A reminder to all parents and students about St Clare’s expectations on uniform and grooming.  The School Executive and staff of St Clare’s are concerned about the students’ presentation – uniform and grooming.  We understand that there have been some issues regarding supply of our uniform especially with school track pants and school sport shorts.  We are in the process of rectifying this and are working closely with Workwise to supply a new sport uniform from a different supplier.  In the interim, we have agreed that on sports days students may wear navy tracksuit pants and plain green or navy shorts that can be purchased from Lowes, Big W and Target.  These alternatives are not to have large logos emblazoned e.g., like NIKE, Adidas etc.

We are proud to be a Catholic school that endeavours to provide an experience of high-quality interpersonal relationships of care and support.  As a result, the culture of the school needs to be respectful of the individual, a safe and secure environment and one that is healthy allowing students to become discerning self-disciplined and contributing members of society.

The wearing of the formal school uniform, and wearing it correctly, are signs of self-respect and respect for others in the school community.  It is a symbol of community membership, common purpose, and beliefs.  In terms of safety, the uniform provides for modesty, identity and is protective in the daily school environment.  The uniform sets boundaries and parameters for dress and personal presentation.  The setting of such boundaries and students’ compliance with them are important in developing self-discipline, perspective and balance in life and a sense of right and wrong.

We kindly ask that all parents and carers to please read the uniform and grooming expectations set out below and support the school by ensuring your child/children are correctly attired and groomed for school each day.  We would prefer not to place students on detention, exclude students from offsite activities or be constantly contacting home about students not meeting these expectations.

Students must wear the regulation uniform and be appropriately groomed from the time they get to school until the time they leave school, this includes all activities that students participate in offsite.

CLOTHING

• Students are not to wear T-shirts under shirts/blouses when the motif is clearly visible through the shirt/blouse, or the arms or collar of the under-garment are clearly visible.
• Only Year 11 & 12 students are to wear the optional jacket chosen for their year group.
• Male students wear grey socks - must be at or above ankle length
• Female students wear white socks - must be at or above ankle length
• Sport day – students wear white socks - must be at or above ankle length
• Sport uniform is worn to school on sport day.
• On PDHPE lesson day full and correct sports uniform can be worn to school otherwise students must wear formal school uniform
• Coloured knitwear, if worn, must be covered by the correct school knitwear. Hoodies are not acceptable.
• If for any special circumstances a student cannot wear the full uniform on any given day a note from parents must be supplied. The note must be signed and dated by the parents and presented to their Leader of Wellbeing (LOWE)

SHOES

• Black, leather, tongued, lace-up and polishable school shoes for all students. Boots of any kind are not acceptable.
• Running or Cross training sneakers must be worn for all sporting activities and PDHPE. NO CASUAL style shoes are acceptable including gym style boots.

JEWELLERY

• The only acceptable jewellery is a watch, a ring and a small, silver or gold metal stud or sleeper, maximum 2 per ear lobe.
• Jewellery is to be kept to a minimum. Eyebrow, nose, face, tongue and lip jewellery are not acceptable.

HAIR

• Hair is to be well groomed and kept tidy. No dreadlocks, no shaved patches, rat tails, skullets, mullets that are not able to be tied back neatly or other extremes.
• Long hair (longer than shoulder length) must be tied back at all times for both male and female students.
• Short hair - nothing under a No 3.
• Facial Hair - clean shaven at all times
• Colour - 1 or 2 shades from the natural looking colour of hair is acceptable. It is not acceptable to have patches, panels, streaks and tips that do meet this expectation.
• Hair accessories - plain black, navy blue, white, gold or green.

HATS

• All students must wear either the approved black bucket or broad brim hat supplied by Workwise clothing. Especially times when outside of the classroom and not in a shaded area, including before and after school, recess, lunch, during sport and PDHPE lessons.

BAGS

• Students will have appropriate school bags which allow for the care of the contents, including computer devices. No string/shoulder bags allowed.

MAKEUP/NAIL POLISH

• Makeup is not allowed, exceptions are given for Year 11 and 12 students, but must be kept to a minimum and natural looking.
• All students in Years 7 to 12 are not allowed to wear nail polish or have Gel or Acrylic nails.

BODY ART

• Tattoos are not acceptable and should not be visible at any time.

OUT OF UNIFORM

• Students who are “out of school uniform” must give a note of explanation from Parents/Guardians to their Year Level - Leader of Wellbeing. The note must contain the date and parent’s signature.
• The LOWE will issue a note for reference by other teachers and make a chronicle entry on the student’s compass file.
• Students out of uniform on more than three occasions or do not provide a note will receive a lunchtime uniform detention.
• Students who are “out of sport uniform” must wear the correct school uniform and change into sport style clothes. Students who do not follow this expectation will receive an automatic lunchtime uniform detention.
• Students will be encouraged to rectify unacceptable dress standards with a minimum of delay, prior to contact being made to parents to rectify the concern.
• items of uniform are available for sale from Workwise Clothing, 5 Marathon Street, Taree 6552 2371
• In cases of genuine need, advise the Principal, and the school will discuss the possibility of acquiring uniform items for students or subsidise cost.

The School Executive
Principal – Mr Phillip Gibney
Assistant Principal Teaching and Learning – Mrs Theresa Avery
Assistant Principal Wellbeing – Mrs Marian Parvin
Ministry Leader – Mr Jason Koenig