Dress Code

It is the philosophy of St. Paul Catholic School to believe in the value of each child as a unique individual loved by God. We strive to create an environment that will challenge the students to grow to their fullest academic potential and to develop a healthy acceptance of self and a Christian respect for others. Proper hygiene and attire contribute significantly to this effort. It is the responsibility of the parent to ensure their child attends school daily in proper school uniform.

The following dress code policy applies to students in Pre4/Jr. Kindergarten through 8th grade:

Shirts
• Solid white, navy or light blue polo-style, with a collar and long or short sleeves. Turtlenecks, mock turtlenecks, oxford shirts, dress shirts/blouse-style are also included in the dress code.

• Crewneck sweatshirts, Quarter-zip sweatshirts, and sweaters (crew, V-neck, vest or cardigan style) in solid navy, light blue or white that are waist-length and appropriately sized may also be worn. Shirts may be worn with a t-shirt or turtleneck underneath. Shirts worn underneath the uniform shirt should be a solid color and may not have any visible writing or pictures.

• All shirts, sweatshirts, and sweaters shall be free of name brand logos (e.g. Nike, Under Armour, Adidas). Only plain or school approved logos may be worn on dress code clothing. Shirts with approved school logos will be offered for purchase at the start of the school year. Local vendors may also sell shirts with approved logos. Teachers and administrators reserve the right to ask the student to remove sweatshirts if any safety, behavioral, or appearance concerns arise.

• Hats are not permitted. Hoodies are not allowed to cover the student’s head while in any campus building.

• Only uniform sweatshirts and sweaters may be allowed in the classroom during the school day.

• Viking Spirit Wear shirts may be worn on designated days as determined by administration.

Pants and Shorts
• Navy or khaki, plain, trouser-style pants and shorts with flat or pleated front. Low-waist, hipster, jeggings, or any type of tight-fitting pants or shorts are prohibited. The hem of the pants shall not touch the floor. Pants/shorts may not be of jean material, have rivets, extra buttons, extra pockets, etc. Pants/shorts must be purchased from approved vendors (i.e. French Toast, Old Navy, Gap, Children’s Place, or other vendors which sell clothing free of logos).

• With the student standing upright with arms extended down at his/her side, shorts may be no shorter than the bottom of the student’s fingertips and/or no more than 4” above the knee. Shorts may be worn beginning April 15 through October 31. Girls may also wear capri pants, which shall be considered shorts for purposes of this section. They should not be low-waist or too tight as deemed by the teachers and/or administration. Shorts are not permitted during school Mass.

Jumpers, Skorts, and Skirts
• Navy, khaki, or approved plaid jumpers, skorts or skirts in specified styles must be longer than the extended fingertips and/or no more than 4” above the knee (see above shorts). Girls must wear shorts or leggings (white, light blue, or navy) underneath jumpers or skirts. The only plaid option allowed is from the brand French Toast in the BLUE GOLD PLAID style (Item#1397 & #1047).

Shoes and Socks
• Shoes and socks must be worn at all times.

• Tennis shoes or leather/oxford style shoes that blend with the clothing. Extreme colors/styles (as determined by staff) will not be allowed.

• Shoes that leave black marks are prohibited. For students’ safety, open-toed, heeled shoes, and boots are also prohibited. Shoes must be properly tied at all times. In snowy conditions, snow boots may be worn to school, but students must bring regular school shoes that meet the above-stated requirements to change into upon arrival.

Accessories
• Students must wear belts with pants, shorts, and capris that have belt loops. Belts must be solid brown, black, or navy. Belts are optional for preschool and kindergarten students.

• Jewelry must be kept to a minimum. Earrings should be kept close to the earlobe (post style, no large hoops) with a maximum of two (2) earrings per ear. Boys may not wear earrings. All jewelry must be removed for PE and sports. In the case of newly pierced ears, earrings must be “taped” for safety.

