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	NEW UNIFORMS -- Freshmen Kelly O'Boyle, wearing skirt, and Melissa Blake model a couple of the uniform styles that abide by Divine Savior Holy Angels High School's new dress code. (Photo by Sam Lucero)

The days of uniform uniformity at Catholic high and elementary schools are long gone, leaving school administrators, parents and students with daily choices and challenges.

With first-day school bells ringing for most this month, administrators used letters, handbooks, phone calls, parent meetings and Web sites to get the word out on uniform and dress codes, including changes, updates and enforcement policies. Parents, meanwhile, learned what's old and new in uniform wear and dress policies and stocked up on new and used apparel.

Although uniform and dress policies are secondary to the faith and educational goals of the schools, they are an important and visible component of school life, according to school principals and administrators interviewed by the Catholic Herald. Further, uniforms and dress codes play an important role in supporting each institution's educational approach, as well as in student growth and development, they said.

Among the most dramatic changes in school attire for the coming year are the new uniforms for the young women at Divine Savior Holy Angels High School, Milwaukee. The school, already unique among Milwaukee high schools with its uniform requirements, significantly decreased uniform options in its new policy. DSHA now requires all uniform clothing be purchased at The Uniform Store, Milwaukee.

OLD POLICY -- Dressed in clothing that until this year was acceptable attire for students at Divine Savior Holy Angels High School are junior Morgan Blake, wearing pants, and senior Erin O'Boyle. (Photo by Sam Lucero)

Sloppy appearance led to tighter guides

"Our rationale had been that more choices would make for more compliance," said Sister of the Divine Savior Virginia Honish, DSHA principal for 11 years. Instead, over the years, the expanding options, including more casual clothing and spiritwear with DSHA logos, led to more variety, and broader interpretations of uniform policies.

Simply put, "the girls became more sloppy in their appearance," said Honish.

DSHA's new policy, disclosed last spring, distinguishes between clothing for school or work, and for sports and social activities; keeps clothing costs reasonable; and downplays clothes competition -- the latter two goals common to most school uniform and dress codes. Changes include a uniform skirt required on certain days, no spiritwear, no flip-flops, and only khaki pants or shorts.

The new policy and phased-in approach met with some negative feedback from parents and students, even though parents and faculty were involved in its development, according to Honish. Student suggestions were considered and some revisions made, she said, adding, "It was unusual for parents to respond so negatively and not for the students to do so."

Pius XI focus on neatness, not rules

Perhaps on the flip side of DSHA's stricter uniform approach is Milwaukee's Pius XI High School. During the 1970s -- when girls were in uniforms and boys were not -- the school "changed everything" about its approach, "turning the focus to learning, and elevating students to a level of partnership in that with us," said Rick Pendergast. From that point on, Pius has issued a "set of guidelines, but not overly restrictive rules" -- in particular, the "neat, clean and appropriate for the school environment" rule which "we are always talking about," he said.

Variety, within the guidelines, is appreciated and encouraged, according to Pendergast. As the school's dress code states: "Because Pius recognizes the importance of the individual, it balances the student's need for self-expression with the need to understand the link between appearance, attitude and behavior."

