What:

Ghouls, goblins, witches, and the occasional princess will be out in mass at CHIME Charter Elementary, which has extensive ties to Cal State Northridge, on Monday as the school's children are transformed for CHIME's annual Halloween parade.

Children in kindergarten through grade five are celebrating the holiday by throwing off the school's usual dress code of wearing only red, white, blue or tan, and letting their imaginations run wild as they parade through the school in their Halloween costumes.

CHIME Charter Elementary School, and its sister campus CHIME Charter Middle School, are independent schools that provide free public education through affiliation with the Los Angeles Unified School District. The schools serve as demonstration and teacher-training sites for Cal State Northridge's nationally acclaimed Michael D. Eisner College of Education. They have been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as national models for full inclusion of students with disabilities and for providing a blueprint for local schools across the country. The elementary school was named "Charter School of the Year" in January by the California Charter Schools Association.

When:

11:30 a.m., Monday, Oct. 31, 2005

CHIME Charter Elementary School
19772 Collier St., Woodland Hills
Thomas Guide Grid 560 F-3

Who:

More than 200 costumed elementary school children

Julie Fabrocini, CHIME principal, (818) 346-5100
Carmen Ramos Chandler, CSUN Public Relations, (818) 677-2130, office, or (818) 822-6397, cell