Uniform Policy

School Spirit: Uniforms help unify the student body in their common endeavour. We are commanded to seek our neighbours’ good, and a uniform code helps diffuse peer pressure.

Dignity: Uniforms help remind students that learning and studying are not trivial
activities to be endured, but instead their duty and calling.

Orderliness: Uniforms help students to see themselves and each other as “students”. As in
many other vocations, a uniform sets one apart. For example, a doctor, nurse, policeman,
all dress according to their vocation.

Uniforms eliminate the need to keep up with fads.

Saves time deciding what to wear.

Long-term cost of clothing is lessened.

The school uniform must be purchased through the Uniform Committee from McCarthy Uniforms Inc.

The Uniform Committee will notify families in the Weekly Newsletter that an order can be placed on ORCS Orders. This will be done in September, January, and May, with the orders arriving approximately 2 months later or less.  The school stock items may be used for size fitting purposes before placing each order, if necessary. Parents are responsible for filling in their own order accurately. Items ordered incorrectly may possibly be exchanged with the limited in stock items kept at the school, depending on what is available.

The Uniform Committee will arrange and notify families of a Kindergarten and new student fitting day in the Spring to assist with sizing and placing orders.

Passing on used uniform items, or donating them to Onwards Thrift, our school’s thrift store, is encouraged. Contact the Onwards Thrift store for more information

Full required uniform includes the following:

• White dress shirt
• Optional navy knit vest or sweater. Hoodies and golf shirts are excluded
• Kilt with bicycle shorts (girls)
• Navy pants or shorts (boys) during the school day, but navy pants are required for evening programs
• Navy or black socks , leggings, or tights (girls); navy or black socks (boys)

When the full uniform is not required, students in Kindergarten through Gr. 6 may wear the following items:

• White, maroon or navy long or short sleeved golf shirts
• Maroon or navy zip polo sweatshirt
• Navy full-zipped hooded sweatshirt or navy full zip fitted sweatshirt
• Short sleeve dress shirt
• White, navy, black or maroon socks, leggings or tights (girls)
• Navy pant or shorts (boys)

When the full uniform is not required, students in Gr. 7-12 may wear the following items:

• All of the above
• Khaki pants (boys)
• 9-12 may also wear the Oxford hoodie

Gym clothes are required for students in Gr. 5-8 and high school Phys. Ed. classes, and are optional for all other students. They must be ordered from the school as part of the required uniform. They include a gym uniform shirt, and shorts or pants, with the ORCS gym uniform logo, purchased from various sporting apparel companies by the Uniform Committee. Socks, leggings, and tights may be worn and are to be purchased elsewhere. Non-marking indoor gym shoes are required.

Footwear is required at all times. Bare feet are not acceptable. Socks/tights/leggings must be school colours (navy, maroon, white, or black).

Graduation caps and gowns will be provided by the school in specific colours: Grade 8 boys will wear navy, grade 8 girls will wear maroon, and all grade 12 graduates will black with maroon stoles.

Grade 8 graduates are required to wear their full, required uniform to the graduation dinner and under their gown for graduation at the Commencement Program.

Grade 12 graduates are required to wear formal attire to the graduation dinner that displays Christian modesty (no jeans or t-shirts, shoulders covered and modest neck and hemlines), and must wear the graduation gown overtop to the Commencement Program

The full, required uniform is to be worn on the first school day of the week (mostly Mondays, but the occasional Tuesday). Other uniform pieces may be worn at all other times.

Students must arrive at school and leave school wearing their uniforms and must be worn throughout the school day.

The full, required uniform is to be worn to school programs as specified by the principal or classroom teacher. Notice of this will be posted in the Weekly Newsletter.

On field trips and other school outings, students must be in uniform as specified by the principal or classroom teacher. Notice of this will be given by the teacher.

Certain occasions, such as Activity Day, select field trips, and approved Student Parliament run non-uniform days, may allow for exceptions. If a student is not participating, he/she must still wear the regular uniform to school.

The only ‘non-uniform’ items allowed to be worn under the uniform top are plain white T-shirts or undershirts. (Printed or coloured T-shirts or undershirts are not acceptable).

Hats, coats, and scarves are not to be worn in the classroom at any time. If students feel the need to wear something over their uniform in the classroom, it should be the zip polo sweatshirt or the full zippered sweatshirt. It should not be a coat, jacket, or any non-uniform item.

Faded, damaged or soiled clothing worn to school will be brought to the parents’ attention.

Kilts worn above our modesty length are considered an infraction. As a general rule, the kilt should be within 2 inches from the floor when the student is kneeling to be within our modesty length. Blouses or shirts that are so short that they show the midriff when reaching or bending will also be considered an infraction

Earrings for boys are not allowed. Body piercings (e.g. eyebrows, lips, etc.) and tattoos are not allowed for boys or girls.

Students who come to school with their hair dyed other than natural colours will be sent home.

Elementary uniform infractions will be resolved by communication between the teacher, parents, and the secretaries.

All other students who are not in their proper uniform will be sent to the office and must resolve the infraction and spend the remainder of the class period in the office. Having resolved the infraction, students will be admitted to their next class. If the student is unable to resolve the issue, they may spend then entire day sitting in the office.