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
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.