CPS PARENT BULLETIN: HALLOWEEN PLAN & REMINDERS – FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30TH

> Central Primary Students will celebrate Halloween on Friday afternoon. If the weather cooperates, we plan to have a parade and then classroom parties. A general event plan with schedule, guidelines, and a parade map are below. We look forward to seeing many of you at the parade… and having a safe and fun afternoon for CPS students! Please call the front office if you have questions [309 444-3580].

FRIDAY SCHEDULE @ CPS

8:30am-1:35pm “Normal” school day schedule with allotted instructional time, recess/Specials, and lunch periods.

1:35pm HALLOWEEN PARADE begins at front entrance of school and then proceeds along sidewalk toward CIS and Holford Gym before turning right and heading toward playground where Primary students will “take a lap” around the blacktop immediately behind CPS. *If you’re confused; no worries – MAP BELOW.

2pm CLASSROOM PARTIES following parade. Students will remain in their classrooms for parties until school dismissal.

2:55pm KINDERGARTEN RELEASE of non-bus riders to the cafeteria for pick-up.

3pm 1ST GRADE RELEASE of non-bus riders to the cafeteria for pick-up.

3:05pm 2ND & 3RD GRADE DISMISSAL of non-bus riders.

3:20-3:30pm BUS RIDER DISMISSAL & PICK-UP

Ø THIS WILL BE A VERY BUSY, CHAOTIC DAY---ESPECIALLY AT DISMISSAL. OUR STAFF WILL TAKE EVERY PRECAUTION TO ENSURE STUDENTS ARE SECURELY RELEASED TO THEIR PARENTS/GUARDIANS. AS YOU ARE ALREADY ACCUSTOMED TO DOING, PLEASE MAKE AN EXTRA EFFORT TO LET YOUR CHILD KNOW ABOUT THEIR DISMISSAL PLANS IN ADVANCE OF FRIDAY.

GENERAL GUIDELINES

> PARADE Parents and family are more than welcome to attend and watch. Please park in the lots adjacent to Central

Intermediate School (1301 Eagle Avenue, Washington) or the one parking lot directly across the street from Central Primary School (1400 Newcastle Road). **IF YOU PARK IN THE PRIMARY LOT, PLEASE USE DESIGNATED PARKING SPOTS ONLY; parking in front of our bus barn entrances could delay bus routes in afternoon (not pretty). I would advise arriving between 1:20 and 1:30 to allow time for parking and then getting to a good viewing position for the parade. The staff and students at the Intermediate School (the other building) plan to watch the parade from locations along the outside of CIS (Holford Gym and on the outside of the CIS building – bordering the CPS blacktop). To get a good look at the students, visitors may want to set up at the front of CPS (starting location at entrance); along the road between the Primary School and sidewalk in front of Holford Gym; or head between the two schools and behind Central Primary to take a position in the middle of our blacktop (playground). Students will proceed around the Primary blacktop and playground equipment and finish their “lap” before heading back in to the School via the 2nd/3rd grade hall entrance. *You can’t miss your children in the parade if you take up a position on the black top behind school --- as they will literally take their lap around you. There will be members of staff out and visible during the parade; never hesitate to ask for help.

> STUDENT PARTICIPATION Please make sure your child’s costume can be worn over their clothes – and quickly, simply put on prior to the

parade. School staff will be made available to assist with costumes if necessary prior to lining up for the Parade.

> WEATHER CANCELLATION As of the beginning of the week, the forecast is looking tolerable [mostly sunny / high of 57]. IF WEATHER

CONDITIONS WILL NOT PERMIT AN OUTDOOR PARADE, there will not be an indoor parade. The decision to cancel will be made by noon on Friday (and communicated asap afterwards). *If you don’t hear anything between 12:00 and 1:00 on Friday, assume the parade is on.

> CLASSROOM PARTIES To ensure a secure building for students and organized parties, we’ve worked with the PTO to set a list of pre-screened parent-volunteers to help out with parties. Only those individuals will be allowed to come in to the School and manage the parties. These assigned parent-volunteers will need to present a photo-ID and sign-in at the front office upon arrival to CPS. Our space limitations will not allow for extra individuals to be admitted to classrooms during the parties (friends, siblings, etc.). A limit of four extra adults (2 room coordinators and 2 assigned volunteers) per room is in place for classroom parties. I genuinely appreciate your patience with and respect for these necessary precautions. THANK YOU.

*VOLUNTEER ACCESS TO CLASSROOMS: At 1:45pm, party volunteers will be allowed to enter classrooms and begin organizing for Halloween parties. It may get a little crowded in the front office as you check in with photo-id (and then wait)… so we may have volunteers wait in the open cafeteria area until the parade lines have cleared the front entrance (which should be around 1:45). *IF THERE IS NO PARADE, volunteers will be allowed access to classrooms at the SAME TIME – 1:45.

*STUDENT ALLERGIES & OTHER MEDICAL CONDITIONS: Kim Martin and classroom teachers work to ensure awareness of student-specific issues related to food/drink consumption. The PTO also works with staff to coordinate activities like classroom parties to accommodate special needs/considerations so that every student enjoys the celebration. If you’re unsure about the plans for Friday or feel we may be unaware of certain conditions related to your child, please contact the School to verify our plans.

*PHOTOGRAPHY: We have a small number of students who are under photography restrictions. Classroom teachers are aware of the students with photo restrictions. The PTO has worked with the School to coordinate classroom party pictures through our staff (teachers and designated members of staff who know which students are under restrictions – and will be taking pictures) so the parties can be photographed while respecting parent-requested photo restrictions. Please allow staff to photograph the parties as I can’t control for pictures being taken (and perhaps posted electronically) by persons who don’t know which students are photo-restricted. ***The PARADE simply cannot be controlled in terms of restricting pictures, so I would remind our parents who have restrictions in place that participation in our outdoor parade will expose students to photography that cannot be restricted by the District.

!☺ FINAL REMINDER ABOUT FRIDAY DISMISSAL… Please ensure that a set (and discussed) plan for dismissal from school and getting home for your child is in place prior to Friday afternoon. Again, we will be vigilant as well on our end --- especially for our youngest students leaving the School on Friday afternoon.

>We will see you on Friday… and as always, THANKS for your support of our students! --bl