Dress Code

Saint Mary School has a dress code policy that aligns with Catholic school culture. We dress in school uniforms three days a week, one of which is a more formal dress code for when we attend Mass. One day a week students are in a PE uniform while the other day is designated as a Spirit Wear day. Uniforms are a part of the culture as it:

• Encourages distinctions of character and personality instead of appearance

• Places emphasis on learning, not clothing

• Reduces peer pressure and social stigmas

• Allows for cohesive presentation as a group

• Lowers long-term clothing costs

• Facilitates security by helping easily identify outsiders

• Enhances school spirit

• Equalizes economic diversity

The dress code policy outlined below covers both uniform and non-uniform days. Students that do not follow the dress code may be required to stay in the office until proper attire can be delivered. Repeated violations may require a student to have a parent-signed policy contract. Our faculty and staff may judge that certain items and styles may not be worn. Final determinations rest with the administration of Saint Mary School.

• Clothes should be neat and free of holes or tears. Uniform shirts should be tucked into pants, shorts, or uniform skirts.

• We ask everyone to be mindful of the weather - during the cooler and winter months, when students go outside for recess, students should have hats, gloves, and jackets. Shorts may be worn from the start of school through November 1st, and then again upon return from spring break or an earlier date specified by the school office.

• Hooded sweatshirts may be worn to school in place of a jacket, but students are not permitted to wear their hooded sweatshirts or jackets continuously during the school day

• Students are permitted to wear smart watches like the AppleWatch, but they need to be treated as a regular watch. The moment a student starts playing on or with the watch, it will be taken away and must be picked up from the school office at the end of the day. Repeated violations may result in students not permitted to wear such devices to school. This is to ensure that students are free of outside distractions or notifications.

• Students may dress down on their birthday or “half-birthday” for those whose birthdays occur during vacations or breaks.

• All articles of clothing, boots, water bottles, lunchboxes, etc. should be marked clearly with the child’s name. The school is not responsible for articles left on school property. Lost articles are kept in the lost and found for a few days. All unclaimed articles will be donated to charity

Girls Dress Uniform 

• Plaid jumper (grades K-4) length 2” above the knee 

• Plaid skirt/skort (grades 4-8) length 2” above the knee 

• White blouse with collar 

Girls Casual Uniform 

• Plaid jumper or skirt/skort (Schoolbelles) 

• Dress slacks navy or khaki

• Polo shirt in white, yellow, navy, light blue or two-toned (Schoolbelles has navy & khaki) 

• Long sleeved polo shirts (white, yellow, navy or light blue) 

• Turtle neck shirts (plain solid white, navy or light blue) 

• Socks white, khaki, navy, or black (ankle or knee high)

• Tights: white, navy or black 

• Leggings (tight like) in white, navy or black may be worn under the school uniforms when the weather becomes cooler. Leggings should be ankle length only and worn with socks 

• STM sweatshirts (not hoodies) or sweaters (without hoods) in solid colors (white, navy, black or gray) worn over blouse or polo shirts

Girls Jewelry & Hair

• Students may wear only one pair of stud earrings, no dangling earrings are allowed

• Girls are allowed the choice of one bracelet, ring, or necklace to be worn
  A necklace may not be choker style

• Hair accessories should be conservative in nature.

• No nail polish or acrylics 

• No makeup of any kind 

• No hair dying,bleaching or unnatural hair colors

• Hair should be kept neat and should not cover eyes

• No extreme or trendy haircuts or styles (No shaved parts of the head, etc.)

• No ankle bracelets 

Boys Dress Uniform K-8 

• Dress pants in navy or khaki

• White dress button down shirt with collar 

• Socks white, khaki, navy, or black. Must cover ankle bone.

• Tie (neatly tied & appropriate) in grades K-4 is optional, but required for boys in grades 5-8 on Mass days. Students may remove their ties after Mass

• Boys in grades 5-8 need to wear a belt if their pants have belt loops (Optional in K-4) 

Boys Casual Uniform K-8 

• Dress pants in navy or khaki

• Polo shirt in white, yellow, navy, or light blue 

• Long sleeved polo shirts (white, yellow, navy or light blue) 

• Turtle neck shirts, plain solid white, navy or light blue) 

• Socks white, khaki, navy, or black. Must cover ankle bone.

• Boys in grades 5-8 need to wear a belt if their pants have belt loops (Optional in K-4) 

Boys Jewelry & Hair 

• No earrings

• Boys are allowed to wear one bracelet, ring, or necklace.
  A necklace may not be choker style.

