Safe Schools Halloween letter and school reminders

Dear Grandview Heights Families,

This week, we held student information sessions to review expectations for Halloween. Our goal is to ensure this is a fun, inclusive, and safe celebration for everyone. We would greatly appreciate your support in reinforcing these messages at home.

Please review the following guidelines with your student:

🎭 Costumes to Avoid

To help make Halloween enjoyable for all, students are asked not to wear costumes that:

• Depict or make fun of another race or ethnicity (e.g., blackface, brownface)
• Represent or stereotype another culture (e.g., Indigenous regalia, headdresses, hijabs, dreadlocks)
• Portray figures from religion or faith (e.g., gods, saints, religious leaders)
• Mock or stereotype gender identity or expression
• Make fun of people with physical or mental disabilities

🚫 Inappropriate Costumes

Please also avoid costumes that:

• Are sexually suggestive
• Promote or celebrate substance use (vaping, drugs, alcohol) or violence
• Include weapons or replicas of weapons

✅ Practical Costumes

Students should ensure their costumes are:

• Safe and comfortable (able to sit, walk, use stairs, and visit the restroom easily)
• Identifiable (no full-face masks or anything that conceals identity)

🌟 Have Fun and Be Creative!

Superheroes, movie characters, literary figures, and other creative ideas are all welcome!
 Please note that firecrackers and fireworks are prohibited within the City of Surrey.

Attached is a letter from the Surrey School District regarding community safety and vandalism. Thank you for your ongoing support in helping us create a positive and respectful Halloween experience here at Grandview Heights.

Warm regards,
 D. Bedard
 Grandview Heights Secondary