Principal apologizes after scary holiday video played at school

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This article was published 09/12/2022 (1338 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The leader of a Fort Rouge elementary school has issued an apology to families, after a substitute teacher screened a video of Christmas-themed horror stories for seven- and eight-year-olds — at least one of whom experienced nightmares afterwards, the child’s parent said.

“We apologize that this unsuitable video content was shared with students. While the video in question is not graphic, it is disturbing and could be upsetting for children who viewed it,” wrote Cinzia Caputo, principal of École Riverview School, a nursery to Grade 6 school, in a memo to families on Friday.

Caputo said the Winnipeg School Division’s human resources department is handling the matter and clinical support services will be available to students in the coming days.

Multiple parents told the Free Press their children returned home earlier this week and reported watching a disturbing YouTube video at school.

A substitute teacher played a 13-minute clip titled 3 Nightmarish True Christmas Horror Stories, posted by user “Mr. Nightmare,” for Grade 2 and 3 learners on Monday, they said.

The video features holiday-themed stock images overlaying a narrator recalling different scary tales with haunting music in the background.

One of the stories is about a child who comes across a criminal he believes is Santa Claus while he is getting a glass of water in the middle of the night. The costumed man helps the boy get back to bed and when the family wakes up, they learn they have been robbed.

The principal indicated an internal investigation began after a parent raised concerns on Wednesday and it was later confirmed the substitute both shared the video in question and that the content was not suitable for young children.