Husky Highlights
Dear HCS Community,
Halloween is a special time of year for many of our students. We know how much they enjoy the opportunity to dress up, show their creativity, and share some fun with their friends and teachers. We want to make sure that Halloween at school is a joyful, playful, and welcoming experience for everyone in our HCS community.
As we prepare for Halloween, we also want to be thoughtful about the costumes our students choose. While most costumes are intended to be fun and creative, some can unintentionally reinforce stereotypes, misrepresent cultures, or make others feel uncomfortable or excluded. We appreciate families partnering with us to help create an experience where everyone can participate and feel a sense of belonging.
When choosing a costume for school, please keep the following considerations in mind:
🎃 Halloween Costume Considerations
- Be thoughtful about culture and identity: Costumes should not make fun of, imitate, or misrepresent another culture, race, religion, or group of people. Culture is not a costume. This includes items such as Native American headdresses, blackface, wigs or hairstyles used as stereotypes, and costumes that imitate or caricature cultural or religious clothing or traditions.
- Keep it age-appropriate: We have students across a wide range of ages, including some of our youngest learners. Please choose costumes that are fun and festive without being excessively frightening, violent, or gory.
- Keep learning in mind: Halloween is still a school day! Costumes should allow students to comfortably participate in classes and activities. Please avoid costumes that are overly bulky, cumbersome, or distracting, or that make it difficult for students to move safely throughout the school.
- Masks and face paint: Masks and face coverings should not prevent staff from easily recognizing students. Face paint should also be appropriate for the school setting.
- Leave props at home: Props of any kind should stay home. In the past, students have brought items such as toy swords, laser guns, and bows and arrows to school. Even when intended as part of a costume, these items can violate school expectations and create unnecessary distractions or concerns.
We love seeing our students express their creativity and individuality, and we hope these guidelines help families find costumes that are both fun and respectful of the many people and experiences that make up our HCS community.
Thank you for partnering with us to make Halloween a day filled with creativity, laughter, and belonging, and one where every student feels welcome and included.
Warmly,
Tim and Alexis
