Caption on Front Page of Today's Sun

[chicoryowl]

Did anybody see today's Naperville Sun?

There was a picture of 2 kids in costumes. The caption said something to the effect of: they're smiling because they don't go to 204 and can wear costumes.

My wife was annoyed enough by it that she stopped me on the way out of the door this morning to show me.

[204parent]

Come as you are, kids: No costumes at some 204 schools

October 5, 2006
By BRITT CARSON staff writer
A page will be missing from the Peters family scrapbook this year.
In recent years Leslie Peters has taken pictures of her two sons in the annual costume parade at Cowlishaw Elementary School. But this year, the school has decided costumes must stay at home.

"I just feel bad for the kids," she said. "I think a lot of people want to see the kids in the parade like we had. I always love to take pictures of the parade."

Peters, who is vice president of the school's parent-teacher association, said she was disappointed when she received the letter from the school informing parents of the change. She also was upset the PTA was not made aware of it until a decision already was made.


"The parents are in quite an uproar," Peters said.
Donna Crawford, assistant superintendent of elementary education for Indian Prairie District 204, said there are several reasons for the decision, from religious beliefs to the cost of outfits.

"We have many families who don't celebrate Halloween and we want our schools to be inclusive," she said. "There are plenty of opportunities outside the school for the community to participate in Halloween celebrations."

In the past, students who did not want to participate in Halloween festivities were given alternative activities, Crawford said.

"But that excludes them from the rest of the school, " she said.

This year, Cowlishaw instead will hold a celebration at the end of October.

"I know people have mentioned the cost of costumes, but when I was a kid we cut holes in a sheet to make a ghost costume," Peters said. "We didn't have elaborate costumes and you can make your own."


Growing trend


Cowlishaw joins several other District 204 elementary schools to do away with costumes in school. Three of the schools have worked with their PTAs to hold separate celebrations.

"We had some students who either stayed home or did not feel comfortable during the school day," said Dave Worst, principal at Gombert Elementary in Aurora. "We now have a Monster Bash in the evening and kids can dress up and participate in games and activities and it doesn't take away instructional time during the day."

Dave Younce, principal at Brooks Elementary in Aurora, said the school banned costumes during the day beginning last year.

"We decided to focus on maintaining on more instructional time," he said. "Costume day, while unintended, turned into a rather chaotic day. We were also concerned that not all the students have the same access to fancy or exciting costumes or any costumes at all."

Crawford said the district leaves it up to the schools to decide whether to allow costumes.

The Brooks PTA is hosting a dance later this month in the evening during which students can wear outfits. They are also asking for parents to donate used Halloween costumes that will be sold as a fundraiser that night.

Jason Bednar, principal at Owen Elementary, said his school banned costumes during the day because academics were getting a short shrift.

"We strongly encourage our kids to participate in the holiday evening, but we try to keep our focus on the instructional component on school days," he said.



Contact Britt Carson at [e-mail] or 630-416-5269.

[wvhsparent]

I like their idea of an event in the evening instead of during the school day.
The other main keyword throughout this article was "school is for learning" and not for parties, which it seems ends up being what the day turns into.

Another piece of fine reporting by The Sun.

Gombert was mentioned for it's Monster bash........How does that go over? Gatormom??

[bob]

Look who wrote it.

[EagleDad]

Buncha PC suckups, IMO. Have a spine for goodness sake.

[gatormom]

wvhsparent said:

I like their idea of an event in the evening instead of during the school day.
The other main keyword throughout this article was "school is for learning" and not for parties, which it seems ends up being what the day turns into.

Gombert was mentioned for it's Monster bash........How does that go over? Gatormom??

It is a trade off. I loved the parties at school and definitely missed them. Seeing the kids parade around in their costumes and the party are traditions that are gone at Gombert.

The Monster Bash is a fun but it takes a lot of work on the PTA's part. The kids have a good time but it is not the same.

I hated to see the Halloween party taken away, but what are you going to do? It is not like we were given a choice when it happened.

