January 31, 2021
Dear School Parents,
St. Mary’s School is committed to living our mission statement in continuity with Bishop
Ricken’s desire for all Catholic schools in the diocese to become schools of missionary
discipleship. In keeping with this desire, our new school mission statement is “to form disciples
of Jesus Christ through quality Catholic education.” A major part of that formation is
environmental. Its social dimension is an important part of Catholic education and philosophy.
This means helping the students know their deepest identity as beloved sons and daughters of
God. If we can do anything to allow the minds and hearts of our students to stay rooted in that
identity, we need to do it, if we are going to be faithful to our mission.
The St. Mary’s School Board has been considering the use of school uniforms for the last few
years. Deliberations that are more serious have taken place recently. We understand this is a
topic about which some parents feel very strongly. The members of the school board are aware
and recognize this. We have decided on uniforms for the 2021/22 school year. Please know that
this decision has not been made lightly and the reasons go far beyond the uniforms themselves.
Most of the reasons are social. Uniform dress encourages discipline among students. Having a
unified dress code helps students to resist pressure to keep up with the latest fashion. Trying to
keep up with the latest fashion can contribute to psychological as well as financial burdens on
families. A common dress code also helps diminish economic and social barriers between
students. Everyone desires to be a part of something greater than themselves alone, so
uniforms give increased sense of belonging and pride in their school. We are members of the
Body of Christ, which is something bigger than each of us alone. This helps to foster that sense
of unity.
There were also some concerns:
Many in our culture see diversity as an important part of progress. However, diversity in this
sense is treated like a goal and not a fact. We could not possibly be more diverse than we are at
this very moment. Not one human being is like the other. Unity is the real goal that we are
working to achieve. Christianity and Catholicism encourage students to individuate themselves
in the depth of the person they are, not in the clothing they wear. Only God can make us true
individuals. This is why a student’s desire for free expression can only be truly free if it comes
from the core of who they are and not from what they wear.
There has been some concern over bullying for children that attend St. Mary’s Catholic School.
Obviously, this should never happen. In our culturally tolerant society, there should be a serious
outcry for anyone who is bullied because of the school they attend, the clothes they wear, or
the beliefs they profess. We would like these situations brought to the attention of the
administration immediately, so they can be addressed.
Expense can also be an issue, especially in the initial phases of a uniform policy. While it is true
that initial costs can be a barrier, uniform attire can be traded and exchanged amongst families
as their children grow out of clothing over the years. The initial costs are not what people might
imagine. If any financial assistance is needed in this area, it will certainly be considered and
attended to reasonably.
We want to make sure that parents know that there will be some variation in the uniform
policy in case there may be some perceptions that all clothing will look exactly alike. The school
board is working diligently to make sure these parameters are clear for parents and students.
Please remember that we are not making this decision just for the purpose of appearance. It is
to help our students have a deep confidence in who they are which, we hope, will be a
foundation for the rest of their lives.
Finally, we would like to thank you for continuing to choose St. Mary’s for the formation of the
hearts, minds and souls of your children. We see the beautiful development of your children
each day as they become closer and closer to the person God has chosen them to be.
God Bless,
Saint Mary’s Board of Education
St. Mary Uniform Demo
St. Mary Uniform Colors
St. Mary Uniform General Guidlines