The Walden Weekly

It was great to see so many families take advantage of conferences this week. Thank you to our teachers and staff for their hard work, preparation, and dedication to our students.

Just as a reminder, we do have Halloween festivities next week. Make sure to read the below note concerning that day.

Have a great weekend and we'll see you back on Monday!

- Stephanie Strenger

Some families still need to complete the quick process of verifying their information for this year. As winter approaches, we want to ensure we have the right contact info on file for you. It's also an easy way to read and acknowledge our handbook and review district opt-out forms. Please head to Skyward to get started today!

This year, we will be celebrating Halloween at Walden on Thursday, October 31. Below is important information to help make this a fun and safe day for everyone.

We want to remind families to be cautious when helping their child select a costume for Halloween. Using another's culture as a Halloween costume can be viewed as insensitive or offensive. In addition, we encourage students to be inclusive so that students do not feel excluded during the Halloween festivities. Students may not wear group costumes that exclude other students.

Costume Information:

• Please do not send costumes that are difficult to change into. Students will NOT wear their costumes to school, but will be changing into them after lunch. Our festivities will begin in the afternoon with classroom parties, the parade, and fun classroom activities.
• Masks (for costumes) should come to school in a bag to be worn only for the parade, pictures, and parties. Students should not wear masks on the bus or when walking to school.
• Please do not send costumes that include weapons of any kind or costumes with bloody guts and gore.
• If you need assistance in providing your child with a Halloween costume, please Stephanie Strenger or Ann Pasquesi know.
  
• Avoid group costumes since this generally leads to others feeling left out. Our goal is to create an inclusive school environment.
  

Parade:

• Our all school parade will take place from 2:00-2:25 outdoors (weather permitting). Families are invited to attend! All students will be walking around the entire perimeter of the building, so feel free to stand around the outer areas, leaving space for students to walk by. If there is inclement weather, our parade will be cancelled.
• Parents/guests should not stop the parade, approach the children, or ask students to step out of the parade for a photo.
  

• All families should leave the premises directly after the parade. Our students will have recess following the parade and we ask that all parents exit school grounds at the conclusion of the parade. Thank you!

Visitors:

• We ask that all guests remain outside during the parade.
  

• Our parking lot will fill up quickly. Please simply use the city streets (not our bus circle) if there are no spots available, or walk if possible.

• Parent/Guardian volunteers for classroom parties MUST have their ID when they check in with our office staff. No visitors will be allowed in the building without their driver's license or state ID.
  

Families who are not comfortable sending their child in costume, please reach out to your child's teacher so that we can be sensitive to you or your child's feelings about dressing up for Halloween. We want everyone at Walden to feel comfortable.