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St. Mary Catholic Schools reserves the right to determine a norm of appearance for students. Appropriate dress reflects the virtues of modesty and self-respect and is essential to maintaining a positive atmosphere for learning.

 

High School Dress Code 2024-25

 

DRESS CODE (Bolded items are new for the 2024-2025 school year)
St. Mary Catholic Schools reserves the right to determine norms for appearance and decorum for students. Appropriate dress reflects the virtues of modesty and self-respect and is essential to maintaining a positive atmosphere for learning.

Bottoms
  • Solid colored or patterned dress pants with a finished/hemmed bottom. Athletic pants with elastic bottoms (athletic jogger) are not allowed.
  • Pants must be cotton or cotton/poly non-denim fabric.
  • Pants must fit appropriately. Spandex/ leggings, jeggings, exercise pants, etc. are not allowed.
  • Dress shorts (non-athletic) and capris may be worn during August, September, May, and June.
  • Shorts must be of a modest length with a minimum of a five-inch inseam.
  • Skirts and dresses are not allowed. (Only allowed on special occasion days – see below).
Shirts
  • Shirts must be polo shirts or Oxford-style button down shirts with long or short sleeves.
  • Any dress shirt with an appropriate neckline (button down, polo, V neck, round neck).
  • All SMC approved tops may be worn.
  • Shirts must be full length with no skin showing at the waist.
  • Sweaters with a modest neckline.
  • Sweatshirts (hooded and crew neck) or fleeces (full or quarter zip) with a logo no larger than an index card (3×5 size) may also be worn. This includes no writing on the sleeves.
  • Shirts with buttons must be buttoned.
  • Short sleeve/ long sleeve t-shirts are allowed with a logo smaller than an index card (3×5 size). Inappropriate images or text are not acceptable.
Game Day
  • Student athletes for that day’s game may wear official uniform tops, including uniform jackets.
  • If the uniform top is sleeveless, a shirt with sleeves must be worn underneath.
  • Team uniform bottoms are not allowed.
Footwear
  • Heels must be modest in height (approx. < 3 in.).
  • Lab students must have teacher-approved footwear with them each day.
Jewelry/Makeup
  • Students are allowed one nose piercing with a stud post.
  • Hooped nose piercings are not allowed.
  • Brow or lip piercing is not allowed.
  • Extremes in jewelry and makeup are not allowed.
  • Males with pierced ears must wear stud earrings only.
Hair/Facial Hair
  • Hair must be clean, neatly combed, out of the eyes, and of reasonable style and a natural shade.
  • Boys must be clean shaven.
Special Occasion Attire (Holy Days, Graduation, Baccalaureate Mass, Special Mass/ Presenters)

Females

  • Skirts or dresses of an appropriate length and modest style. Skirts must be longer than the student’s fingertips when fully extended down the leg.
  • Dress pants with belt loops, zipper, and button closure.
  • Necklines must be modest and appropriate for the school / church environment, and sleeves (long or short) are required.
  • Sweaters or solid colored, non-logo fleece.

Males

  • Dress pants with belt loops, zipper, and button closure.
  • Button-down dress shirt with a collar and an appropriate tie. The tie must be tied and worn at the traditional collar level, and shirttails must be tucked in. Cargo pants are not allowed.
  • Sweaters or solid colored, non-logo fleece may be worn over the dress shirt and tie.
Relaxed Dress Days
  • Jeans, sweatpants, athletic shorts, leggings, and other shorts may be worn. Shorts of any type must be no shorter than the student’s fingertips when fully extended down the leg.
  • Shirts must be modest and appropriate.
Clothing Never Allowed
  • Clothing that is very tight or very loose.
  • Visible tattoos
  • Hoods/ hats inside the building
  • Clothing not in agreement with Catholic teachings is not permitted at school or any school-sponsored event.
  • Clothing displaying alcohol, drugs, inappropriate messages, or sexual references.
  • Tattered, torn or frayed clothing.
  • Tank tops or shirts without sleeves.
  • Winter jackets.
  • Visible undergarments.
  • Pants below the waistline.
  • Crop shirts.

All students’ attire must comply with the dress code. It is the responsibility of parents to ensure their child is dressed according to the SMCHS dress code before leaving for school. Parents may be notified regarding infractions of the dress code and may be asked to bring a change of clothes to school. Detentions may be issued for dress code infractions.  Multiple infractions may warrant further disciplinary actions. SMCHS Administration reserves the right to make final interpretations or changes in the dress code above.

