From the AP - Pastoral Care
The importance of wearing the St Francis Uniform with Pride
Being a recent arrival to St Francis, I have noticed many positive aspects to the College: the professional staff, the beautiful facilities, how inclusive and welcoming the community is and how the students mostly wear their uniform with pride. These aspects of the day to day at St Francis tell me a lot about what is valued. At the end of the day I see pride with “Open Minds and Open Hearts”.
Hopefully you have read the email I sent to the community via Compass last week. I hoped to remind our community of the importance of wearing the uniform well and with Pride. Why?
Our Uniform Fosters a Sense of Identity and Belonging:
- The uniform visually unites students, creating a strong sense of community and shared identity within the St Francis community. It reinforces that each student is a part of something bigger than themselves.
Our Uniform Promotes Equality and Reduces Distractions:
- By wearing a uniform, students are placed on a level playing field, minimising social disparities based on clothing. This reduces distractions and allows students to focus on their education.
Our Uniform Represents the College's Values and Reputation:
- Our uniform is a symbol of the College’s values and standards. When worn with pride, it reflects positively on the way each student feels about belonging to this school community.
Our Uniform Develops Discipline and a Sense of Responsibility:
- Adhering to the uniform policy cultivates discipline and a sense of responsibility in our students. It teaches them to present themselves neatly and appropriately, skills that are valuable throughout life.
As stated in the email, wearing the uniform well and with pride is an expectation of all students at St Francis Catholic College. Uniform standards must be maintained.
Over the last four weeks of Term 1, there will be a focus on students meeting these expectations. The Week 7 focus is on wearing appropriate jewellery. Male and Female students are permitted to wear a watch/activity tracker (with no wifi or internet connectivity) and NOT a Smartwatch; a plain/discreet silver or gold necklace/chain with a small crucifix/cross concealed by clothing. Girls are permitted to wear only one pair of plain gold or silver small sleeper or stud earrings (no hoops) which must be worn in the lower lobe. I wish to commend our students on meeting this expectation this week.
Week 8 will see a focus of shirts and skirts. All shirts (boys and girls) should be tucked in. All skirts should be to the knee and NOT ROLLED to make them shorter.
All staff will record infringements to uniform policy expectations on Compass and ask students to remove any offending items of clothing or jewellery. Teachers will refer students who regularly violate the policy to Year/Stage Coordinators and an appropriate consequence will be issued.Parents are asked to support their children by reinforcing these expectations. Note: students are encouraged to wear all aspects of uniform well.
I am grateful for parents’ and carers’ support.
Some Changes in Student Lockers
Year 9 and 10 :We are keen to give our Senior students the opportunity to organise themselves in a way that meets their individual needs. As a result, lockers are no longer compulsory in Senior Years (9-12). Students should however remember that bags are to remain outside of the classroom at all times AND must be in an orderly and neat manner (i.e. up against the wall of the classroom). Students will receive a red stamp if they consistently leave their bags in the middle of the corridors as this is a safety concern.
Year 7 and 8: It is compulsory for Year 7 and 8 students to place their belongings, including their school bags in their lockers for the day. This is to ensure that students are assisted in organising their equipment. It is also a WHS support as the bags are both heavy for young students to carry all day and can pose as trip hazards.
Should your child (Years 7 - 10 ) have a medical condition which makes these decisions difficult to carry out, please provide a medical certificate where possible and speak with your child’s Year Coordinator.
Harmony Day 2025
- On the 21st of March, 2025, all students are asked to wear one of the following:
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- ORANGE - the colour of Harmony Day
- Cultural dress reflecting their own family’s traditions and origins
- National Sporting jersey
- Cultural music will replace the bells on the 21st of March.
- All assemblies will celebrate cultural harmony.
