Bret Harte Elementary School
October 12, 2026
Important Dates and Times
BHES Halloween Celebrations & Parade (Additional Information Below)
- October 30 @ 2:00 pm
Halloween
- October 31
- November 5 & 6
Diwali
- November 8
- November 8
- Friday, November 20
Harte Halloween Celebration 10/30/2026
It’s that time of year! Bret Harte looks forward to hosting our traditional Halloween Parade on Friday, October 30, starting promptly at 2:00 pm. The parade will begin at the front walkway, proceed down Country Club to Morris, and return to school on the other side of the country club. After the parade, students will go directly to their classrooms for a PTA-sponsored celebration (5th Grade will go to the APR). Food will not be a part of our Halloween activities. To ensure a safe and fun event, please see the bulleted information below.
Students participating in the parade should bring their costumes to school in a bag. Please do not allow your child to wear their costume to school. Costumes must be simple enough that children can put on their costumes without assistance.
Parents are reminded that costumes should be comfortable and appropriate for a school setting - no portrayal of violence or “prop” weapons are permitted.Blow up costumes are not permitted.
Room parents must come to the main office to collect a Visitor Badge prior to the parade so that you are permitted to enter the building upon return. Room parents will be permitted into each classroom after the parade. No other visitors will be permitted in the building.
Any child who does not wish to participate in the parade or party will be provided with alternate activities. If your child is not participating, please send a note to their classroom teacher.
If your child is picked up during lunch, this Mid Day Dismissal Form must be completed.
Parents/Guardians will be required to come to the main entrance to sign students out and back in upon return. Please plan to pick your child up no earlier than 11:55 am as we will have a typical morning of instruction. Please return to school no later than 1:30 pm. Parents who come to pick up their children without completing the Mid-Day Dismissal Form will have to wait until our scheduled dismissals are completed.
Students who remain at school will have lunch during our regular lunch schedule.
In the event of rain, the parade will be canceled. Students may still bring their costumes, and all other activities will continue as scheduled.
Student safety and well-being is a community effort. With your support and flexibility, I look forward to celebrating this fun-filled day with the students and staff at Bret Harte Elementary School.
BHES Red Ribbon Week
WE will celebrate Red Ribbon Week during the week of October 26th. Red Ribbon Week is the nation’s oldest and largest drug prevention awareness program. Red Ribbon week started after the death of a drug enforcement agent in 1985. After his death, people started wearing red ribbons to honor his sacrifice. Today, millions of people celebrate Red Ribbon Week by wearing red ribbons, participating in community anti-drug events, and pledging to live drug free lives. WE encourage you to discuss the importance of a drug-free life and making responsible choices with your children. Different theme days are planned during Red Ribbon Week.
Tuesday, October 27 - Living Drug Free is No Sweat - Wear your sweats or workout clothes to show you are committed to making healthy choices for your body.
Wednesday, October 28- Team up Against Drugs - Wear your Bret Harte spirit wear or favorite sports team gear
Thursday, October 29 - Say BOO to Drugs - Wear white or a fall themed shirt
Some other fun activities you may choose to do are:
- Tie red ribbons around the trees in your yard
- Plant red tulip bulbs in your garden to plant a promise for a drug free future
- Schedule time for family dinners - Did you know that kids who eat dinner with their families are less likely to use drugs and alcohol?
Terry DiMedio CSN
Bret Harte Elementary School
Creating a Healthy Home Environment
This month, we are focusing on creating a healthy home environment, an important aspect highlighted in our Family Guide to Supporting Student Success. A healthy home environment provides children with the structure, routines, and positive supports they need to thrive both academically and socially.
One important part of this is encouraging students to unplug from electronic devices. Research shows that when students regularly step away from screens, they experience better sleep, improved focus, reduced stress, and stronger relationships with family and peers (Twenge & Campbell, 2018). Time spent away from devices also allows children to engage in reading, physical activity, and meaningful conversations—all of which support healthy brain development and academic growth.
To support families in this area, I am also sharing a TED Talk on technology addiction that provides insight into how screen time impacts children and what we can do to help them develop healthier habits.
We encourage families to review the guide below and consider ways to build device-free routines at home that foster balance, structure, and positive connections. Together, we can create supportive environments that help our students succeed in school and beyond.
2026-2027 BHES School Handbook
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XW6N8eJ9JdQxPrHxGaMc6PvV92OOznP6V7mhj_k7atY/edit?tab=t.0
Bret Harte Elementary School
Email: eacevedoortiz@chclc.org
Website: https://www.chclc.org/harte
Location: 1909 Queen Anne Road, Cherry Hill, NJ, USA
Phone: 856-795-0515
