Dress Code for Catholic East Elementary Scholars Dress code is of extreme importance when maintaining a culture of excellence and high expectations for scholars. The uniform conveys to both the internal and external community, that school is a place of “business.” Uniforms not only help our scholars maintain a neat and professional appearance, but they reduce distractions in the classroom and reduce the stress of scholars and parents needing to worry about what to wear. Uniforms have long been held as an important part of the Catholic School tradition. Lastly, in most high performing schools around Milwaukee, a strict uniform is enforced. This is because a large body of research suggests that maintaining a strict and tight uniform policy plays a vital role in maintaining a culture of excellence and high performance. As a staff, we are unified and committed in our efforts to maintain consistency in the enforcement of the scholar dress code outlined below. Teachers are expected to enforce the dress code found in the Parent/Guardian/Scholar Handbook. Dress code violations should be handed to the offending scholar by the classroom teacher. Notices of violations will be sent home to parents/guardians. Scholar dress will be appropriate for a Catholic school setting and be in accordance with the Catholic ideals we wish to foster. Catholic East Elementary School has a school uniform policy. A neat and clean appearance will be required and the standard for appearance will be determined by the classroom teacher in consultation with the principal. The principal has the final say with regard to all dress code and scholar appearance issues. It is the dual responsibility of the parent/guardian and the scholar to be dressed properly for school. Dress code violations will be handled through a consequence system that is outlined in the dress code guidelines. Parents/guardians will be kept informed of dress code violations. We believe that a neat and properly attired scholar will help create an atmosphere which is conducive to study and academic and social progress. Parents are responsible to send their children to school with correct and neat dress and grooming. Please pay attention to what your child is wearing before he/she leaves for school in the morning. If your child comes to school in clothing that is not consistent with the Catholic East dress code, parents/guardians will be called first thing in the morning and will be asked to bring the proper clothing to school. Your child will remain in the office until you arrive with proper uniform attire. In order to avoid this ordeal, please make sure that your child is in proper uniform before they leave for school! Appropriate clothing helps a scholar realize the importance of time spent in school. Scholars should always be neat and clean in appearance, including keeping shirts tucked in and in appropriate sized clothing. The official formal school uniform is required for all scholars in K3 through Grade 8. ​SHOES AND BOOTS:​ Dress shoes or tennis shoes (athletic shoes) are to be worn to school. If your child wears a dress shoe to school, a pair of tennis shoes should be purchased and kept at school for physical education class. Boots, including “fashion boots” such as UGG type boots, etc. may NOT be worn during the school day and will be taken off prior to entering the classrooms in the morning. Boots are allowed for outdoor use only, i.e., on the playground or to and from home in the morning or afternoon. All shoes should have non­marking soles. ​No wheeled shoes, shoes with flashing lights, platform shoes, flip flops, or open toed sandals, etc. are allowed​. BELTS:​ Belts must be solid color in black, brown, white, navy or khaki. No other colors are allowed. There should be no “designs” on the belt. Where belt loops exist on pants or shorts, a belt must be worn for all scholars in grades 2­8. Scholars in grades K3­Grade 1 are not expected to wear a belt. SHIRTS:​ Shirts are to be a white or navy blue (which is a dark blue) polo, oxford, or turtleneck, with long or short sleeves. Shirts are to be tucked into pants, shorts, or jumpers/skirts. T­Shirts/undergarments worn under uniforms shirts must be white or navy blue . PANTS/SLACKS:​ Pants are to be the color of navy blue or khaki corduroy or twill, and supported by a belt. Where belt loops exist, a belt must be worn for all scholars in grades 2­8. Scholars in grades K3­Grade 1 are not expected to wear a belt. No cargo (patch pockets), nylon or warm­up pants are allowed. K3 scholars may wear navy blue sweatpants or knit pants. “Skinny” pants or pants that are tight fitting are not acceptable, nor should pants ever be worn “down low.” Capri pants are not to be worn as uniform pants. Leggings are not allowed as pants. SHORTS:​ Shorts are to be the color of navy blue or khaki and must be walking shorts. (longer