part of my background?
Thank you! We are looking forward to a fun filled week.
Updated on Monday, October 25, 2021.