Snowy Halloween and Fun at School

  • Post category:Holidays / School
  • Reading time:3 mins read

This post is going to be so short that I debated if I should even write it. Looking back at things that have happened over the past month, the only two highlights worth sharing are Halloween and school.

Like most years, we didn’t go trick or treating. It’s usually too cold for James to be outside for too long which is why we normally don’t take him trick or treating around the neighborhood. This year in addition to the cold, we had snow. Not a lot, maybe half an inch or so, but it made it feel more like Thanksgiving or Christmas than Halloween. We weren’t the only ones that skipped trick or treating this year—we had very few trick or treaters stop at our house. We have enough candy left over that it will probably take us months to eat it all.

At least James got to semi-dress up for Halloween at school. All of his classmates, teachers, and aides wore ghost shirts.

 

James sits in his wheelchair wearing a white shirt with a large black smiley face, dark pants, protective glasses, and a soft patterned neck pillow. His chair has red and black components with visible controls and wiring. Behind him, several people stand wearing matching white smiley‑face shirts. The setting appears to be indoors with tiled flooring and wooden cabinets, giving the moment a shared, coordinated‑event feel.
James the Friendly Ghost

 

A group of people pose together in a brightly lit school hallway. Several individuals stand while others sit in wheelchairs, all wearing matching white shirts with simple black ghost‑face designs. Behind them, a trophy case filled with plaques and awards lines the wall. The floor is tiled in red, yellow, and white, giving the scene a colorful backdrop. The moment feels festive and inclusive, capturing a coordinated Halloween‑themed gathering.
James with his classmates, teachers, and aides

 

I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned this before, but James’ high school experience is much different than the “normal” kids. Where a normal student will go from classroom to classroom throughout the day and learn about different subjects like math, English, science, foreign language, etc., James’ class is pretty self-contained. Most of their learning is done in the same classroom.

They still learn various subjects, but they also spend quite a bit of time learning life skills. They have a kitchen in their classroom where they learn to read a cookbook, measure out ingredients, safely operate an oven and stove, and make food items. There have been a couple of times so far this year that James has come home with food that they made in class. There were some cookies that were a little burnt on the bottom, but they were still good. And hey, they’re learning, right?

They’ve also gone on a couple of field trips to stores and to the mall to learn how to shop, how to read prices, and how to pay for items they want to buy. Here are a few pictures from the shopping trip they took for Halloween items:

 

Two people are in a costume store filled with Halloween masks, props, and decorations. James' nurse wears a floral sugar‑skull mask and holds a small purple plush toy near James’s face. James sits in his wheelchair wearing a large skull mask and a colorful bib with circular patterns. Behind them are shelves of costumes, a tree prop, and a tall alien figure in a sci‑fi display. The scene feels lively and fun, capturing a playful moment during a Halloween outing.
Looking good James

 

James sits in his wheelchair wearing a black textured top hat with a red accent, clear glasses, a yellow shirt with partially visible white lettering, and a neck support covered with purple mittens with cartoon eyes, The background shows an indoor space with polished wood and tile flooring, decorative stone columns, and store shelves filled with merchandise. A mannequin or statue dressed in a green costume stands behind him, adding to the themed atmosphere.
Should this be James’ new look?

 

James sits in his wheelchair wearing a yellow shirt with partially visible white lettering and a purple neck pillow with cartoon eyes. He has on a Chucky mask with red hair, blue eyes, and stitched scars, while another person’s hand steadies the top of the mask. Behind them, racks of costumes and accessories fill the store, creating a lively Halloween‑themed setting.
Who remembers the Chucky movies?

 

James sits in his wheelchair inside a store filled with Halloween decorations and costumes. Behind him stands a large, brightly colored clown figure with blue hair, a white face, exaggerated makeup, and an outfit in purple and black stripes with an orange ruffled collar. The clown holds two oversized bowling pins. Store shelves packed with Halloween items line the background, creating a bold, spooky atmosphere around James.
Creepy clown

 

Another field trip they took was to do some fishing at the small lake behind the school. Sadly, I don’t think he caught anything.

 

James sits in his red wheelchair outdoors, holding a fishing rod while another person in a white hoodie with green lettering assists him. The background shows a grassy area, a few other people participating, and a partly cloudy blue sky. The moment feels relaxed and communal, capturing a friendly outdoor activity.
Beautiful day to go fishing

 

Like I said, this was a pretty short post. Maybe I will have more to share next month. James has an appointment coming up with the craniofacial team at UIC, so I will hopefully have some good news to share about that.