Parent Information Evening

Community Vote on

School Uniforms

Queen of Heaven Catholic School

Meeting Date: Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. in the school gym

Our Purpose Tonight……

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.

Policy II-41, School Uniform Dress Code/ School Dress Code

Background

School Uniform PilotGuardian Angels Catholic Elementary School, Milton; and St. Gabriel Catholic Elementary School, Burlington

Policy II-41, School Uniform Dress Code/ School Dress CodeApproved by the Board of Trustees in April, 2009Subsequently, 4 elementary schools adopted a school

uniform.

School Uniform Ad Hoc CommitteeEstablished by the Board of Trustees in February, 2012

Amendment to Policy II-41Approved by the Board of Trustees on February 19, 2013

Basic Principles of the Amended School Uniform Policyo 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 elementary school communities.

Procedural Requirements to Comply with the Policy

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 pre-registered 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 this year.

Benefits of a School Uniform

Why a School Uniform?

o Safe Schools

o Equitable & Inclusive Learning Environments

o Distinctive Identity as Catholic Schools

Safe 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.

Equitable & Inclusive Learning Environments

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.

Distinctive Identity as Catholic Schools

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.

Why are we here tonight?

Required to Vote

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.

School Dress Code CommitteeOur 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

School Uniform Action PlanIn 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.

Community Voting Process

Voting Eligibility

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.

School Uniform Voting Ballot

• 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.

Informing Your Decision

What does the uniform look like?

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.)

Who is the uniform provider?

The selection of the uniform provider is determined through an RFP Process, on the basis of a number of factors, including: o affordabilityo quality o manufactured in accordance with Board Policy I-31, Apparel

Purchases and Fair Labour Practiceso accessible and convenient for families

The Board’s current provider is:R. J. McCarthy School UniformsCarlos Rios, Senior Account Executive

531 North Service Rd E.Oakville, ON L6H 1A5

416-593-69001-800-668-8261

www.rjmccarthy.com

R.J. McCarthy Elementary School Uniform Pricing 2014-2015

.

McCarthy’s Affordable Pricing Range on Existing Youth Packages Regular Pricing

Current Year 2014-2015 Pricing

$105

$ 84*

$155

$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@ rjm ccarthy.com

OPTION 1Frequent Laundry Cycle

OPTION 2Average Laundry Cycle

OPTION 3Extended Laundry Cycle

Uniform Assistance Program

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.

NEXT STEPS…

Next Steps

February - March 2014o 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, 2015o Uniforms will be available for ordering (online ordering, in

store, mobile store optional)

Questions?