Middle School Dress Code 2024-25

St. Mary Catholic Middle School reserves the right to determine norms for appearance and decorum for students. Preparing for school in an intentional way leads to a frame of mind that is different from casual life. Appropriate dress reflects the virtues of modesty and self-respect and is essential to maintaining a positive atmosphere for learning.

Academic Dress Code

 

Dress Code Bottoms
  • Solid colored or patterned dress pants with a finished/hemmed bottom. Athletic pants with elastic bottoms (athletic jogger) are not allowed.
  • Pants must be cotton or cotton/poly non-denim fabric. Colored jeans, including black, are not allowed.
  • Pants may not be torn or tattered and must fit appropriately — not be too baggy or too tight. Spandex / elastic / tight fitting leggings, jeggings, exercise pants, etc. are not allowed.
  • Dress / cargo / khaki shorts of appropriate length (no shorter than fingertips when the arms are fully extended down the leg) or capris can be worn during August, September, May, and June.
  • Skirts and dresses of appropriate length (no shorter than the fingertips when the arms are fully extended down the leg) are allowed on liturgy days, as well as during August, September, May, and June.
Dress Code Shirts
  • SMCS/Zephyrs approved hooded sweatshirt, crewneck sweatshirt, ¼ zip or full zip, and T-Shirts from the Spirit Stop may be worn. 
  • Non SMCS / Zephyrs approved collared shirts must be polo shirts or Oxford-style button down shirts with long or short sleeves. No logo  larger than an index card (3×5 size) may also be worn. This includes no writing on the sleeves.
  • Shirts and sweaters with a modest neckline must be full length, with no skin showing at the waist when arms are raised above the head.
  • Shirts with buttons must be buttoned.
Footwear
  • Footwear must be always worn.
  • During the months of August, September, May, and June, students may wear sandals.
  • Crocs may not be worn on liturgy days.
  • For safety reasons, heels must be modest in height (approx. < 2 in.).
  • Flip flops, moccasins, athletic slides, and slippers are not allowed.
  • Separate non-marking athletic shoes worn ONLY INDOORS are required for physical education class.
Jewelry/Makeup
  • One non-gauged earlobe stud per ear is allowed.
  • Extremes in jewelry and makeup are not allowed.
  • Clear fingernail polish only.
Hair/Facial Hair
  • Hair must be clean, neatly combed, out of the eyes, and of reasonable style and a natural shade.
  • Mohawks, intricate cut lines, or undercuts are not allowed.
  • Extremes in hair styles and accessories are not allowed.
  • Boys must be clean shaven.
Liturgy Days

Preparing for liturgy both internally and externally in an intentional way helps to foster reverence, and the recognition that liturgy is a special time set apart from normal academic life.

Females
  • Skirts or dresses of an appropriate length and modest style. Skirts and dresses must be longer than the student’s fingertips when arms are fully extended down the leg.
  • Dress pants, navy, black, khaki, or gray. (Black jeans are not dress pants)
  • Collared blouses, button down dress shirt, or sweaters with a neckline that is modest and appropriate for the school / church environment, are required.
  • Crocs are not allowed on liturgy days.
Males
  • Dress pants, navy, black, khaki, or gray, with belt loops, zipper, and button closure. (Black jeans are not dress pants)
  • Button-down dress shirt with a collar and an appropriate tie. The tie must be tied and worn at the traditional collar level, and shirttails must be tucked in.
  • Sweaters or solid colored, non-logo fleece may be worn over the dress shirt and tie.
  • Crocs are not allowed on liturgy days.
Relaxed Dress Days
  • Jeans, sweatpants, leggings, and shorts may be worn. Shorts of any type must be no shorter than the student’s fingertips when arms are fully extended down the leg.
  • Shirts and any outerwear must be modest and suitable for the school environment. Images or text with inappropriate language or advertising, including clothing that promotes musicians, music groups, alcohol, video games, social media influencers or apps, drugs, inappropriate messages, or sexual references, etc. are not allowed at any time.
Clothing Never Allowed
  • Visible tattoos, body art / writing never allowed.
  • Hoods/ hats inside the building.
  • Clothing that is not in agreement with Catholic teachings are not permitted at school or any school-sponsored event, including athletic or social events, field trips, etc.
  • Clothing displaying alcohol, drugs, inappropriate messages, or sexual references.
  • Tattered, torn or frayed clothing.
  • Tank tops or shirts without sleeves.
  • Any other non-SMCS school (K-12) logo wear.
  • Winter jackets.
  • Visible undergarments.
  • Pants below the waistline.
  • Crop tops.

