Our classroom family event, a few years ago.
Halloween is quite different this year. There’s no trick-or-treating. Children will be wearing pajamas to school today for ‘PJ Day’, and ‘A Day in the Dark’. These are fun alternatives to costumes, as has become the norm for the past many years.
Sadly, our ever-popular family party at school could not happen this year. For me, this was one of the hardest changes and biggest disappointments. The evening of a pizza supper on the playground, followed by carving a pumpkin into a jack-o-lantern was magical – especially lighting the jack-o-lanterns as it became dark, and singing our favorite jack-o-lantern song.
Then today I received this email:
Dear Jennie,
The Bakers and Cusicks had a GCS/Aqua Room Pumpkin celebration last night. Like yours from years past, we had pizza and carved pumpkins. We just didn’t sing but decorated cookies instead.
Thanks for creating those great memories that we can continue! 🍁❤️🎃
Love,
Kerry
L to R—Dillon, Isabel, Emmett, Owen, & Brennan
My goodness! How wonderful, indeed. Yes, this is an event that creates memories over many years. They did not sing the song, so I thought you might like to hear it (children want to sing it all year long):
Gloria has been trick-or-treating with an Aqua Room friend every year since I can remember. She has been Minnie Mouse, a dragon, a cow, a scarecrow, and wearing many other costumes for Halloween. This year she is staying home in the classroom, with her mask, and taking care of the jack-0-lantern.
Children are resilient. Gloria is resilient. I know that. I need to remember that.
Stayed tuned tomorrow for storytelling, and a Jennie Story – “The Halloween Story.”
Jennie
A Teacher's Reflections 
Wonderful, Jennie🥰
Thank you, Ritu! 😊
You have left lasting impressions on our family. Thank you! xoxo
Thank you for your kind words, Kerry! Those memories will be with me forever. 🥰
I still have my memories. I wish the children of today could have the same!
Stay safe, Jennie!
I know, and I feel the same way. Thank you, GP. Tomorrow’s post is the Halloween Story, when kids went trick-or-treating… alone!! Imagine that today. 🎃
I never actually went alone, but I grew up on a small street with 14 kids all within 4 years of age. (I was the youngest)
Those must be crystal clear Halloween memories, GP. Of course we never went alone, we were always with siblings or other kids. ‘Alone’ meant no parents or grownups. That was the big difference from how it is today.
What a shame, as we cannot grow ‘critical divergent thinkers’ (words from the astronauts) unless children can be independent and learn by doing. I think the astronauts would applaud trick-or-treating without grownups.
I agree.
Amazing Jenny – though I can’t help thinking that Halloween is such a strange event.
It is perhaps THE second favorite event of childhood, with Christmas being the first. Best to you, Opher.
The email from Kerry must have made your day! I liked the Boo! Boo Boo! bit in the jack-o’lantern song.
Yes, it absolutely made my day! When she said they did not sing the song, I had to include it, of course. The Boos in the song are very popular! 🎃
😀
This brought a smile to me this morning. What wonderful traditions. This year is different but you are still making good memories for these children and their families.
Thank you, Tracey! 🎃
Yes, the “boo, boo, boo” part of the song is clearly a highlight! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and giving us a glimpse into this important ritual — which we ardently hope will return outside next fall with pizza and families and pumpkin carving and singing all together…
Thank you, Will. Oh, those anticipated Boos! I can’t wait for next year and repeating this tradition. Singing in the dark, snuggled up with Mommy and Daddy and a glowing jack-o-lantern… magical! 🎃
it was bittersweet at my school as well, and we found ways to still try to make it special for the children. I love the email you received
I know I’m not the lone teacher feeling this way. We all are trying to make things as special as we can. That email made my day! 🥰
Wow Jennie.. although I’m from India and we don’t celebrate Halloween here, but I always love to know more about different traditions and festivals… Your post gave me a virtual visit to one 🙃🙃
Thank you! 🙂
What a wonderful tribute! Teachers touch so many lives in so many ways!
