HALLOWEEN REMINDERS AND FUN

Dear Sherwood Parents and Families: With Halloween approaching, I’m sure that many of our families are planning to participate in holiday festivities. But due to the ongoing threat of COVID-19, we must all take special precautions this year to keep everyone in our families and communities healthy and safe. Please review these guidelines from the City of Chicago about how to celebrate Halloween safely during COVID-19: Masks aren’t just for trick-or-treaters this year! Everyone—including candy givers—should wear a face covering (multi-layered, covering the mouth and nose, without gaps around the face). Leave a light on or hang a Halloweek sign in your window to let others know your house is giving out candy safely. Handing out candy? Please socially distance and have hand sanitizer, too. Trick or treating? Stay on the move! Less congregating means more houses and more candy. Ensure there’s all treats and no tricks. Please don’t reach into candy bowls while trick or treating, and eat candy only at home after washing your hands. No haunted houses. They are truly spooky and dangerous this year. Keep your candy crew small. Trick-or-treating groups should be six people or less. No house parties large or small this year. I also encourage you to remind your children about the below safety precautions. These are good to follow at all times, but especially on Halloween: Travel in pairs or small groups whenever possible. If you feel uncomfortable or threatened in any way, go to the nearest business or populated area and call for help. Communicate with others about your location and where you are going. If you dress up in a costume, use reflective tape. Stick to well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk. Carry a cell phone for emergencies, but remember to stay alert while walking. Stay alert while crossing the street and while walking in parking lots—cars might have a hard time seeing you when it’s dark. If you are driving, remember to stay alert and watch for pedestrians crossing the street. I want our kids to have fun this Halloween, but it is critical that we all celebrate responsibly. I urge you to make safe choices for your family, and hope you will help spread the word about these important precautions. For more resources, please visit our city’s guide to celebrating Halloween safely, which includes upcoming virtual celebrations, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for an outline of high-, moderate-, and low-risk Halloween activities. I thank you for your partnership as we work hard to keep all in our Sherwood community healthy and safe this Halloween. Sincerely, Alice Buzanis Principal