St. David's Preschool starts Halloween tradition of giving

The Cranston Herald ·

On Monday, Oct. 31, the young students at St. David’s Preschool started a beautiful new tradition and learned a very valuable life lesson. The school hosted a Reverse Trick or Treating event, carting a wagon filled with handmade cards and decorated pumpkins which were to be given out to the neighbors that surround the St. David’s Preschool.

“Because we are a Christian-based school, we thought it would be a wonderful tradition to start this year, and it helps to teach the kids thankfulness, good character, and values, knowing that it is better to give than to receive,” said Marie Birch, executive director for the school. “On this trip around the neighborhood, we are just giving and we are doing so, expecting nothing in return.”

Dressed as a fairy godmother, Birch helped to lead the parade, pulling the wagon along behind her. The students, accompanied by family members and the school staff, were dressed in their Halloween costumes and excitedly approached each house in the neighborhood, looking with anticipation to see if anyone might be home, and waiting for the door to open when the doorbell was rung. As they went from house to house, they were greeted warmly by the neighbors who were home, and who had been notified in advance that they might be receiving a visit from the students. If neighbors were not home, a pumpkin was carefully placed at the entrance with a special note of greeting from the students.

At one house, the students got a special Halloween surprise, as a friendly Halloween witch opened her door and welcomed her guests. “Witchypoo” as she called herself, noted that Halloween was her favorite holiday of the year. When asked if she liked the students’ new tradition of giving, reverse trick or treat style, she said that she thought it was wonderful and hoped to see it spread.

At the end of the parade, the students and their families participated in a Trunk or Treat, with the families’ cars backed up to the sidewalk and decorated for Halloween so that students could then trick or treat, stopping at each individual car’s trunk for a treat.

For more information on the school, visit stdavidpreschool.weebly.com.