Halloween at Maugham

Dear Maugham Families,

Halloween is an exciting holiday for children and always a special day at Maugham School. Our much-anticipated annual Halloween parade will take place on Friday, October 31st, from 2:45 PM to 3:05 PM.

Please read this newsletter carefully. It contains important information to ensure a successful and safe Halloween experience for all our students. Also linked below is the Halloween Permission form that is required for all parents to submit.

With Warmest Regards,

Mrs. Loor

Friday, October 31 will be a regular full school day, and students may not wear their costume to school. To make sure students get plenty of instructional time while also having enough time to change into their costumes, we will follow a schedule similar to an early dismissal day.

Lunch will take place from 12:45 PM to 2:00 PM. During this time, students may be picked up by a parent/guardian or designated adult to go home for lunch and change into their costumes. Students who are being picked up must be signed out at 12:45 PM and return to school by 2:00 PM.

If you prefer, students are also welcome to stay at school for lunch and bring their costume to school. For those children staying at school, lunch will be served in the cafeteria as usual, and Pomptonian lunch service will also be available. Students can change into their costumes once they have finished eating.

Please fill out the Google Form below to let us know whether your child will be going home or staying at school during lunch. Everyone must complete this form.

Maugham School Halloween Form 2025

If you are picking up your child for lunch and costume change, and are planning to return them to school at 2:00pm, you do not have to report this in the Parent Portal.

However, if your child will be absent or you are picking up your child early and do not plan and returning to school for the parade, you must submit an early dismissal request under the Notify Tab in Genesis.

Students must be accompanied by an adult waking to and from school during lunch time 12:45 PM - 2:00 PM. Crossing guards will be stationed during this time as the following intersections:

• Magnolia & Sisson
• Magnolia & Highwood
• Magnolia & Prospect
• County Road - behind the school, by the playground

The parade will begin at 2:45 PM and take place on school grounds. As a reminder, parking is not permitted in car line pick-up zone.

All students will exit through the main entrance (the doors on Magnolia Avenue with the ramp) and walk north along Magnolia Avenue, down the driveway, around the playground and turf. Please see the map below for our parade route and for the best places to view the parade. Please note that the route is slightly different than past years.

[Click here for the map of the parade route]

Families are welcome to watch from any location along the parade route that does not interfere with the parade. Please spread out to help avoid overcrowding in any one area. All spots offer a great view—you won’t miss a moment of the fun!

Please no dogs are allowed on the school grounds during the parade. Students may be frighten of the and the focus needs to be on the students. Thank you for your cooperation on this matter.

In the event of inclement weather, the parade will be cancelled.

The parade will conclude at 3:05 PM. All students will return into the school building to retrieve their items and will be dismissed out of their regular dismissal doors. Students may not be picked up directly off of the parade line.

To ensure a fun and safe Halloween celebration for all students, please review and follow the school’s costume guidelines carefully.

Play weapons of any sort including toy guns, swords, and knives are not permitted in school. Please, no costumes with blood as it tends to scare the young children. Costumes representing the use of alcohol or drugs are not permitted. In addition, children may not wear masks that obstruct their view as this can present a safety hazard.

Students who come dresses in costumes that are not consistent with these guidelines will not be permitted to wear their costume in the parade.

With Halloween rapidly approaching, please consider exercise the following safety tips:

• Make sure children can see.
• Make sure hats, wigs and scarves are secure and do not cover or slip over their eyes.
• Use not-toxic face paint or makeup instead of masks.
• Make sure costumes fit properly and are not a tripping hazard.
• Make sure children know how to cross the street safely.