GROVEPORT, Ohio -- Dressing up in Halloween costumes in grade school and having punch and cookies used to be one of the most anticipated days of the school year. Now, students at one elementary school won't have those memories, WCMH-TV reported.

Leaders at Glendening Elementary School in Groveport say education comes first, and that means cutting out holiday parties.

Administrators sent a letter home with students Thursday alerting parents that there will no longer be Halloween, Christmas or Valentine's Day parties.

"Since they are canceling these activities, it's kind of like they are taking tradition out of school," said Chris Ayers, a parent.

Principal William Sternberg said about 15 percent of the student population doesn't participate in the parties because of personal beliefs. He said the teachers think the classroom gatherings take away valuable instructional time.

"Our teachers come together to make sure our test scores come up this year, and this is what they came up with," Sternberg said.

He stressed there will be some celebrations during the academic year, but the parties will be based on academics instead of holidays.

"Second grade does ancient Greece. We might do a party with ancient Greece," he said. "Those parties further enhance the lessons learned during those sections."

Leaders originally suggested eliminating individual birthday parties. Now there will be one big birthday bash.

Despite the birthday celebrations, some parents fear their children will miss something as a result of the new policy.

"He needs to look at the fact that he's leaving out a very important American concept from the children's lives and their history," Ayers said.

Administrators said they're still revising the new policy and changes could be made.

Some parents plan to circulate a petition to bring the holiday parties back.