Policies not uniform in elementary schools Administrators seek clothes that reflect schools' values Laurel Nelson-Rowe                Parenting Staff Uniform and dress code policies at Catholic elementary schools throughout the Milwaukee Archdiocese are ever-evolving and often the focus of everything from playground banter to heated home and school association debates. Holy Angels School, West Bend, has never had uniforms, although requests for a change in policy regularly surface, said Michael Sternig, principal. Parents have voted on the issue at least three times in the last 10 years, he recalled, but each time there hasn't been a change. Instead, the school's 415 students who will begin school there this fall will abide by an "informal dress code" which reflects the school -- "easygoing, middle of the road," Sternig said. "We find our kids wear nice stuff without much trouble." The Fond du Lac Area Catholic Education System has also "gone round and round" with uniform-or-not discussions, parent surveys, and home and school meeting discussions, among other actions, said Susan Zacherl, system administrator. She said her approach is one of collaboration and dialogue with parents, rather than "top-down decisions." She noted most challenges in dress code implementation and appropriate dress come in the middle-school years. "Catholic education does cost more, so if we would head toward uniforms, we don't want to have expensive uniforms," said Zacherl. "We believe that because our students attend a school with Catholic values, and particularly when they attend liturgies, they should dress and look appropriately." A 50-50 vote by parents for and against uniforms at St. John the Baptist School three years ago kept the dress code in place at the Plymouth school, which has never had uniforms, according to Mary Jo Sizonen, principal for 14 years. The code, updated regularly and sent in the mail to parents of the nearly 300 students, "allows for freedom of choice" based on a short list of guidelines, and calls for student attire to "reflect the Christian values being taught." As one example, the code stipulates that "clothing that appears to promote sexual freedom, suggestive language, the use of alcohol or drugs, and rock groups or personalities may not be worn." St. Rita School, Racine, principal Diana Lesnjak said the school's detailed "Uniform Dress and Appearance Code" is the result of parent focus groups over the years, and annual policy updates. "Our uniform work has been reactive, rather than proactive, based on clothing style changes," she said. For instance, as flare or baggy leg, and/or low waist pants have become fashionable for boys, the code made it clear they were not allowed at St. Rita. Blessed Sacrament's dress code policy also adapts to and rules out fashion's twists and turns, said Nancy Evans, school secretary. Last year hooded sweatshirts were no longer allowed, and for 2002-03 the code is "stricter" for all students, Evans advised. The policy even includes sketches of acceptable attire. As Milwaukee's St. Helen and St. Alexander schools merged to become Holy Wisdom Academy, a student dress code had to be established. The plaid jumpers that formerly identified each school will be allowed at Holy Wisdom Academy for girls during the upcoming year; after that, a dress code of clothing basics, in selected colors, with purchases recommended at Kohl's or Target will be in effect for boys and girls, according to Connie Lambrecht, school secretary. "Like most schools, we just want to see that they are dressed appropriately and that we reduce clothes competition," she said.

Pendergast said the policy is updated every spring. Changes for 2001-02 included a prohibition on flight pants, though blue jeans were allowed; for 2002-03 shorts will be allowed year-round.

"We think (the policy) is right for today, and still a handful of parents and kids would say it's not. Some elementary school parents say we look like a public school -- we don't," said Pendergast. "Dress code simply is not a battle we pick."

What one wears less important than why

Kathleen A. Cepelka, principal at Catholic Memorial High School, Waukesha, said she labored over the wording of the letter sent to all parents last year, and parents of incoming freshmen in July 2002, particularly the "essence of the philosophy," which she said is, "what one wears is less important than why one wears it." The letter also calls on parental assistance and support in enforcement, especially in policy areas "based on the principles of modesty and self-respect."

"I want students to think of the message they are sending by what they wear," said Cepelka. "Our role is one of guardians and guides. We are here to set good examples of behavior and dress, and to challenge students as well. We're here to help, and the guidelines are meant to help students select attire for school that is appropriate, and this is cultural, but also counter-cultural as well."

No more jeans at Dominican

Dominican High School's dress code philosophy and frequent updates appear to parallel the approach at Pius XI and Catholic Memorial. In recent years, the Milwaukee high school ruled out back packs because they became too "overstuffed and heavy" for students, and also because they could conceal dangerous items, a possibility realized by many administrators following the incidents at Colorado's Columbine High, according to Jim Piatt, principal. T-shirts are also forbidden as their messages "detract from the purpose of a Catholic high school -- prayer and study," he said.

The big change this fall? No more jeans at Dominican. "Over the years, jeans have been getting looser and lower for boys, and lower and tighter for girls. As a school administrator in a Catholic school, I don't ever want to know what brand of underwear a kid is wearing, or if they are boxers, or thongs. There is something awfully inappropriate about that," said Piatt.

Increase in visible skin, undergarments

Like Dominican, Catholic Central High School in Burlington has seen an increase in visible skin and undergarments, said Joannie Kresken, admissions director. Thus, this year's dress code update stipulates:

• no skin may be showing at the midriff, no cleavage and no visible underwear at any time

• no pajama-style pants

• shorts and skirts may be no shorter than four inches above the knee.

And for dress-up days, girls must wear dresses, skirts or dress pants, while boys must wear dress pants, and a collared shirt or sweater. On such days, denim or cargo pants aren't allowed at the institution

Teachers and administrators are the primary enforcers of uniform and dress codes at all schools contacted. At Catholic Central, students are sent to the vice principal's office, and remain there if in violation of the code until a change of clothes is brought by a parent of family member, according to Kresken.

Students not in compliance with Catholic Memorial's dress code have last year's senior class to thank for one option in the "inventory of appropriate dress" in school offices, said Cepelka. The seniors bought and bequeathed a supply of Catholic Memorial sweatshirts, so students caught without "clean, neat, appropriate and modest clothing" stipulated in the policy can -- at least temporarily -- sport school spirit.