Newfield’s annual Halloween parade returns

On Oct. 29 at 9:15 a.m., Newfield Elementary School will hold its annual Halloween parade, a chance for students and teachers to dress up in costumes and show them off to the rest of the school.

“It’s more about letting kids have a little bit of fun … and showing off their costumes,” said Newfield Superintendent Eric Hartz. “We’re trying to add some social things for kids back in.”

Newfield Elementary School Principal Laine Gillette is in charge of organizing the parade, and Pamela Scott, Gillette’s secretary, said the Halloween parade has been held annually for many years. While the parade was put on pause for a few years during the 2010s, it was brought back in 2017 and has happened annually since.

Newfield Elementary School held the Halloween parade in 2020 in spite of the pandemic but, unlike other years, did not allow parents to attend.

“I think it’s definitely an event that kids really look forward to each year,” Gillette said. “Kids really love Halloween and the holiday seasons in general, and this is definitely one they really look forward to.”

This year, the event will be held outside and will require masks and social distancing. Hartz said that he foresaw the weather as being the primary factor that will influence whether the event can be held outdoors, which is optimal in terms of COVID-related safety. If the morning of Oct. 29 is rainy, then the Halloween parade will be held indoors and parents will not be allowed to attend, as the school is still limiting the number of visitors allowed in the building.

“We’re definitely going to have a parade one way or another,” Gillette said. “The only kind of difference will be whether or not parents will be spectators.”

“Really, there should be no other complications,” Hartz said. “We always have the kids make sure their costumes are appropriate, and as long as they’re wearing their PPE masks that are going to protect them healthwise, that’s all there is.”

Gillette said that according to school rules, Halloween costumes must not feature weapons, be too scary or gory or have masks that cover the wearer’s entire face.

Gillette said the Halloween parade fosters a sense of community among the children and adults, something that she believes is needed in the pandemic.

“I think that the pandemic has put an unusual amount of stressors on both kids and families, as well as faculty and staff,” Gillette said.

Hartz said he wanted to hold a fun social event for the children that will provide some semblance of normalcy for them in a difficult time.

“We’re trying to just do a few things that are a little bit back to where we used to be to help kids socially and emotionally, and this is one of those things,” Hartz said.

Gillette shared that sentiment, adding the parade helps foster a sense of community among students, faculty, parents and all those connected to Newfield Central School District.

“It makes the families and the school feel connected again, similar to how we felt pre-COVID, so it gives us that sense of normalcy,” Gillette said.

Gillette said she was happy to have the students of Newfield Elementary School attending class in person again full time, and she hopes the parade will be held for years to come.

“It’s a fun tradition, and I think it’s something I want to see continue for both our kids and our community,” Gillette said.

In Brief:

Newfield town government meetings

The town of Newfield Planning Board will meet from 7 to 9 p.m. Nov. 3, and the Town Board will meet from 7 to 9 p.m. Nov. 11. For more information, including the agendas and the Zoom links, visit the town’s website at newfieldny.org.

Newfield school board meeting

The Newfield Central School District Board of Education will hold a regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 4. For more information, including the meeting agenda and the Google Meetings link to attend the meeting remotely, visit the school district’s website at newfieldschools.org.

Newfield Library holds Family Storytime

On Nov. 2, the Newfield Public Library will hold a Family Storytime from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the library. For more information, visit the library’s website at newfieldpubliclibrary.org/events/family-storytime-1030-8.