Hi everyone,
We hope this finds you all well.
As we near the start of winter dress code, we would like to send a few reminders to all families surrounding facets of our dress code policy which we have found to be consistent areas of improvement. More specifically, we would like to address issues that have been the subject of multiple concerns from parents, staff, and students.
Outerwear
As a response to a need voiced last year regarding a lack of STMC clothing suitable to winter weather, we consciously added rain jackets and quarter-zips with STMC branding and logos to the dress code. Thus, we expect that students adhere to the selections included in our dress code despite the weather. Students wearing non-STMC outerwear and hoodies (even STMC athletic hoodies) at school will be asked to place these clothing items in their lockers or will be confiscated and returned at the end of the school day.
Dress Pants
We understand that with the weather changing, students have begun to wear pants that feel more comfortable. Please note that this is a reminder that black sweatpants (even STMC athletic-wear), leggings, cargo pants and jeans are not part of our school’s dress code. As per our policy, students are to wear black or beige dress pants which reflects the professionalism of our school environment. Students who are wearing pants which do not adhere to the dress code will be asked to change and be referred to administration. If students have been spoken with numerous times, they will be subject to further disciplinary action. Further, after Friday Oct 20th, students are no longer permitted to wear shorts.
Kilts
We understand that kilt length is a delicate issue and we want to be respectful of all stakeholders involved. We have observed significant variations in how our students wear their kilts and we have had multiple conversations with staff, parents, and students surrounding the topic. All of these conversations have provided valuable insights to consider (ex. sizes, hemming, and tailoring of the kilt etc.). We would like to remind our families that the policy for kilt length is that students should not wear their kilts shorter than three inches above the knee and it is essential to note that students are not obligated to wear kilts. Students whose kilts appear to be worn improperly will be spoken with discreetly by a female staff member about its fit and appearance.
We want to ensure that our dress code policy and how our students present themselves reflect our school’s values and promotes a sense of pride and professionalism among our community. We kindly ask for your support and that you check in with your children about the fit and function about the dress code items that they currently have and wear.
Our goal is to strike a balance between maintaining a professional and respectful learning environment while ensuring that our uniform policy is practical and reasonable for our students.
We invite you to share your feedback as your input, along with students’ input, is valuable to us. As always, we appreciate your cooperation and involvement in this matter as your voice is essential in shaping policies that affect our school community.
Thank you,
The STMC Administration