All students’ attire must comply with the dress code. It is the responsibility of parents to ensure students are dressed according to this dress code before leaving for school. Parents will be notified regarding non-compliance to the dress code and asked to bring a change of clothes to school, or they can request their student to wear clothing provided by SMCMS. Individual restrictions may be placed on students who do not comply with the dress code. SMCMS Administration reserves the right to make final interpretations or changes in the dress code above.

 

Elementary (K-5) Dress Code 2024-25

Bottoms (Girls & Boys)

Shorts, pants, skirts, dresses/jumpers must be ONLY solid Navy or Khaki in color.  Leggings should ONLY be solid white, khaki or navy.

  • Students may wear navy blue or khaki dress pants in solid color. Cargo pants are allowed. Dress pants may not be extremely baggy, loose or long. No sweatpants, athletic pants, or yoga pants are allowed.
  • Solid Navy, khaki, or white leggings are allowed only if worn under skirts, skorts, or jumpers.
    • Navy, khaki or white leggings are to be worn under skirts, skorts or jumpers in the months of October through April. 
    • Modesty/bicycle/cartwheel shorts must be worn under skirts or jumpers in August, September, May and June. 
  • Navy blue or khaki shorts and capris in solid color may be worn in August & September and May & June.
  • Dress code shorts must be no shorter than 3” above the knee. 
  • Navy blue or khaki skorts, skirts, or jumpers must be no shorter than 3” above the knee.
  • Navy blue and light blue solid-colored polo dresses must be no shorter than 3” above the knee.
  • Solid navy and khaki dresses/jumpers must be worn with a collar (attached or on the shirt underneath the jumper/dress)
  • Skorts should look like a skirt, with attached shorts underneath.
  • Overalls (regardless of the fabric or color) are not part of the dress code.
  • Dress code items must adhere to the colors outlined above.
Tops (Girls & Boys)

Tops should only be solid navy blue, light blue or white.

  • Tops must be navy blue, white or light blue in solid colors only. No logo (except SMCS) is allowed. Sleeves may be long or short, sleeveless tops are not allowed. Collars must be of polo, oxford, or turtleneck style.
  • Sweaters, vests, sweatshirts must be navy blue, white or light blue, in solid colors only. No logo (except SMCS) is allowed.
  • Pullover sweater (crew-neck or v-neck are allowed).
  • Cardigan sweater (buttoned, zipper-front, hooded sweaters are allowed).
  • Dress shirt, turtleneck or blouse must be worn under a sweater, vest, or sweatshirt.
  • Only solid navy, white or light blue crew-neck sweatshirts, plain or school sweatshirts with SMCS logo are allowed.
  • All students may wear any SMCS & Zephyrs-approved hooded sweatshirt, crewneck sweatshirt, ¼ zip or full zip over their collared shirt. Apparel must be purchased directly from SMCS or an SMCS approved vendor.
  • SMCS t-shirts may only be worn on Zephyr Spirit Days and Out of Uniform Days.
    • The first Friday of each month will be a Zephyr Spirit Day in the 24-25 school year. On these days students may wear Zephyr spirit items or school colors with comfortable bottoms (athletic bottoms, jeans, etc.).
  • SMCS sweatshirts and t-shirts should NOT be worn on Mass days.
Footwear (Girls & Boys)
  • Shoes must be of tennis shoe or dress shoe style. 
  • Socks or tights must be navy blue, khaki, light blue or white in solid colors only with no logo.
  • Socks or tights must be worn when wearing shoes (not sandals).
  • Indoor boots without a heel are allowed during the school day. 
  • Sandals may be worn in May & June and August & September. Sandals must have a strap across the ankle. Flip-flops of any kind are not allowed. “Crocs” or similar style shoes are not allowed.
  • An additional pair of tied or Velcro tennis shoes that are non-marking or light-bottomed need to be left at school at all times for physical education.
Miscellaneous (Girls & Boys)
  • No Make-up
  • Extremes in jewelry, or accessories (hair decorations, belts, etc.) are not allowed. 
  • Only natural-grown nails are allowed (no artificial nails) 
  • Hair must be clean, neatly combed, out of the eyes, and of reasonable style and a natural shade. 
  • Clothing should fit well, with nothing being too tight or too loose.
  • Hats and/or headgear (including hoods) are not to be worn in the school building during the school day.
Mass Day Dress Code (Girls & Boys)
  • Mass Days at SMCS should be treated as a special occasion. 
  • Students should wear their regular dress code. 
  • Hooded sweatshirts of any type may not be worn to Mass. 
  • Shirts must be tucked in.
  • Out of Dress Code passes may NOT be used on Mass days. 
  • All jewelry must be modest and appropriate for the church setting. 
  • Because students may have a free dress day on their birthday, if the birthday falls on a mass day the student may change after Mass.