Halloween

Please do not send any food, candy or treats, they will not be distributed to students.

All students from Kindergarten to Grade Eight are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes to school. Please remember that guns, swords or weapons of any kind are not permitted at school on this day. Before choosing a costume, these questions will help determine what constitutes an offensive/disrespectful costume, and applies to “characters” from media, including TV or films.

Ask yourself:

• Does this costume make fun of human traits, identities, cultures, or race?
• Does this costume reduce culture or identity to stereotypes?
• Who might be harmed by my choice of costume?
• Is this costume depicting and perpetuating a stereotype or stigma associated with a particular race,
• culture, gender, ability or religion?
• Does this costume include a replication of a garment or item that is a significant component of a
• particular religion or culture of which I do not identify with?
• Is this costume depicting a historical time-period where that look/costume is now considered
• offensive and discriminatory?
• Is this costume mindful of current/ongoing world events that can be traumatizing for families with
• connections to this region or event?
• Does this costume represent elements of a culture or cultural practice that is being commodified for
• consumption?
• Can I confidently say that this costume choice would not be considered offensive to a particular race,
• ethnic origin, ability, gender or religion?

Costume ideas should avoid the following: this is not an exhaustive list)

• Any cultural stereotype
• Blackface, Brownface
• Pandemics/Illnesses
• A person with differing abilities
• People with mental illness
• Body shaming
• Body objectification
• Animal cruelty
• Culturally specific references: e.g. Day of the Dead, Hula
• Differing lived realities e.g. homelessness, imprisonment
• Anything trivializing
• Anything mocking gender identity
• Anything transphobic
• Depictions of violence

On Friday, October 31, we will have our Halloween Dance Party. Students will be invited to dance to the great tunes of a live D.J. Students will also enjoy a yummy treat (potato chips) after their dance party.

If you DO NOT want your child to receive the the potateo chips, please complete this form (https://forms.gle/KpZQUJgnqeqfZxWq5). Chips will be Old Dutch Plain Potato Chip (16g) - Ingredients: potatoes, vegetable oil and salt.

We would like to thank our Catholic School Council for their support of this event.