I'm coming to you surrounded by pumpkins this week because we're in the Fall season and it's Halloween! The three winning pumpkins from last week's Trunk or Treat were Mrs. Tuthill's class, Mrs. Rauf's class, and Ms. Rufa's class! EXCELLENT PUMPKINS.
I just wanted to say thank you to our volunteers for organizing an amazing event. It's always fun every year and has a great turnout and support. Thank you, volunteers - especially those PTA members who helped.
Please also remember, the Trunk or Treat event serves as our "Halloween Celebration." I know Halloween is coming up on Friday. We will not be wearing costumes, as it's our tradition here at Ellis to celebrate with our Trunk or Treat activity instead of dressing up during the day on Halloween.
This has been a long-standing practice at Ellis for a few reasons.
There are a number of behavior and time management concerns with students changing in and out of costumes, and costumes “malfunctioning” throughout the day.
Costumes cause disruptions to the learning environment, making it difficult for students to stay focused. This is especially true when costumes prevent students from sitting comfortably at their desks.
Regulating costumes (including those that are offensive or not age-appropriate for younger students) puts staff members in a difficult position and creates unnecessary conflict with students.
Elaborate costumes with things like masks, fake blood, and weapons can cause safety issues like blocked vision, tripping hazards, or difficulties identifying students.
We want to be inclusive of all families, including those who don’t celebrate Halloween or are facing financial hardships. Halloween costumes can put financial pressure on families, as children often feel the need to wear elaborate or trendy costumes to fit in with their peers.
In order to keep the school day focused on learning and routine activities, we ask that you not send your student to school wearing a Halloween costume. If your child would like to celebrate Halloween by wearing a costume, we encourage them to do so at outside events, like the PTA's Trunk or Treat.
I appreciate everyone's effort with Trunk or Treat, and I wish you all a great week. See you next week!
-Matt