Queen of Heaven Catholic School
Parent Information Evening
Community Vote on School
Uniforms
Meeting Date: Tuesday, February 24, 2015
at 6:30 p.m. in the school gym
o
To review recent changes to the Board’s Policy II-41,
School Uniform Dress Code/School Dress Code.
o
To offer an overview of the benefits of a school uniform.
o
To provide you with information related to the community
voting process.
o
To answer any questions you may have with respect to the
school uniform.
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School Uniform Pilot
Guardian Angels Catholic Elementary School,
Milton; and St. Gabriel Catholic Elementary
School, Burlington
Policy II-41, School Uniform Dress Code/ School
Dress Code
Approved by the Board of Trustees in April,
2009
Subsequently, 4 elementary schools adopted a
school uniform.
School Uniform Ad Hoc Committee
Established by the Board of Trustees in
February, 2012
Amendment to Policy II-41
Approved by the Board of Trustees on February
19, 2013
o
The Board is committed to providing a learning and
working environment that is safe and respectful of
the needs and well-being of all individuals, and
believes that a school uniform dress code supports
such environments.
o
The Board endorses and encourages the adoption of
a school uniform dress code in our elementary
schools, consistent with the values, traditions
and distinctiveness of Catholic schools as an
effective strategy to build inclusive Catholic
communities and encourage a sense of belonging for
all students.
o
The Board affirms a role for parents to determine,
through democratic vote conducted in accordance
with this policy, whether or not to adopt and
implement a school uniform dress code for
o
A simple majority vote of the RETURNED BALLOTS
(50% + 1) is required for a community to adopt a
school uniform.
o
Community votes are scheduled later in the school
year. Every family with children confirmed as preregistered for the next school year is eligible to
vote.
o
If the youngest child in the family is in grade 7
or 8, a family would not be eligible to
participate in the vote.
o
In the first year of implementation, grade 8
students will not be required to wear the
uniform.
o
Each school community must vote on school
uniforms at least once. The uniform vote may be
revisited on a three year cycle. Schools that have
never held a school uniform vote, must hold a vote
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o
Safe Schools
o
Equitable & Inclusive Learning Environments
o
Distinctive Identity as Catholic Schools
o
Students wearing a school uniform are easily
identified as belonging in the school;
conversely, those not in a uniform are more
easily noticed or detected.
o
A school uniform creates an environment
conducive to a safer school.
o
Anecdotally, schools that have implemented
a uniform report a positive impact on the
overall tone and climate of the school.
o
A school uniform encourages a sense of pride and
belonging for all students.
o
A school uniform fosters equality, minimizes peer
pressure, and has a leveling effect on socio-economic
status within school communities.
o
A school uniform simplifies the morning routine and
alleviates child/parent conflicts or differences of opinion
around dress.
o
A school uniform conveys a distinctiveness that is often
associated with Catholic schools around the world.
o
A school uniform would distinguish our students from
students in the public school system.
o
The implementation of a school uniform dress code in
elementary schools is consistent with the school uniform
dress code already in place in each of the Board’s
secondary schools, and would offer a sense of identity
across all schools in the Board.
Each school community must vote on school uniforms at least
once.
Schools that have never held a school uniform vote, are
expected to hold a vote this year.
Our school is eligible to revisit the vote due to three year
cycle.
Our Catholic School Council met on October 28, 2014 and established
a School Dress Code Committee.
The Queen of Heaven School Dress Code Committee consists of:
Jean Guy Cassie – School Council Co-Chair
Jason Power – School Council Co-Chair
Lorie Cabral
Catherine Campbell
Tracey Dos Anjos
Sandra Rei
Sandy Viana-Tavares
John Susi - Principal
Viviana Varano – Vice Principal
In accordance with the policy, our School Uniform Dress
Code Committee developed a School Uniform Action
Plan, which outlines the following:
o A Parent Information Evening (tonight’s meeting) –
to provide parents with the details related to the
amended policy, and the community vote.
o Notice of Voting Period – ballots will be sent home
on February 25, and are due back March 11, 2015.
o Results of the Vote – will be communicated to
parents on March 12, 2015 via email.
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In accordance with the policy,
o Every registered family with children in JK-6 of the current
school year is eligible to vote, and receives one (1) ballot.
o
Every family with children confirmed as pre-registered
for the next school year in the JK or SK programs, is eligible
to vote, and receives one (1) ballot.
o
Families whose youngest child is in Grade 7 or 8 in the
current year are not eligible to vote.
• On February 25 each family will receive one
(1) paper ballot, in accordance with the
eligibility requirements noted earlier. It will
be sent home in an envelop labelled with
the family name.
• Each ballot will be numbered.
• The parent/guardian must indicate their
choice on the ballot by marking the
appropriate box with an “X”.
• The ballot must be signed, and returned
to your child’s teacher by March 11.
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o
All elementary school uniforms must consist of a combination
of navy blue and white.
o
Individual schools may choose to add one additional colour to
reflect the school’s colour/logo.
o
Individual schools may wish to add their school logo.
o
While the advice would be to keep it simple, especially during
the first year of implementation, individual schools may
supplement the base uniform with additional items of apparel
(e.g. sweater, vest, etc.)
The selection of the uniform provider is determined through an
RFP Process, on the basis of a number of factors, including:
o affordability
o quality
o manufactured in accordance with Board Policy I-31, Apparel
Purchases and Fair Labour Practices
o accessible and convenient for families
The Board’s current provider is:
R. J. McCarthy School Uniforms
Carlos Rios, Senior Account Executive
531 North Service Rd E.
Oakville, ON L6H 1A5
416-593-6900
1-800-668-8261
www.rjmccarthy.com
OPTION 1
Frequent Laundry Cycle
OPTION 2
Average Laundry Cycle
OPTION 3
Extended Laundry Cycle
McCarthy’s Affordable Pricing Range on Existing Youth Packages
Regular Pricing
$105
$155
Current Year
2014-2015 Pricing
$ 84*
$124*
$215
$172*
.
* 20% discount applies during the first year of implementation only (June 1st, 2014 to May 31st, 2015)
For more information, please contact:
Carlos Rios, Senior Account Executive ® 531 North Service Rd E. ® Oakville, ON L6H 1A5 ® 416-723-6539 ® crios@rjmccarthy.com
No student will be denied access to school as a result of
financial limitations that may inhibit a family’s ability to purchase
the uniform.
As a component of the school’s arrangement with McCarthy’s,
we will fully subsidize the cost of a uniform for families
where the cost of the school uniform would put a financial
strain on the family household.
Arrangements for assistance are made through the
Principal, and are kept confidential and discreet.
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February - March 2014
o The vote will take place between February 25 and March 11.
o You will be advised of the outcome of the vote by March 12,
2015
Should the decision of your school community be to adopt a
uniform for next year:
By May 31, 2015 the Uniform Committee will:
o Determine items for the uniform and communicate options to
the school community
o Determine a logo
By August 1, 2015
o Uniforms will be available for ordering (online ordering, in
store, mobile store optional)