| There is lots for elementary schools to celebrate in | | | | to look very far to find a local hayride, pumpkin |
| October - pumpkins, apple cider, autumn leaves, and | | | | patch, farm or corn maze that would be happy to |
| of course, Halloween. These exciting fall traditions are | | | | host your school group. Many of these locations have |
| perfect opportunities for PTO and PTA groups to | | | | already planned "Halloween party packages" that |
| plan fun and enriching activities for their students and | | | | include food, games, and tickets for their attraction |
| school families. | | | | or activity. At first it may seem cost prohibitive to |
| Halloween parties are the classic elementary school | | | | have the party outside of school, but if you compare |
| Halloween event. Many schools, however, have | | | | with what your PTO would be spending on food, |
| chosen to move away from the traditional school | | | | decorations, and entertainment for an in-school |
| Halloween party in favor of an event that is themed | | | | program, you may find that there is very little |
| more to "Fall Harvest Time". The "Fall Harvest Time" | | | | difference. |
| parties have more of an emphasis on pumpkins, | | | | As a bonus, PTO and PTA planned parties that are |
| apples, and cider rather than ghosts, skeletons, and | | | | hosted outside of school often are better attended, |
| witches. | | | | as you are offering families a unique entertainment |
| Whichever party theme your PTO or PTA group | | | | experience. |
| chooses, hosting a successful October party, requires | | | | There are many assembly presenters who have |
| a lot of volunteer time, organization, and planning. It is | | | | school shows that are written with Halloween and Fall |
| important to know that you have support from | | | | time themes and messages. Hiring a Halloween |
| parents in your PTO group who are willing to | | | | assembly program or show is the easiest and most |
| volunteer time and resources to make the party a | | | | hassle-free way for a PTO group to bring some |
| success. | | | | Halloween and Fall festivities to their students. A |
| Once you have your volunteers in place, you can | | | | professional assembly presenter company will arrive |
| begin planning the activities and entertainment for the | | | | at your school with everything they need to put on |
| party. You should also decide whether students will | | | | a program, so there are very few resources or |
| be allowed to wear costumes at the party, and if | | | | volunteer time required. |
| there are certain restrictions on costumes that they | | | | Halloween and Fall Time assembly programs range |
| can wear (no masks, no weapons, etc). | | | | from musical reviews and plays by Youth Theater |
| Your school Halloween party could include a variety | | | | groups to magic and illusion shows. The content of |
| of entertainment options. Our personal favorite is a | | | | these shows are usually very lighthearted depictions |
| "Haunted Classroom", where a simple "not so scary" | | | | of Halloween, with the focus on "silly fun" instead of |
| haunted house maze is created by hanging black | | | | anything spooky or scary. Many times, the presenter |
| plastic from the ceiling. Along the way, students | | | | will also weave Halloween and Trick-or-Treat safety |
| encounter teachers who are dressed up in silly | | | | messages into the show. |
| costumes and acting out funny Halloween scenes. | | | | Unfortunately, there are many horror stories of |
| Trick-or-treating from classroom to classroom is | | | | Halloween assemblies that have had an entire |
| always a hit with students. You can encourage | | | | Kindergarten class in tears because the presenter |
| creativity and class spirit by inviting each class to | | | | was presenting content that was not age |
| decorate their room to a Halloween theme. | | | | appropriate. Blood, gore, overly-scary images, and |
| Many schools hire a DJ to play Halloween music as | | | | swords and knives do not have any place in a show |
| "entertainment" at their parties. Generally, however, | | | | for elementary school audiences, but they |
| elementary students are going to be more interested | | | | unfortunately end up in shows of performers who |
| in other activities and games than dancing to | | | | are inexperienced with entertaining young audiences. |
| Halloween tunes. Therefore, the expense of a | | | | Be sure that you are hiring a professional entertainer |
| professional DJ (usually $100+ an hour) for an | | | | and using a reputable school assembly booking |
| elementary school party is not necessary. With | | | | company to avoid any unpleasant surprises the day |
| advances in digital music players, a PTA parent | | | | of the show. |
| volunteer could easily create a fun play list of | | | | No matter what Halloween activity your PTO / PTA |
| Halloween songs on their iPod or computer and have | | | | group chooses to do, early planning is the key to |
| that play during the party. | | | | ensuring a successful and headache-free event. |
| Halloween party entertainment such as a magic show | | | | October 31st may seem like a long way away at the |
| or puppet show can be a hit with students and | | | | start of the school year, but with the excitement of |
| parents, but it should not be scheduled at a time that | | | | back-to-school time, open houses, and fund raising |
| would conflict with other activities at the party. | | | | kick-offs, Halloween can sneak up on you. If at all |
| Instead, it is best to schedule the Halloween party | | | | possible, decide on a Halloween planning committee |
| entertainment at the end of the party. This will | | | | before school gets out in June, or at least by August. |
| provide you with an entertaining finale to your event, | | | | If you are planning on hiring a Halloween assembly, |
| and encourage families to stay for the whole party. | | | | the longer you wait to book, the fewer choices for |
| An alternative to having your October party at the | | | | dates and times you are going to have to choose |
| school is to have the party at a location that offers | | | | from. |
| a Halloween or Fall themed activity. You will not have | | | | |