What is your child's class/school doing for Halloween/Fall Fest?

[Linda on the move]

My kids attend a small private school and Halloween is a HUGE deal there. Every homeroom does something for all the other kids to come visit/do. Each homeroom is very secretive so it's all a big surprise. They are planning/preparing now, and on Friday before Halloween the first half of the school day is spent finishing it up.

At lunch time, the kids and teachers change into their costumes, and the after noon is spent seeing/doing what the other homerooms came up with a basically having an entire school party.

This is our first year at this school and I'm curious how it all turns out.

What are you kids up to? Are they enjoying it?

[Drummer's Wife]

Our school is having a carnival in the evening where kids can wear their costumes. Other than that, I don't think they are doing anything else for Halloween (and didn't last year). School is closed on the 29th, so they get a 3-day weekend.

Your kids' school sounds like they have a fun celebration planned! I know my kids would enjoy decorating and planning a theme for their room.

[nanette0269]

Kids are wearing their costumes to school. There will be a room party, craft stations which are manned by some volunteer parents, and they are bringing in an organic lunch. The upper level (grades 7-8) are also offering an elaborate craft room and haunted house, which they charge each student $2/room to enter, which goes towards them earning funds for their spring trip to costa rica. The upper level students go to each room and escort the kids, so if they dont want to attend/pay the extra, its not a big deal.

After the party ends around 1pm, they will change into their normal clothes and have nap/playground/work session.

[Teensy]

My Kindergartener's class is having a harvest party. Scarecrow, apple, and pumpkin themed games and activities.

My fourth grader's class has "Spooky Science Day." The spend the morning doing different science and math activities. I don't remember what they all are, but one is estimating, then measuring and weighing three pumpkins and doing the math to see how far off they were.

In third grade at our school, they have a big book report project where you write a book report, dress up like a character from the book, parade across the campus in your costume, and decorate a pumpkin or other vegetable to look like a character from the book.

[amma_mama]

DD is in first grade and they are doing a "storybook" theme with a parade. They are supposed to dress up as a storybook character but said no Halloween costumes. I am stumped. I am not very creative and do not have extra time or desire to spend extra money, beyond what we already dished out for her costume. Nice in theory, but less so in practice.

[Turtlecouple]

Our school district banned Halloween celebrations in schools about 5-6 years ago. My oldest was just born so I didn't really think much about it when I heard about it on the news back then. The friday before Halloween, they are having pajama day, but no Halloween related activities.

[Drummer's Wife]

Originally Posted by amma_mama

DD is in first grade and they are doing a "storybook" theme with a parade. They are supposed to dress up as a storybook character but said no Halloween costumes. I am stumped. I am not very creative and do not have extra time or desire to spend extra money, beyond what we already dished out for her costume. Nice in theory, but less so in practice.

Can you find a book with a character similar to your DD's Halloween costume? When my DD was in 1st grade, her school did the same thing - had to be a storybook character, and they paraded around the school with their outfit on and book in hand. DD was already going to be Wonder Girl, so we went to the bookstore and found a comic book featuring her.

[One_Girl]

My dd's school is doing a dress like your favorite book character theme, costume parade for the younger classes, and class parties. Her teacher has said that they need to bring the book in with them and the costume can only be based on a book character, she has also asked that we keep in mind that some families try to eat no sugar or processed foods. I am annoyed by the lack of birthday recognition that has happened because of the few parents who don't want their kid to touch a cookie, so I will send whatever dd chooses for the party be it cupcakes or fruit. Her costume is not based off of a character, but luckily she has fairy wings and she can just add those on and say she is someone from the jewel/puppy/rainbow fairy books. I will have her read one of the books again before the party so we can honor the spirit of the book theme even though we are stretching it in the costume area.

[whatsnextmom]

DS's (5th grade) school is a Spanish Immersion school and they celebrate "Day of the Dead." It's basically a day they honor those they've lost. It's pretty great actually... so positive and upbeat. When Halloween is on a weekday, they do have a costume parade in the morning but then everyone has to get back in their school clothes. We used to do a trick-or-treat night but since more than 50 percent of the kids are from outside our city, didn't really make sense. There isn't any class party or anything.

DD (9th grade) has some haunted house thing at her school but she has a conflict and can't go.

[mooshersmama]

My daughter's preschool does a parade around the neighborhood in costume, then they come back and sing songs, do dances, etc., then it's lunch and back to the regular routine.

[VisionaryMom]

My son's school is doing an evening carnival on Friday. As far as I know, they are not wearing costumes. (He just enrolled today after trying out homeschooling.) I didn't see any Halloween decorations when we were there today, so I'm assuming it's not a big deal.

[MsBirdie]

Johnny appleseed for younger grades, greek party, alice and wonderland tea party. Whatever coincides with the unit that grade is studying at the time.

[ollyoxenfree]

I'm not sure what the high school has planned or even if the high school is doing anything.

In the past, they attended an elementary school that held a parade around the school grounds and on the sidewalk around the block that the school is on. Neighbours would stand on their front porches to watch.

Another school incorporated it into their drama and music program. The kids pretended to be exploring a haunted house. A different group would act out going into a room in the house, reciting a poem or singing a song to tell the story of what they were finding.
The performed it as a "theatre-in-the-round" with the audience (parents, some other classes) sitting around them in the darkened gym, with some interesting lighting from lanterns and flashlights and some great costumes.

[lauren]

The school does "Book CHaracter Dress Up Day" and parade up the street to the Library. The child brings the book. There are treats in the classroom.

Friday night there is a Cake Walk. This is where everyone comes in costume and brings a cake or cupcakes with Halloween decorations. Then a giant game resembling musical chairs, but with numbers on the chairs, begins. (no chairs are taken away). Music plays and then stops. The child whose number is called gets to go pick out a cake to take home. In between rounds, kids put coins into collection bins for local charity. Everyone goes home with a cake. Kids look forward to this for months!

[LynnS6]

As far as I know, they're not doing anything.

[columbusmomma]

DS' school does an annual all school costume parade. It's really fun. They also have a drum circle and each class does its own party. The party consists of crafts,games, and snacks. This is the first year that it is healthy snacks only
I appreciate this since the kids will get so much junk during trick-or-treating!