styled, just above the knee). Shorts are not to be worn “down low.” SWEATERS:​ Sweaters are to be white or navy blue only. Sweaters may have a hood. Vest sweaters in white or navy blue are acceptable, as are cardigans or pullover sweaters. SOCKS:​ Socks can be any color. TIGHTS:​ ​Tights ​must be​ white, black, or navy blue LEGGINGS:​ Leggings can be worn under skirts/jumpers (however, not alone as pants) and must be white, black or navy blue. SWEATSHIRTS:​ ​Only Catholic East Elementary School sweatshirts may be worn in class for grades K3­8. Spirit Wear may be ordered online from our ​Spirit Wear Store​ provided by PrepSports anytime during the school year. The ​Spirit Wear Store​ offers a large variety of design options and styles. Any of these are fine for Spirit Wear days with the exception of “hoodies.” Keep in mind if you are placing an order for a Catholic East sweatshirt that may be worn on days other than Spirit Wear days, the sweatshirts must be: ● Crew neck collar ● Navy, Dark Green or Ash ● Any of the Team Name sweatshirt designs available on the site are acceptable ● Names on the back of the sweatshirts are also acceptable Grades 6­8​ scholars will receive a Catholic East zip­up fleece, free of charge, as a gift from the school upon entering middle school. Middle School scholars may wear the fleece or the Catholic East Elementary crew sweatshirts only. No other sweatshirts are allowed to be worn in school. Fleeces are kept at school in the classroom closets and are NOT to be taken home. The school staff will wash the fleeces periodically during the school year. Fleeces are handed out when the weather turns cool in the fall. Eighth grade graduates get to keep their fleeces at the end of the eighth grade year. JUMPERS/SKIRTS​: Girls may wear either Catholic East Elementary School jumpers/skirts/skorts in “White Plaid” which can be purchased from ​Land’s End, ​www.landsend.com​, using our school code, #900128638, regardless of the grade they are in. Jumpers/skirts/skorts must be of modest length. Tights, socks, leggings, or skin­tone stockings may be worn with either the jumper or the skirt. (See other color options above under socks/tights). ***NEW*** PHYSICAL EDUCATION DRESS CODE​: ​The physical education department and classroom teachers find it both necessary and hygienic that all scholars ​4th­8th grade​ change into a different shirt for P.E. Make bringing a t­shirt on PE days a routine! Tennis shoes ​must​ be worn on gym days (especially on dress up days, spirit wear days, or out of uniform days). Scholars need to bring tennis shoes to school with them if they are not wearing tennis shoes to school on PE days. Tennis shoes that Velcro are a must for scholars in K3­K4 unless scholars are able to tie shoelaces. ADDITIONAL DRESS CODE GUIDELINES: ● Additional clothing may be worn to and from school during cold months, but must be removed during class time. Hats, caps, scarves, coats and jackets may not be worn in class. ● Scouts are allowed to wear uniforms on the day of their meeting with uniform pants. ● NO make­up is to be worn. ● Ties may be worn as long as they are the Lands End ties in the “White Plaid” pattern (which are now online). ● Nail polish in all colors are allowed. Artificial nails are not allowed ● Dangling earrings are not allowed. Only small stud­type earrings are allowed. No body piercings allowed other than the ears. ● No tattoos may be displayed. ● Hair color is to be natural in appearance. No unnatural colored streaks or unnatural colored hair allowed. Hair style and length is appropriate so to not interfere with anyone’s learning. ● Hair should not have any designs. ● Purses are allowed for grades 2­8, but need to be stored in the coat closets. SPIRIT WEAR DAYS:​ “SPIRIT DAY” takes place on the first Friday of the month or other days deemed “Spirit Days” or “Dress Down Days” by the school principal. On Spirit Wear days, scholars can dress in Catholic East Spirit Wear (which can be ordered online from our ​Spirit Wear Store​ provided by PrepSports), a college or sports team T­shirt, jersey , or sweatshirt as long as the sweatshirt is not a “hoodie.” Hoodies must be taken off in the school building. On these days, scholars may wear jeans that are not frayed or torn. Scholars may wear athletic pants but no sweatpants or leggings as pants for Spirit Days or Dress Down Days. Shoes must be closed­toed. Appropriate boots and Uggs can be worn on these out­of­uniform days but not boots that are meant for outdoor use only (snow and rain boats). Scholars can also wear their uniform on a Spirit Day or Dress Down Day, if they choose to do so. BIRTHDAYS:​ Scholars may “dress up” and be “out of uniform” on their birthday or half birthday (half birthday for those who have summer birthdays or their birthday occurs during a school vacation). The attire must be appropriate for school!