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Red Deer teen's costume too scary, says school

After sleeping in her Halloween makeup, and touching it up the next morning, a young teen went home from school after being told her costume was too scary.
too-scary
St. Patrick's Community School student Rebecca Bennett

After sleeping in her Halloween makeup, and touching it up the next morning, a young teen went home from school after being told her costume was too scary.

Within a few minutes of 13-year-old Rebecca Bennett’s arrival at St. Patrick’s Community School in Red Deer on Thursday morning, she was approached by the principal and asked to remove the costume.

Bennett, a Grade 8 student in the kindergarten to Grade 9 school, dressed as a zombie this year for Halloween. After learning some makeup techniques at the Screamer’s Haunted House where she volunteered, she was so excited she asked to do the makeup for her siblings as well as her own.

“I was upset and angry,” said Bennett, who went home after she was told to remove the costume.

“A lady down at the haunted house did this on my face and my brother’s and I decided I was going to do it for today at school. I got up early so I could put it on and make sure it was done.”

Using liquid latex on the lower part of her face and around the lips, Bennett made it appear as though her lips were torn off and the teeth and gums were exposed. She was dressed in blue jeans, with some tears, and a loose-fitting shirt speckled with fake blood.

“Is that not the point of Halloween, to be gory and scary?” said her stepfather Ashley Stalwick.

“It kind of caught me off guard, but overall she’s been a successful student from day one, all the teachers know her, all the students know her and this is just part of the theme of Halloween. I don’t believe this is anything really extreme.”

Bennett said she really enjoys Halloween and put a lot of effort into her costume this year. She was going trick or treating Halloween night wearing the same costume.

“She was distraught, she came home in tears and heartbroke about this,” said Stalwick.

Unlike neighbouring G.H. Dawe Community School, which does not allow costumes at all, St. Patrick’s does, but with a few caveats.

Previously, St. Patrick’s principal Margaretrose Willms said students are allowed to wear costumes on Halloween, dress in orange or black or dress as they usually do. However, students are not allowed to wear masks or bring weapons. Costumes are not allowed to restrict movement and costumes that portray evil, dark or questionable characters are not allowed.

mcrawford@www.reddeeradvocate.com