Attention OLR Eagles! It’s time for OLR Halloween Spirit Week!
Spirit Week Event Flyer - 2023 - Revised
Some important notes:
In anticipation of the joy as well as the need for caution associated with celebrating Halloween at the end of this month, the school offers the following informational items for your consideration:
Please note the importance of discouraging cultural misappropriation in costumes, and the need for appropriateness of costumes to be worn in our schools.
All students should be reminded that costume props, and/or replica weapons including, but not limited to, toy guns, knives, axes, swords, etc., remain at home, and may not be brought to school. Also, costumes should be respectful of the diversity in our communities and therefore should not reflect symbols or objects representative of another person’s culture and/or race that may trivialize, devalue, or appropriate any culture or race. Costumes that mock social identities through stereotyping are also unacceptable. And last, students should be discouraged from wearing costumes that are not appropriate to the moral tone of our Catholic schools. If students are unsure about their costume idea, they should speak with their classroom teacher and/or administration
Some suggestions for the OLR school community’s attention are the following:
- Culture is NOT Costume: Ask your students and staff to refrain from using costumes that represent a cultural group or ethnicity. (e.g. Indigenous, Chinese, Arabic, etc.)
- Masks as Part of a Costume are Discouraged (Excluding PPE): Wearing masks that conceal one’s identity can compromise the safety of the community. We should always be identifiable in our community for the safety and comfort level of others in the community.
3. Awareness of Costume Appropriateness is Important: Discourage costumes that are not appropriate to the moral tone of our Catholic Schools.
4. Awareness of Fear and Evil: Be aware that Ghoulish costumes can terrify younger students, students with special needs, or students with phobias.
5. We Must Be Trauma Sensitive: There may be members of our communities who have traumas that can be triggered by certain costumes.
6. When in Doubt, Think Saint: Halloween precedes All Souls and All Saints Days. Encourage students to dress as saints and religious figures.
7. Food/snacks should not be sent with your child to be distributed to classmates.