VICTORIA PARK STATE SCHOOL

Student Dress Code

Statement of intent
A student dress code consists of an agreed standard and items of clothing, which may or may not include a school uniform that State school students wear when:
• attending or representing their school;
• travelling to and from school; and
• engaging in school activities out of school hours.

Student dress codes provide clothing that aims to contribute to a safe and supportive teaching and learning environment through:
• ready identification of students and non-students at school;
• fostering a sense of belonging; and
• developing mutual respect among students by minimising visible evidence of economic or social differences.

Victoria Park School Student dress code reflects school community standards and are consistent with occupational health and safety and anti-discrimination legislation.
Acceptable or reasonable dress refers to clothing or apparel that would be socially acceptable, although it might not conform to the school's student dress code. Inappropriate dress refers to clothing or apparel worn by students that is deemed to be:
• Offensive;
• Likely to disrupt, or negatively influence normal school operations;
• Unsafe for student or others; and
• Likely to result in a risk to health and safety of student or others.

Student dress codes incorporate strategies to accommodate special needs and circumstances of students and strategies for managing non-complying students. A student's non-compliance with school's student dress code requirements is not grounds for suspension, exclusion, or cancellation of enrolment from school. For behaviour other than non-compliance with student dress code, principals follow actions outlined in the SMS-PR-021: Safe, Supportive and Disciplined School Environment.

Schools with dress codes impose sanctions on a once only basis per episode of non-compliance. Sanctions are reflective of the severity and recentness of the non-compliance and are limited to one of the following:
• Imposing a detention for a student during lunch or after school (if after school, inform parents before detention occurs);
• Preventing student from attending, or participating in, any activity for which student is representing school;
• Preventing student from attending or participating in any school activity that is not an essential school educational program. Eg performance in the band/choir at Eisteddfod

Victoria Park State School provides their Student Dress Code policy to parents at the time of enrolment as part of the Enrolment Package.

 
Responsibilities

Principals:
1. In developing a student dress code we:
• Consulted with parents/carers of children enrolled at their school, school staff and students;
• Considered relevant legislation, both State and Commonwealth;
• Incorporate issues of availability, affordability and functionality of items of clothing;
• Consider maturity of students, gender, disability, religious and cultural beliefs, socio-economic circumstances and students' sense of individuality and self-esteem in personal appearance;
• Have developed a process for managing special circumstances of particular students;
• Develop and document strategies and sanctions for managing students not complying with dress code requirements; and
• Enforce aspects of student dress codes related to safety such as safe footwear, eye protection and hats, as required.
2. In resolving matters of student dress codes we, considered:
• Mobile families requiring sufficient time to purchase items of dress;
• Economic hardship requiring special arrangements, or an extended period of time, to purchase new items of dress;
• Students with physical impairments requiring greater flexibility in interpretation of dress codes; and
• Conscientious objections, for example objections raised on any reasonable religious or cultural grounds.
3. Victoria Park State School has developed a system that provides:
• Exemption processes ( a written note from parent);
• Alternative arrangements for a set period of time upon receipt of written request from parent; and
• Opportunities to wear relevant items of dress code from a bank of items held at school.
4. Resolve conflict:

Where there are individual cases of conflict with student dress codes, or persistent failure of a student to uphold the code, or a student is inappropriately dressed, Victoria Park State School will:
• Offer appropriate item/s from a bank of clothing/uniforms held at school;
• Take action that prevents risk to student or others, or action that maintains normal school operations;
• Inform student's parents or carers of incident and discuss further with parents or carers, representatives of school and student to prevent a recurrence; and
• Implement a process of conflict resolution or mediation if student persistently wears inappropriate dress after discussions have been held with parents or carers.

Where a student is reasonably dressed, but does not conform to student dress code, Victoria Park will:
• Offer appropriate item/s from bank of clothing/uniforms held at school;
• Inform parents or carers of incident and, if necessary, discuss further; and
• Use, together with representatives of school community, appropriate conflict-resolution or mediation if student persistently fails to observe student dress code.
5. Victoria Park State School monitors and evaluates the code via:
• Making available a copy of student dress code (written and/or electronically) for inspection, free of charge, by interested persons at administration office and school's webpage and on CD at time of enrolment;
• Reviewing and evaluating student dress code periodically for any issues, appropriateness or enhancements in consultation with students, parents, staff, parent and citizens association; and
• Advising students, staff, parents/carers and parents and citizens association of any changes or amendments to student dress code in writing before changes are implemented.

Our school Parents and Citizens Association has formally endorsed Victoria Park State School’s student dress code.

The P & C of Victoria Park. State School resolves that it supports a student dress code for Victoria Park School because it believes that a student dress code at Victoria Park State School promotes objectives of Education (General Provisions) Bill 2006.
In particular, the P & C of Victoria Park State School supports the intention of a student dress code in providing a safe and supportive teaching and learning environment by:
• ready identification of students and non-students at school;
• eliminating distraction of competition in dress and fashion at school;
• fostering a sense of belonging; and
• developing mutual respect among students through minimising visible evidence of economic or social differences.


Victoria Park Uniform is Compulsory:


GIRLS UNIFORM
Polo Shirt with navy blue unisex shorts (No basketball shorts), gored skirt or navy blue skort.(Pattern available for purchase from the tuckshop).
Dress:
Light-weight blue check. Sun safe collar and sleeves, zip front.
Skort:
Navy blue shorts with a wrap-around panel at the front.
Socks are to be white.
Shoes are to be black.
Hats: Wide brimmed hats.
Jumpers: Must be navy blue in colour
Swimming: Girls wear a one-piece swimsuit.
Children must wear a T-Shirt at swimming lessons as part of a sun-safety program.
No jewellery to be worn in pool at any time due to safety. (Teachers will not take out earrings)
Jewellery & Body Adornments: Sleepers and studs can be worn. We do not recommend Tattoos of any kind to be visible – permanent or temporary. Hair should be natural in colour.
Wearing of a wrist watch is acceptable.


BOYS UNIFORM
School Polo Shirt with navy shorts.
(Polo Shirt available from School Uniform Shop)
Shorts are to be navy. No basketball shorts
Socks are to be white.
Shoes are to be black.
Hats: Wide brimmed hats.
Jumpers: Must be navy blue in colour
Swimming: Boys wear trunks/shorts for swimming.
Children must wear a T-Shirt at swimming lessons as part of the sun-safety program
No jewellery to be worn in pool at any time due to safety (Teachers will not take out earrings)
Jewellery & Body Adornments: Sleepers and studs can be worn. We do not recommend Tattoos of any kind to be visible – permanent or temporary. Hair should be natural in colour.
Wearing of a wrist watch is acceptable.


UNISEX SHORTS
Unisex shorts: Navy blue with “Victoria Park” embroidered on left lower leg. These shorts are also worn for sport and physical education activities.