October 2015
Dear James Potter School Families:
We are well into Fall and that means Halloween is just around the corner. We want to share what our plans are for Friday,
October 30, and provide some information about how we will make the day fun and enjoyable for all. We know Halloween
is an important event for many students and we want to give families the opportunity to plan and prepare.
Our kindergarten students will have an opportunity to parade their costumes/fall spirit colours around the hallways, while
the Gr. 1-5 students will be lined up along the hallways to enjoy the ‘FDK Parade’. This parade will likely take place
around 2:00 p.m. Following the ‘FDK Parade’, the Gr. 1-5 classroom teachers will be offering a ‘Games/Fun Activities’
Period from 2:25-3:05 p.m.
We want to make sure our Halloween activities foster inclusion and school spirit. It is also a great way to raise awareness
of this cultural event amongst those unfamiliar with its origins. The spirit of inclusion also means respect for the decision
of those who choose not to participate in Halloween activities.
So, we want to reinforce that participation in Halloween activities including wearing costumes at school or wearing fall
colours is completely voluntary. As a school, we will make sure that all students—should they choose to dress for the day
or not – will feel equally included and respected as part of our James Potter community.
For those children who choose to wear a costume, please keep the following in mind:






Students are to bring costumes in a bag and will be given an opportunity to put them on over their clothes,
following Second Nutrition Break 1:45 p.m.
Costumes should not include masks, as these can impair vision, muffle speech and impact student safety
Costumes should not include accessories, or any type of weapon (i.e. replica guns, knives, , etc.) that can
impact safety or mobility
Long costumes may pose trip hazards
For any children who wish to show their fall spirit on October 30th , but do not wish to wear a Halloween costume,
they can wear fall colours, i.e., orange, black, red, yellow, brown, purple, or school colours on that day.
As you are aware, we have students in the school with life threatening food allergies so we kindly request that
you do not send any type of food or edible Halloween treats/candy to school with your children. This
includes careful selection of the items being sent to school on the days following the Halloween celebration. If
you wish to send treats in for the class for Halloween, non-food items such as pencils or stickers are good
options.
Regardless of whether students choose to participate in Halloween events or not, all members of the school community
are expected to honour our values and demonstrate that they care, are cooperative, honest, inclusive, respectful and
responsible. We would also ask you to keep those values in mind—particularly being respectful and inclusive—in
choosing a Halloween costume for your son or daughter. I know we can count on our students and staff to model those
values on Halloween, as they do each day.
If you have any questions about our planned activities for October 30, do not hesitate to call us.
Sincerely,
Fanitsa Housdon
Principal
Tracey Paiva
Vice Principal