Uniforms

Uniform Policy

By choosing to attend Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School, students and parents have made a serious and long-term commitment to Catholic Education. The uniform is a part of that commitment. Evidence has shown that a standard of dress like the student uniform promotes inclusivity, school safety, helps students focus on learning, frees individuals and families from the pressures of consumerism and faddism, and helps to promote our collective identity as members of the community of Holy Cross Catholic High School. 

School Uniform Expectations

All uniform pieces must be monogrammed from DGN Kilters. Please see DGN Kilters poster below. Uniforms are to be neat and clean with no altering of style or colour.

One of the following TOPS are mandatory:

• Unisex golf shirt, women's short/long sleeved golf shirt, men's/women's dri-fit golf shirt, long sleeved polo shirt, (Only the two top buttons may be left undone), women's fleece mockneck full zip, adult full-zip sweatshirt or 1/4 zip sweatshirt and/or v-neck vest.
• Optional: If a shirt/hoodie is worn underneath the above items, it must be plain white, grey, yellow (gold) or black.

One of the following BOTTOMS are mandatory:

• Cotton khaki or solid black pants OR men's or women's shorts.
• Optional: Kilts for females only (must be no higher than 8 cm above the knee). Solid black leggings or tights are permitted under a kilt or shorts.

A student must be in complete uniform from the first warning bell at 8:40am and again at the warning bell at 11:40am (after lunch). The complete uniform is to be worn at all school functions, for all social media posts and promotions, including field trips, and during and in-between classes.

Coats and other outerwear are not to be worn over school uniforms inside the school.

Hats, sunglasses, chains, and extreme jewelry shall NOT be worn in class.

Uniform Compliance

Students out of uniform present a challenge to the school’s administration, for it is out of a sense of social justice that all staff members are called on to maintain this policy – to be fair to all students and families that have invested in the policy and comply with it daily. Therefore, those who appear out of uniform face a range of consequences (determined by the administration of the school on a progressive basis), including calling home to have uniform pieces to be delivered to the school, being sent home to change and return to school, facing in-school detention, or suspension. Final discretionary judgement will be made by administration – who will make every attempt to be as compassionate and fair as possible. However, parents and students need to realize that persistent and habitual neglect of the school’s uniform policy constitutes a breach of the Code of Behaviour and may result in suspension from school.

If there is a serious domestic emergency that results in the student being out of uniform, then the student must see the Vice Principal prior to the beginning of school with a parental note.

Uniform Requirements:

• Uniforms are to be worn throughout the school day and while on school property. 
• Uniforms are to be neat, clean, and in good repair (no altering of style or colour).
• Shorts and kilts are to be worn no higher than 8 cm above knee level. Leggings/tights are permitted under kilts and shorts only and must be solid black.
• Extreme over-sizing or under sizing is not allowed.
• Appropriate footwear must be worn.
• Wearing of non-uniform clothing over or under the HCC uniform is not allowed.

Off Uniform Days or Events

There are several occasions when students are allowed to be out of uniform.

The administration of HCC reserves the right to restrict styles of dress or accessories that depart from the spirit of the dress code. This includes body art, hairstyles, jewellery, accessories, and footwear that may be deemed to be unsafe, excessive, immodest, distracting to the work of the school day or offensive to the general tone of the school. 

The following is considered inappropriate dress for students while attending any school function according to Board Policy J 3.3. School:

• Bare midriffs
• Exposing of undergarments
• Swimwear pieces
• Extremely short shorts or skirts
• Accessories such as spiked chains or bracelets
• Flip flops
• Slippers
• Pajamas
• Excessively ripped clothing

Clothing that displays sexual content, substance abuse, violence, profanity, racial or gender discrimination, or discrimination of any kind, or that otherwise demeans an identifiable individual or group. Examples include logos, sayings, slogans, gang affiliation, pictures, "playboy" clothing etc.

Students are reminded that they are to dress for the “business of the school day”.  Clothing should be appropriate for an occasion such as a job interview or work in an office or retail setting. 

Team or Game Days

Coaches may request permission from the principal for players to wear team jerseys with uniform bottoms on home game days only.