DRESS CODE

St. James School is a Catholic elementary school which maintains the right to establish a uniform dress code for its students.  It is recognized that proper school attire and good grooming are conducive to a student's educational and social development.  This Dress Code was developed for the following reasons:

• promote a Christian atmosphere;

• free children for academic concentration;

• de-emphasize competition among children regarding clothing;  

• allow more economical dress for school, and

• provide some choice to accommodate individual differences.

This dress code policy is intended to maintain a standard of dress that is neat, economical, modest and attractive.  All students in grades K-8 must follow the school dress code which is described below: 

SJS DRESS CODE – Revised July 2022

Philosophy:
The dress code reflects the dignity proper to a student attending a Catholic school. Proper school attire and good grooming are conducive to a student’s educational and social development. Whether on regular uniform days or on special dress days, students are expected to dress modestly and appropriately in keeping with our Christian values. The school reserves the right to make the final determination of “modest” and “appropriate” attire.

This dress code is required of all students, kindergarten through eighth grade. It is the parents’ responsibility to see that their children adhere to the Dress Code Policy. It is essential for the maintenance of order in school that parents only purchase accepted uniform clothing for their children to wear at school. Please see the following description to ensure that your purchases are in compliance with the dress code.

Parents are strongly urged to mark their children's personal belongings with their names.  Since children do not readily claim lost items, proper identification helps us to find the owner and save parents the cost of replacement.  The lost-and-found area is located in the hallway outside the main office.  Parents and children are encouraged to look for lost clothing items there.  More valuable lost items, such as glasses, watches and purses, are to be turned in to the office.  Items that are not claimed by the end of each school year are donated to charity or the uniform exchange program.

Shirts K-8:
All shirts must be white or classic navy. The crest is mandatory in grades 3-8 only. All shirts must be kept tucked into pants or skirts unless they have a waistband. Options: Short sleeve or long sleeve oxford, turtleneck or polo (with or without waistband). Girls K-3 may wear Peter Pan collar with jumper. 

Slacks/Shorts K-8: 
Navy (K-8) or khaki (K-8) slacks or walking shorts. Shorts may not be worn November 1 – March 31. Shorts must be a modest length. No cargo pants/shorts or pants/shorts with external pockets.

Jumpers K-3:
SJS plaid in drop waist or split bib styles. Grades K-3 only. 

Skirts/Kilts/Skorts/Culottes: 
SJS plaid or navy blue or khaki skirt, kilt, skort, or culottes of modest length for grades K-8. 

Sweaters:
All sweaters must be solid navy or white and must have the SJS crest for grades 3-8. Options: vest, cardigan, crew, or V-neck. 

Other Cold Weather Wear:
Blue fleece pullover, vest, or jacket with SJS logo, sweatshirts with SJS crest and St. James athletic wear as approved by the principal. Hoodies may only be worn during outside recess. 

Socks:
Solid colors only: white, black, navy blue, or khaki. Girls may also wear white or navy blue tights and navy blue or black ankle-length leggings. Socks must be worn at all times. Socks must cover the ankle.

Belts:
Belts must be worn with slacks and shorts in grades 3-8. Belts for boys and girls are to be black, brown, or blue. 

Hair All: 
Hair must be clear of eyes. No unnatural hair colors. 
Boys: Hair must be neat and may brush the collar but not pass it. 
Girls: Bows and headbands may be worn, but they should not be a distraction

Make-Up: 
No noticeable makeup or colored nail polish.

Jewelry: 
Stud earrings for girls only. No other visible piercings. Jewelry must not be excessive or distracting, as determined by the teachers or administration. 

Shoes: 
Black, brown, grey, or navy blue dress shoes in solid colors only, 1” heel limit. Sperry or Sperry like shoes are acceptable. ALL BLACK athletic/tennis shoes may be worn for girls and boys. No colored soles, stripes on the sides, etc. All black means all black. No open-toe shoes, open-back shoes, or flip-flops, even on dress-down days. School shoes may not double as gym shoes. If snow boots are worn in inclement weather, students must bring dress shoes to change into at school. Ugg like boots and hiking style boots do not require a change after arriving at school. 

*Special Note: Be conscious of safety when purchasing shoes. The students walk up and down steps and run on the playground. Shoes need to be practical…not just current fashion trends.

Dress Down Days: 
No strapless, spaghetti strap, tank tops, or tight-fitting shirts permitted. Shorts/skirts must be of a modest length. Jeans and cargo pants are permitted. Athletic shoes and boots are allowed. No leggings or yoga pants are permitted to be worn, unless in conjunction with appropriate skirts/kilts or shorts/pants. No ripped or torn jeans are permitted. 

It is the responsibility of the parents to see that students come to school appropriately dressed. Please take that responsibility seriously. Please note that SchoolBelles will only sell you items that are included in the SJS dress code. Please see the St. James SchoolBelles catalog for a description of the items offered and further details. Uniform items may be purchased online at www.schoolbelles.com and enter our school code S2206 or shop at the 4721 McKnight Road, Pittsburgh location (no longer at Mt. Nebo Road). The phone # is 412-630-8480. Scrip cards for Schoolbelles are available at Divine Redeemer Rectory. 

Uniform items with the SJS logo can also be purchased from Land’s End.

If a child is not in uniform, the student will receive a written warning that must be signed by a parent or guardian and returned to school. After the accumulation of three dress code infractions, the next infraction will result in a detention. It is a parent’s responsibility to ensure that your child/children come to school dressed according to the school dress code.

Uniform Closet: 
Gently-worn uniforms are available in the Uniform Closet free of charge. Donations are welcome. 


Gym Uniform:
Gym shoes must be clean and free of debris with white or non-marking soles. Laced or Velcro closures are required, as slip-ons too easily slip, or fly off. Students in grades 5-8 must bring gym shoes, knee-length athletic shorts (not jean shorts or spandex) and a t-shirt or sweatshirt for gym. No tank-tops allowed. Workout pants with elastic around the ankles are permitted.