While some Ottawa public schools won’t allow students to wear Halloween costumes Monday, schools in Centretown don’t see it as a problem, as long as costumes abide by the usual rules – no masks, no weapons.
Halloween costumes became an issue when a mother of a child from First Avenue Public School in the Glebe complained on Twitter that her child’s school was banning Halloween costumes.
First Avenue Public School said students in Grades 3 to 6 will not be permitted to wear Halloween costumes this year, while pupils in Grade 1 and 2 will.
Ottawa’s public and Catholic schools boards said they have no policies on the issue and the decision is up to individual schools or teachers.
Elgin Street Public School said students have a choice to wear what they want, which includes costumes, black and orange, and painted faces, but no masks or toy weapons.
“Whatever makes them happy,” said Barbara Johnston, the school principal.
Centennial Public School’s principal, Kathi Kay, said students can wear Halloween costumes and painted faces, but not masks or toy weapons.
At Cambridge Public School each class can do what they want. “It’s very democratic,” said community outreach officer Sophie Kwok. “Individual classes decide whether they want to wear costumes. But even on the day, the kids can decide whether they want to wear a costume or not.” But of course, no masks or weapons, “which applies every day,” Kwok said.
At Glashan Public School, students are permitted to wear costumes, as long as they are appropriate and don’t offend anyone, said a school employee.
St. Anthony School, a catholic school, has a different policy.
Student’s aged five and six will wear costumes and have a parade to show off their creativity.
“The Halloween focus is for four- and five-year-olds,” said Brian Kelly, the school’s principal.
But Grades 1 to 6 are being asked to wear black and orange for the day, not full costumes.
“Students are encouraged to wear black and orange, but not costumes because they have items that get broken, lost or stolen, or harm students,” Kelly said.
The controversy over Halloween costumes arose in other parts of Canada by parents who said some costumes are not appropriate in a public school setting.