LEWISTON — Halloween is alive and thriving with adults — so many deck out their homes and wear costumes that retailers count it as a major spending season — but traditional Halloween rituals are fading from public elementary schools.

No costumes will be allowed at Geiger Elementary this year, the new school that replaced Pettingill Elementary. On Friday, the day before Halloween, students will have a black and orange day on which they can wear those colors.

The change was made for several reasons, Assistant Principal Deanna Nadeau said. Some kids came to school dressed in elaborate, expensive costumes. Others had none. Some costumes were too violent or too scary. The biggest reason: “It interfered with our learning environment,” Nadeau said. “Students need to be learning to read and write, keeping the focus on instruction.” The costumes were distracting, she said.

Time in school is critical to student learning, said Auburn Assistant Superintendent Katy Grondin, adding that most schools don’t allow costumes. “We try to keep routines as consistent as we can and keep learning at a maximum. We now focus on the fall season globally, not just Halloween.”

Some high schools, including Lewiston and Edward Little in Auburn, allow students to wear costumes as long as the costumes don’t violate dress codes, principals said.

At Cottrell Elementary in Monmouth, costumes are not allowed, Principal Deborah Emery said. “We used to have a big parade where students would walk around in their costumes. It was taking a lot of time from learning. We need to focus on health.”

On Friday afternoon, Monmouth students will take part in a “move-a-thon,” which will include dancing, karate and soccer.

At Park Avenue Elementary School in Auburn there will be no costumes or face-painting, Principal Vickie Gaylord said. It’s been 10 years since students wore costumes in school, she said. It’s too disruptive, and not all families celebrate Halloween.

At the end of the day on Friday some teachers will hold small classroom celebrations. “We might have cupcakes, but we’re sure to include fruits and veggies,” Gaylord said. “Students do celebrate that it’s harvest time. We are in the process of getting our food drive up and running.”

Costumes have not been allowed at Montello Elementary in Lewiston for the past six years, Principal Deb Goding said. They’re too distracting and masks create safety concerns with kids going up and down stairs, she said.

On Friday, there will be a “crazy hat day,” and some classrooms may have a special afternoon treat, but the all-afternoon parties are a thing of the past. “Families who wish to celebrate the day can do so as a family,” Goding said.

Halloween is seen as too distracting at Lisbon Community School also, Principal Carlene Iverson said. Friday will be a “wacky wear and hair day.” Students can wear mismatched clothes and do something funny with their hair, Iverson said.

On Halloween, the PTO will hold a “trunk or treat” in the school’s parking lot. A haunted house on Main Street is being held from 6 to 9 each evening this week. Community members have stepped up efforts to help take Halloween out of the schools, Iverson said.

At Minot Consolidated School, National Candy Corn Day, not Halloween, will be observed Friday, said teacher Wendy Simard. The faculty has been frustrated with holidays, Simard said, because not all families celebrate the same holidays. The goal is to be inclusive.

At least one elementary school still celebrates Halloween the way most adults remember: Woodstock Elementary School in Bryant Pond, near Bethel.

During the last hour of school on Friday, students will be allowed to put on costumes and go to a party in the gym, hosted by the PTA, Principal Jolene Littlehale said. Most of the 84 students will wear costumes, she said. “They have a parade, play games, have fruits, veggies, cheese, crackers and cider. Then they go home,” Littlehale said.

“(Students) understand for us to continue to do this, we have to keep our standards high; we have to keep our focus. They get it,” she said.

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Woodstock Elementary School students file into the gymnasium for the annual Halloween party in 2002 as Sheryl Morgan, dressed as a clown, acts as a volunteer greeter.