Hair and Makeup
• Hair must be neat and clean. For boys, hair must be no longer than the eyebrows and must not touch the shirt collar in back or the opening of the ear on the sides. Extreme hairstyles, not historically associated with race, ethnicity, or hair texture, are prohibited for all students. Unnatural hair color, trendy hairstyles, wraps, wefted panels, strand by strand, tinsel, or any other added artificial extensions such as tape-in, clip-in, bonded, or halo are not allowed. Minimal makeup is allowed for girls in 7th/8th grade. No dark liners for eyes/lips or bright eye/lip colors.

PE Uniform
• Students in grades 7th and 8th are required to change into athletic clothing for PE. PE attire consists of athletic-style gym shorts (see dress code policy for appropriate length), sweatpants, and T-shirts. Shorts or pants may not contain any logo or words on the seat. T-shirts may contain any official logo of St. Paul Parish and/or St. Paul Catholic School. T-shirts must not contain wording or images that conflict with the message of Catholic Education. PE attire must be labeled with the student’s last name. PE attire may not be worn in the classroom.

Preschool 3-year-old students do not have a specific dress code for clothing, but the dress code policy regarding shoes, as stated above, must be followed. Preschool parents should review the Casual Dress Days section below for details regarding casual dress and/or spirit dress days.

See the Dress Code Violation section below for issues concerning student non-compliance with dress code provisions. The faculty and administration, in their sole discretion, shall determine the appropriateness of any questionable attire or grooming.

General Information
For any questions concerning appropriate style of school clothing, please contact the school office.

Mass Days
On scheduled Mass days, students must wear school-approved, trouser-style pants and polo-style shirts. Shorts are not permitted during school Mass. All outerwear should be removed before approaching the Altar.

Casual Dress Days
Certain days of the school year are designated as casual dress days. On these days, students may wear shirts that are clean, neat and in good repair. These shirts may not contain wording or abbreviations that refer to any subjects that conflict with the message of Catholic Education, such as violence and death, sex, illegal drugs, alcohol, tobacco products, ethnic slurs, profanity, street gangs, rock concerts or performers or any other non-Christian subject matter. All shirts or tops must have sleeves. Sheer or crop tops, low-cut, see-through mesh, or back cut-out tops may not be worn. Shirts or tops must be long enough to tuck in or cover the waistband of pants.

Pants or jeans that are clean, neat, loose fitting, and in good repair may be worn. Sweatpants are acceptable as long as they are loose fitting. On casual dress days beginning April 15 through October 31, clean, neat, loose fitting shorts may be worn. Shorts may be no more than 4” above the knee. Shoes that are appropriate for school must be worn on casual dress days as a safety precaution.

Unless otherwise modified by this section, the regular dress code shall remain in full force and effect.

Spirit Days
Thursdays, unless otherwise specified, are designated as spirit dress days. Students may wear any St. Paul Catholic School athletic team wear or school logo wear, along with dress code bottoms. Please see above for dress code guidelines.

Promotion Dress
Various events are planned in May in anticipation of promotion including a breakfast, the promotion ceremony and honors recognition, and reception. Because of the formal nature of these occasions, appropriate dress is required. For these events, the following dress code is required:

Boys: Dress shirt with tie, dress pants, dress shoes (no athletic shoes). Jacket is optional.
Girls: Dress of appropriate length, no shorter than 4” above the knee, with no slits above the knee. No formal, semi-formal or prom style dress is allowed. Dress may not be strapless, off the shoulder or have spaghetti straps. Dress must have a modest neckline and may not be excessively tight fitting. Shawl or sweater may be required.

Promotion students shall wear caps and gowns during the promotion ceremony. Parents shall bear the cost of purchasing a cap and gown for each child promoting. Gowns are disposable and may not be reused for subsequent ceremonies.

Dress Code Violation
It is the responsibility of each parent to ensure that the dress code is followed by his/her child(ren). It is the responsibility of the teachers and school administration to ensure that students adhere to this code. Parents will be notified of a dress code violation and, if necessary, will be required to bring a change of clothes to school before the offending student may return to class. Dress code violations will result in appropriate disciplinary action. Repeated violations may result in a suspension. Students may be required to change into appropriate clothing provided by the office. 


UPDATED 4/5/24