Deciding what to be for Halloween is a big decision for some kids. Choosing between Spider-Man, Ghostbusters, or Barbie is a tough choice. Unfortunately, some kids don’t get to choose a costume or may forget their costume for the big school parade. That’s where the Canyons Education Foundation comes in.

“For a kid to feel left out just because they don’t have a costume is really sad,” says Denise Haycock, Development Officer for the Foundation. “You can see it on their face that they feel like they don’t belong.”

Canyons schools know they can reach out to the Foundation to help ensure all students feel like they are part of the fun. During the Coronavirus Pandemic, many stores weren’t able to sell their costumes, and the Foundation was able to acquire a number of them. “We’re kind of dwindling down on the number we have left, so we’re once again looking for costumes,” says Haycock.

“It really means a lot that the Foundation has this resource available,” says Linda Hall Administrator for Life Skills Academy, Canyons school for special education students who have aged out of high school and would benefit from additional training and vocational skills. “It really means a lot because we have students who live in group homes or at the Connie Crosby Family Resource Center, and they wouldn’t have that opportunity to participate in our Halloween celebration with a costume.”

This year, leadership students at LSA put together a super-hero themed assembly followed by a dance all centered around kindness. The students will also be joined by the non-profit One Kind Act a Day.

“So it really makes them feel like they’re part of the celebration,” says Hall, “that they belong and they’re able to dress up and have fun and just be part of this huge celebration of kindness.”

Anyone looking to donate new costumes can contact the Foundation, providing options for students in the coming years.

Many Canyons schools encourage students to celebrate Halloween, hosting costume parades and assemblies. While costumes are encouraged, safety is also a priority for students.

Canyons students will have many opportunities to don their costumes for school parades, carnivals, and trunk-or-treats before the big spooky night of festivities. Spending all day as a blowup dinosaur or in a bulky costume that makes it hard to sit in class can sometimes cut into the fun and frolic, but it’s nothing that can’t be remedied with a costume change.

“It’s not a bad idea to have something for the school day, the parades, and then maybe something you’ll go out in on Halloween night,” says CSD School Resource Officer Max Zackrison.

Masks and facsimiles of weapons are a no-go at school. “Masks look cool but if we’re being honest, they’re never fun to wear,” Zackrison said. “They can block visibility, so if you can do face paint or some type of hat, that’s always good.”

Zackrison provides more safety tips in this episode of Connect Canyons.

“For whatever reason, if they couldn’t afford one, or they just forgot it that day,” Haycock says, “even if you can give them some face makeup to draw a fun design on their face, or a fun wig or something, just something so they get to be part of the day.”

The Foundation works to not only provide funds and resources for students and teachers, but also works to ensure they feel welcome and accepted in their schools. To learn more about how to support the Foundation, go here.