UNIFORM POLICY – 2007-2008 SCHOOL YEAR

Classes of 2009, 2010 and 2011

The Mercy High School uniform for the Classes of 2009, 2010 and 2011 consists of a class skort and a white or blue knit pullover shirt with the school logo.  Navy blue knee socks or navy opaque tights complete the uniform.  Thigh high stockings are not allowed.  As an option, khaki uniform pants purchased from Dennis Neil Roberts School Uniforms may be worn in place of the skort throughout the year. However, every student must purchase a class skort to be worn for special celebrations. 

Class of 2008

Warm Weather Uniform (September through October and April through May)    

The Mercy High School warm weather uniform consists of a khaki or navy blue cotton blend skort and a white or blue knit pullover shirt with the school logo.  The class skort may be worn during this time.  Navy blue knee socks or navy opaque tights complete the warm weather uniform.

Winter Uniform (November through March)

The Mercy High School winter uniform consists of a class skort and a white or blue knit pullover shirt with the school logo. Navy blue knee socks or navy opaque tights complete the uniform.

As a senior distinction, seniors have the option of wearing white opaque tights or white knee socks.  As an option, khaki uniform pants purchased from Dennis Neil Roberts School Uniforms may be worn in place of the skort throughout the year.  However, every student must purchase a class skort to be worn for special celebrations. 

Class Skorts (required)

Class of 2011 – Kirk plaid w/tabs

Class of 2010 – Hamilton plaid w/tabs                           

Class of 2009 – navy, royal plaid

Class of 2008 – black watch plaid                                  

Students should exhibit good taste in their appearance.  The skort must be at least three inches below the student’s fingertips when her arms are straight at her sides.  The non-negotiable length of the skort is no more than six inches from the floor kneeling. 

The navy blue Dennis Neil Roberts uniform sweater and approved Mercy fleece may be worn at any time.  A white or blue uniform shirt must be worn at all times. T-shirts may NOT be worn under the uniform shirt. A solid color turtleneck may be worn under the long sleeve uniform shirt. 

All skorts, sweaters, pants and shirts must be purchased from the uniform company – Dennis Neil Roberts School Uniforms (www.dennisuniforms.com – School Code WB00MH). The Dennis Neil Roberts School Uniform Stores are located at 500 Boston Post Road, Orange, CT and 650 Wolcott Street, Waterbury, CT. Any uniform needs or questions should be addressed to the company at the National Customer Service, 1-800-854-6951, the Orange Store 203-795-5457 or the Waterbury Store 203-597-9246.

Shoe Policy

Due to health and safety concerns shoes are to be worn at all times while in the school building.  Students are to select an appropriate style of shoe for school. Shoes must have a rubber or hard leather sole. Due to an ever-increasing and confusing number of styles available, students and parents are asked to restrict their choices to the following:

Leather, Suede or Canvas shoes with soles and/or heels that are no more than 2 inches high

Students are not to wear:  shoes without backs or semi-backless shoes; sandals of any kind (including Birkenstocks); clogs (including Crocs); boots of any kind (including hiking boots and work boots); high top shoes/sneakers; slippers; moccasins.  The administration reserves the right to determine whether or not a shoe meets the dress code.

Students must report to advisor group in full uniform. A student who is out of uniform should report directly to Mrs. Sullivan upon arrival to school.  She will determine the student’s status and take appropriate action.  If a student has a valid reason for being out of uniform, she will receive an Out of Uniform pass from Mrs. Sullivan and she will show this to her teachers to be admitted to classes.  Any judgment concerning the acceptability of the prescribed uniform will be made by the administration.  Faculty should refer individual cases to Mrs. Sullivan.

All students may wear Mercy sweatshirts/sweaters over their uniform shirt on Fridays.  Mercy Sweatshirt/Sweater Fridays do not include T-shirts (long or short sleeve), jackets or vests.  With the approval of Mrs. Sullivan, sports teams may be allowed to wear their team uniforms once during a season.

Coats are not to be worn in school, nor are sweatshirts (except on Mercy Sweatshirt/Sweater Fridays), hats, head coverings of any kind, bandannas, "bicycle pants", spandex leggings, sunglasses, gloves, etc. Coats and sweatshirts are kept in lockers and should not be brought to classes.  Non-uniform articles of clothing being worn or carried during school hours will be confiscated.  The school will not be held responsible for lost or missing articles of clothing that have been confiscated.

Jean Day and Dress Up Day

A student should dress with an awareness of her own self-respect as a young woman.  No shirt is to be worn that displays a bare midriff. Halters; spaghetti strap or strapless tops; tank tops (a shirt with straps less than 2 inches wide); shirts with plunging necklines; other shortened shirts and pajama pants are never appropriate school attire.  Sandals are permitted on dress up days and jean days.  At no time may students wear T-shirts, which display vulgar, violent, obscene, or suggestive words, and/or pictures, or T-shirts imprinted with drug, alcohol or cigarette logos.  (This includes after school activities and sports.) Gang related colors, symbols and paraphernalia are not allowed.  If a student is in doubt about the suitability of what to wear, she should check with Mrs. Sullivan before wearing it to school.

Jean Day:  On those days when jeans or sweatpants are worn, students are to use the following guidelines. Jeans and sweatpants are to be neat and clean and without holes.  Shorts may be worn if they are not cut-offs and are at least as long as the student’s fingertips when her arms are straight at her sides.

Dress Up:  On special occasions students are permitted to wear dress clothes. The students are to dress appropriately in dresses, skirts or dress pants.  Skirts and dresses must be at least as long as the student’s fingertips when her arms are straight at her sides.  Jeans (any color), sweatpants, pajama pants and sneakers will not be permitted. 

Personal Appearance/Piercings

Students with pierced tongues, noses and/or pierced jewelry in any place but the ear will not be allowed to attend school or take part in any extra-curricular activities until the jewelry is removed. Visible tattoos are prohibited in school and when representing Mercy High School in any extra-curricular activity. Jewelry worn in excess will not be tolerated, e.g. many rings, multiple earrings (more than four per ear), hoop earrings greater than 1 inch in diameter, bar bell earrings, industrial piercings, gauged ear piercings, excessive chains, leather/chain collars, etc.  Students with hairstyles that are deemed inappropriate will not be allowed to attend school until the hair is appropriately styled. The following will certainly be deemed inappropriate and not allowed: shaven heads in total or in part, spiked hair, bizarre coloring of hair and shaven designs in hair.

The administration makes all final judgments regarding the propriety of student appearance.