N.J. school nixes Halloween celebrations, cites diversity

A Maplewood elementary school has alerted parents that Halloween celebrations will not be held this year.

MAPLEWOOD -- Halloween should be celebrated at home, not at school.

That was the message one New Jersey elementary school sent to parents last week as a reminder that students will not be having Halloween parties at school. In a letter home to parents on Oct. 12, Seth Boyden Elementary School Principal Mark Quiles, and PTA Co-Presidents Amelia Riekenberg and Donna Upton, said the school's diversity prompted the Halloween celebration decision.

"One of the strengths of Seth Boyden is that we are such a diverse community, with many cultures represented, and that we truly value each one," they wrote in the note.

"In the past, in-school celebrations of Halloween have made many of our students feel left out... (and as) a result, after careful consultation and deliberation, we have decided not to hold in-school Halloween activities."

According to the letter, about 20 percent of the school's student body did not participate in last year's celebrations, either while they were at school or by choosing to stay home on Halloween.

According to Suzanne Turner, spokeswoman for the South Orange-Maplewood School District, the policy will not extend to other schools in the district, or to other holiday celebrations at Seth Boyden. There had been no plans to celebrate Halloween at the school this year, the note was just sent home "to avoid confusion," she said.

It comes after a lively debate developed in the community last year when Halloween celebrations at the school were canceled and then reinstated in the days leading up to the holiday.

Superintendent John J. Ramos Sr. issued a statement Monday saying he respected the decision the school made, given the large number of students who have opted out of Halloween celebrations in the past.

"We understand that many families really enjoy the Halloween tradition and of course are not suggesting that anyone cancel or change how they celebrate Halloween outside of school," he said.