As we approach Halloween we anticipate the joy of those who will wish to celebrate this time with great happiness. Both face-to-face and remote students wishing to mark this occasion are encouraged to wear a Halloween costume on Friday, October 30th along with their masks, as per Public Health and the York Catholic District School Board’s expectations. Halloween masks are not permitted in place of appropriate PPE.
Please also note that due to COVID-19 precautions and restrictions, the following is not permitted this year:
- Sharing of treats, candy, food, etc.
- Hallowe’en dances
- Costume parades around the school
Also, it is important to note that we must encourage safety at all times and the appropriateness of costumes to be worn in our schools, as well as discourage cultural misappropriation in costumes. We ask that the following guidelines be followed:
- Culture is NOT Costume: students are asked to refrain from using costumes that represent a cultural group or ethnicity
- Masks are Discouraged (Except for PPE): wearing masks during the school day can compromise the safety of the community
- Awareness of Costume Appropriateness is Important: costumes that are not appropriate to the moral tone of our Catholic Schools should not be worn; this includes costumes that promote violence or replica weapons – these items should be kept at home
- Awareness of Fear and Evil: be aware that Ghoulish costumes can terrify younger students, students with special needs, or students with phobias
- We Must Be Trauma Sensitive: there may be members of our communities who have traumas that can be triggered by certain costumes
We would also like to kindly remind you that Halloween treats, or any other food items, are not to be shared, as per our Safe School policy and especially in light of the pandemic.