[wvhsparent]

I'll admit it was fun for the parades when we did them at Steck many moons ago, ah the memories........

[mommygator]

Well, at Gombert the Monster Bash - although alot of work - it is SO much fun for the kids and their parents. I think the trade off is worth it. I remember the costume parades from when I was a kid, but is it really appropriate for school - where we send our kids to learn?

[gatormom]

The innocence of the school Halloween party has been taken away. There needs to be a balance between education and fun. Each year at Gombert Jump Rope for Heart is starting younger and younger. When my son was in ES, only the 5th graders did it. Last year at Gombert at least third and fourth participated as well. This replaces a class party. No Valantine parties at Gombert either. Very PC.

Educators always complain that our children our growing up too fast. Let me think, a party for the sake of a party or lets make our kids raise money for a good cause party (?). Who is making the kids grow up too fast here? I have nothing against Jump Rope for Heart, but let the kids have fun for fun sake now and then. Life shouldn't always be so serious.

[title1parent]

Well I can honestly say that the removal of parties from Gombert was not taken lightly. I was on the PTA board when that decision was made for us. One of our previous principals told us that the SD was going to remove Halloween parties from ALL the schools in the district. That was the direction the SD was going. Seems some schools have gotten to keep those traditions while others have been MISINFORMED. There was quite an uproar regarding the parade and party being taken away. Parents standing in the pickup lines signing petitions to get the parties back. Letters written to the SD. It was not well received by the majority of the community. Very PC, I agree. How many 1st graders know what PAGAN is? All the kids know is that they get to dress up as someone or thing and get candy.
Regarding the Monster Bash, have worked at it for several years....setting up the haunted house and the laboratory. It is a lot of work and requires a good core of volunteers. We dont make money off of it....it is for the kids. It is probably the PTA's biggest event they put on and get the most attendance.

[chicoryowl]

Actually, I wasn't so much referring to the story inside.

The caption on the front page reads: Colin Griffin, 2, left, and his brother, Chuck, 5, are all smiles because the school district they line doesn't ban costumes during the day on Halloween, unlike a hanful of elementary schools in Indian Prairie District 204.

There's been talk on this board before about the treatment 204 receives versus 203. I find it hard to find a more blatant swipe at 204.

[gatormom]

We cancelled our Beacon quite some time ago due to this sort of thing. Yesterday, they sent us a notice begging us to restart our subscription.

What I have learned from the Beacon/Naperville Sun:
Naperville better than Aurora
D203 better than D204

So as a D204 resident who lives in Aurora, I think I'll continue to pass on the rag.

[dpc]

chicoryowl said:

Actually, I wasn't so much referring to the story inside.

The caption on the front page reads: Colin Griffin, 2, left, and his brother, Chuck, 5, are all smiles because the school district they line doesn't ban costumes during the day on Halloween, unlike a hanful of elementary schools in Indian Prairie District 204.

There's been talk on this board before about the treatment 204 receives versus 203. I find it hard to find a more blatant swipe at 204.

I, too, am not a fan of Sun Publications. However, I'm not sure why you think that the caption/story is a swipe at 204. Actually, there are probably several 203 parents who viewed it as a swipe against them...(i.e., 204 is more focused on academics rather than parties, etc.) I guess it just depends on what side of the fence you are on.

[EagleDad]

chicoryowl said:

There's been talk on this board before about the treatment 204 receives versus 203. I find it hard to find a more blatant swipe at 204.

In this case, it's a swipe at the spineless knucklehead people who bow to every PC change at the first mention. It's a swipe that is well deserved, IMO.

Keep this up, say goodbye to Christmas and Thanksgiving as well.

Might just as well raise our kids in a nice homogenous sterile computer controlled bubble.

[204parent]

Crawford said the district leaves it up to the schools to decide whether to allow costumes.

According to this quote from the article, it's not a district policy. Each school sets their own policy.

It makes one wonder how many other things are not standard throughout the district.