• No extreme or trendy haircuts or styles (Mohawk, shaved head, etc.) 

• Hair length must not touch shirt collar, cover ears or eyebrows 

• No hair dying,bleaching or unnatural hair colors

K-8 Physical Education Uniforms (Both Girls & Boys)

• All students must wear a Saint Mary School P.E. uniform with logo

• Solid navy blue, knee length shorts with school logo, paw print or wildcat logo

• Navy blue T-shirt with school logo, paw print or wildcat logo 

• Must wear tennis shoes with non-marking soles to participate in P.E. class 

• No earrings for P.E. class due to safety reasons 

• Navy sweatpants or warm up pants with the school logo, paw print or wildcat logo 

• Long sleeved T-shirt with the school logo, paw print or wildcat logo

• Sweatshirt s and warm-up Jackets with the school logo, paw print or wildcat logo may be worn over a P.E. t-shirt from Nov. 1-April 15

Shoes 

• Dress shoes black, brown or navy (hard sole Oxford, loafer or dress Sketchers) 

• No heels allowed

• No shoes that would be considered a “gym shoe” 

• No sandals, flip-flops, clogs, crocs, wedge shoes, or moccasins are permitted 

Boots 

• Boots are encouraged to be worn during inclement weather. Students should bring school shoes brought to change into as boots are not meant to be worn all day

• Students will go outside for recess as much as possible depending on weather

Socks 

• Socks must always be worn with shoes including dress down/up days 

• Solid Color: white, khaki, navy or black. No extreme designs allowed

Watches

• Students are permitted to wear smart watches like the AppleWatch, but they need to be treated as a regular watch. The moment a student starts playing on or with the watch, it will be taken away and must be picked up from the school office at the end of the day. Repeated violations may result in students not permitted to wear such devices to school. This is to ensure that students are free of outside distractions or notifications.

Summer Uniform

Warm Weather Months are considered the start of school - November 1st and again after Spring Break or an earlier date as specified by the school office through the end of the year.

• Dress shorts (No cargo shorts—Bermuda style or walking shorts only) in navy or khaki.

• Polo shirts (white, yellow, navy, or light blue) 

• Boys in grades 5-8 need to wear a belt if their pants have belt loops (Option in K-4) 

• White socks and sneakers

• On school Mass days or dress uniform days, students must wear school dress shoes and dark socks

Spirit wear 

• We will have Spirit Days every Thursday

• Students may wear any Saint Mary School branded t-shirt, sweatshirt, hoodie, or sweatpants. If students do not have SMS sweatpants, they may wear plain navy sweatpants or jeans (neat in appearance)

• Students may NOT wear leggings, tight-fitted jeans, or clothes with holes or torn/frayed edges.

• During summer uniform months, navy, PE, or other SMS shorts may be worn. Shorts should be fingertip length on all sides (front and back).

Non-uniform Dress down Days

As Catholic school culture encourages modesty, appropriate attire must still be worn and under the following conditions:

• Jeans or other pants/slacks should be neat in appearance and not have rips or holes

• NO LEGGINGS OR TIGHT FITTING PANTS

• NO JEGGING PANTS THAT FIT LIKE LEGGINGS 

• Clothing, including t-shirts/sweatshirts, must not contain controversial text, images or negative advertisements

• No tank tops, muscle shirts, midriff shirts 

• No sandals, flip-flops, clogs, crocs, moccasins or shoes with high heels are permitted 

• Neatness remains a requirement on dress down days 

Non-uniform Days such as Picture Day or Birthdays

• Catholic School appropriate attire must still be worn 

• Jeans or other pants/slacks should be neat in appearance and not have rips or holes

• NO JEGGING PANTS THAT FIT LIKE LEGGINGS are permitted unless worn with appropriate length skirt or dress, as we encourage modesty

• Skirts and dresses must be of uniform length - no mini skirts 

• No tank tops, midriff shirts, etc. 

• Straps on dresses should be at least three inches covering shoulders, 

• Dress or shirts should not have back cut-outs

• If leggings are worn with uniform length skirts or dresses, they must be worn with socks 

Failure to follow any of the above mentioned dress code 

As of October 1 the following consequences will be issued for uniform violations:

• Verbal warning with a note will be sent home

• Written warning

• A second written warning to students will result in a referral slip

Please note that parents may be called to bring alternative clothes for students if needed.