Pines Bridge Students Enjoy Halloween Extravaganza

Trick-or-treating is one of those childhood traditions most of us take for granted. However, for children with multiple disabilities, sprinting through a neighborhood and ringing doorbells is not an option. This Halloween, students at Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES’ Pines Bridge School were treated to a full-blown Halloween celebration put on by the agency’s administrative staff.

For many days preceding the holiday, staff at BOCES’ School Services building prepared their offices for the students’ visit. Cubicles and hallways were decorated, as bags of treats brought in by employees began to pile up. On the morning of the visit, staff left their business attire at home and arrived at work dressed as pirates, clowns, cowboys and sports figures.  One department even transformed their area of the office into a circus “big top,” complete with a circus tent, music and popcorn bags filled with treats.

By the time the first students arrived, a “parade route” had been mapped out, traversing the building’s different departments. Costumed staff lined up along corridors to cheer the students on and hand out treats.  Decorations turned a conference room into a Halloween-themed party room and students’ faces lit up as they entered to sounds of “The Monster Mash” and beheld tables loaded with treats.

“It was heartwarming to see everyone unite to make this an extra special occasion for our students,” said Dr. Lynn Allen, BOCES Assistant Superintendent. “Our staff went above and beyond to bring in delicious treats, decorate the building and dress up in festive costumes so that our students would thoroughly enjoy every aspect of the holiday.”