Thank you so much!
I love that you had a tradition that created memories for children. What I have found this year more than ever is we as adults need to understand that not doing something we’ve done for years does not make things less for kids. Children are resilient and as long as we as adults focus on the exciting things we can do and not the things we can’t… then new and exciting traditions can be made and created. Stay positive change is hard, but change isn’t bad. (and I know you are being positive with the kids…. I’m just sharing my thoughts on this)
Words of wisdom. Thank you, Lori. 🥰
That song is great!! No wonder the kids love it so. It will be a different Halloween but it will still be good. xo
Thanks so much, Darlene!
I love reading about the traditions you have started.
I’m glad you do. Thank you, Dan.
Children are also adaptable and are programmed to make the most of life. Have a lovely Halloween regardless, Jennie 😊
Yes they are, Robbie. Halloween is starting with an unexpected four inch snowfall!
Children are resilient, Jennie. Someday all will be normal again.
Yes they are, John. Very resilient. And we will be back to normal soon.
What a wonderful, joyful post, Jennie! That letter melted my heart. I loved all the photos — and thanks for the video. Happy Halloween hugs!
Thank you, Teagan! It melted my heart, too. One more Halloween post tomorrow. 🎃
Thank God for Gloria, setting an example for the kids.
Yes, indeed. She is a gem.
Jennie, you are resilient also.
That’s nice to say, Charles. Thank you!
Thank you for this.
You’re welcome, Laura.
Beautiful… Happy Halloween to all! 🎃 xo
Thank you, Bette! 🎃
Children are resilient. Some of the schools in our area have returned to at-school attendance. I drove by and saw all of the children outside wearing their masks. I’m sure it’s an adjustment for all, but I know they will do it. That’s what teachers and kids do.
Yup, that’s what we all do. Our elementary schools are back and forth with hybrid or remote, as Covid cases keep creeping up. The youngest children really need to be in school. We’re making it work. Best to you, Pete.
Great to see you making the kids excited. You have a real joy of Halloween in America that I never experienced as a child in London. This year, we not only have the virus, but gale-force winds and torrential rain. I am guessing the Beetley Halloween will be a washout in 2020.
Best wishes, Pete.
It is a very popular event over here. It will be another one of the 2020 cancellations and disappointments for children. And yesterday it snowed! I’d rather have that compared to your winds and rain. At least we can have some fun at school. Best to you, Pete.
Quite a few houses around here are heavily decorated outside, but I fear those elaborate decorations will blow away later!
Oh, no! How big are the gusts?
Things are different this year. That’s not always a bad thing.
True.
How reassuring and affirming to have families continue your tradition at home. I understand how disappointing it would be to not have celebrated it with your class this year. What a different Halloween and one that will be mentioned in stories for years to come, I’m sure. I hope these masks don’t become the norm for future Halloweens.
It was deeply reassuring, especially in a year where everything seems to be swept away. A pandemic doesn’t last forever, so we should be back to normal next year. Best to you, Norah.
Fingers crossed, Jennie. I certainly hope so. 🙂
🤞
This year can’t end fast enough. Resilience is a great word. 🙂 xx
You are so right, Debby!!
❤
That was wonderful and the tradition you taught them being carried forward is magnificent!
Thank you, Deborah!
Your welcome!😄
The little ones don’t have those fond memories so missing something isn’t so painful. We miss that more than they do. I didn’t grow up with Halloween but my kids loved it and because we moved so much, every year was different. No expectations helps. We only had 10 kids come by here. Driven way down here in cars because it’s too far for the kids and uphill going home. I have a LOT of candy left. What do I do with it???
You’re right, most children don’t have those memories. And no expectations definitely helps. I guess you’ll have to eat your candy…😃
Sorry, Jennie! I’ lost the line. Excuse for this, but it sounds and looks like a wonderful celebration of something, we are missing here. Well done! Have a beautiful weekend! Michael
Thank you, Michael!
:-))