Updated 2024 Uniform and Grooming Policy

As we prepare for the upcoming school year in 2024, we would like to share some important updates regarding our school's Uniform and Grooming Policy. We felt it important to give advanced notification of this updated Uniform and Grooming policy so that students and their parents/carers have time to ensure full compliance with this policy in time for the start of the new school year.

The school holidays are often a time when families purchase new school and sports shoes, students experiment with new hairstyles and piercings and items of school uniform are replaced. The school uniform and grooming policy must be considered to avoid any issues when students return to school.

When accepting enrolment at St Joseph’s, students and their parents/carers agreed to support the School Uniform and Grooming Policy. Parents are expected to support the school in monitoring and maintaining the correct wearing of the St Joseph’s uniform and to insist on the maintenance of high standards of personal grooming and presentation. Students are expected to comply with the requirements of the policy by wearing the correct uniform to, from and at school daily.

At St Joseph's Catholic High School, we believe that the uniform and grooming standards contribute to creating a sense of pride, unity, and respect for our Catholic values.

In response to feedback from our school community, we have carefully reviewed and revised our Uniform and Grooming Policy to ensure that it remains fair, practical, and in alignment with our school's mission. Here are some of the key changes:

Uniform Revisions and Areas of Focus:

• School Shoes: Polished, plain, black hard leather lace-up school shoes (jogger style, canvas, soft leather, vans or boots are not acceptable).
• Sports Shoes: Non-fluro coloured sports joggers; (no skate–style, vans, canvas, Jordans, Converse or slip-on shoes).
• Girl’s Skirts: Skirt length must touch the top of the knee. Rolling of the skirt is not allowed.
• Outerwear: Students may only wear the school-approved blazer, jumper and windbreaker jacket during cooler weather. Plain white undershirts can only be worn if the sleeves do not exceed the length of the school shirt sleeves.
• All students must have the school-issued navy blue school bag with the school crest.
• When wearing the uniform, students are expected to be in full school or sports uniform – not a mixture of both.

Grooming Revisions and Areas of Focus:

• Haircuts: Haircuts that invite comment including 'tracks', 'rats tail', 'mullet', ‘horsey’, extreme hair parting/cuts, undercuts or extensions are not allowed. The Leadership Team will determine if future hairstyle trends conform with the intent of this policy. Hair must be grown/cut/groomed in a neat and professional manner.
• Hairstyles: Hair below the collar must be tied back. Half-up/half-down hairstyles are not permitted. Students who choose to colour their hair must use a natural hair colour.
• Earrings: One simple gold or silver sleeper or stud per ear lobe to a maximum of 5mm diameter. Piercings in any other part of the ear are only permitted if a clear plastic stud is worn. Students wearing other types of piercings will be instructed to remove them.
• Nose Piercings: These will only be permitted if a clear plastic stud is worn. Students wearing other types of piercings will be instructed to remove them.
• Banned Piercings: Tongue, lip, nasal septum, eyebrow, cheek, and chin piercings are not permitted. Students will be instructed to remove them.
• Nails: Acrylic and artificial nails are not permitted and students will not be permitted to attend practical sessions with acrylic/artificial nails as this is a safety issue.
• Eyelashes: False eyelashes and eyelash extensions are not permitted.

We believe that these changes will enhance the overall appearance of our students. The revised policy aims to strike a balance between tradition, practicality, and modernity. Our primary goal is to maintain a respectful and focused learning environment for all our students.

The revised Uniform and Grooming Policy for 2024 can be found by clicking on the Image below:

We appreciate your cooperation in helping us maintain high standards of uniform and grooming at St Joseph's Catholic High School. If you have any questions or require further clarification on any aspect of the revised policy, please do not hesitate to contact the school.

Upcoming Dates

Sports Award Presentation

We will be celebrating our year of sporting success for 2023 on Wednesday 13th December commencing at 11:20am in the School Gym. Our Guest Speaker will be Olympic middle and long distance runner - Jessica Hull. We invite all parents and Year 12 students to attend this celebration of sport and success with the rest of the school.

Academic Award Presentation

We will be celebrating our year of academic achievement for 2023 on Thursday 14th December in the School Gym. Presentation start times are yet to be finalised. Parents and Carers are warmly invited to attend these presentations and communication will follow in the coming weeks regarding final arrangements.

Parent/Teacher Meetings

On Friday 15 December, there will be an opportunity for Years 7 - 11 Parents/Carers to meet with their childs class teachers. Parent/Teacher Meetings will be held via Zoom between 11:30 am - 1:00 pm and 1:45 pm - 3:15 pm. More information will be provided through Compass and email over the coming weeks in regards to booking arrangements.

Mr Chris Shelton

Assistant Principal