As a mom of four kids, the big Halloween decision every year is where to trick or treat and every year we end up in our neighborhood because it is simply so fabulous!  Although it seems that Halloween decorations go up right after school starts, the real indication that Halloween is around the corner is the Halloween Hoot at Westwood Charter.

The Hoot is a great event and is this Sunday, October 23^rd from 10am-4pm.  It is a day that everyone at school and in the community looks forward to and I know that just today I received ten phone calls from parents who have children at other schools wanting to get all of the information because they have come the past few years.  Not only is the Hoot a community builder but is also the one day that the kids have complete control of the school and the blacktop running from the pumpkin patch to the cake walk to the DJ and to the Haunted House.  It is so amazing to see the transformation of Westwood Charter from school on Friday to an amazing fantasy land complete with ghouls, goblins, witches and a fairy here or there on Sunday. Click here for important HOOT dates.

Seeing the Halloween Hoot come together shows the absolute dedication that the parents, staff and children have to both the school and the event.  The amount of cakes baked, cookies decorated and decorations hung is such a incredible testament and I would encourage each and every one of you to come to really get  a sense of how a school community can come together to create Halloween magic.

This year I am sponsoring the pumpkin patch again and am excited to see all of the families come to find that perfect or imperfect pumpkin that appeals to them.  Oh, and by the way – an insider secret is that each pumpkin also comes with a fabulous item from the prize booth.   Last year some of the prizes were Barnes and Noble gift cards, Game Stop gift cards and there was even a special pumpkin that came with a WII game console.  I know that last year I ended up with 12 pumpkins on my little porch because my son, Ryder, was on a quest to find that one pumpkin that had the “best” prize.  Rumor has it this year that there might be an XBOX in the mix and so again, I may have 12 or more pumpkins on my porch as he will most definitely be laser focused on making sure it is his by end of the day.

I am excited for Sunday, I am excited to see the kid’s faces and I am excited to be a part of such a great event.  I absolutely invite you to come and see the ghoulish magic that can be created when you have a wonderful community working together!