MSA Info
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
Letter sent home in Report Card envelopes back in June:
PLEASE READ!
Dear Parents and Guardians:
Our school year has come to an end. For the most part it has been a great year with many accomplishments by our students. Last night we celebrated the graduation of the class of 2017. We wish to extend congratulations to all our graduates and wish them many blessings and successes as they pursue their future.
With this letter is your child’s report card. Please review it carefully and read the teachers’ comments. Each teacher has taken time to report on the efforts of your child.
We do have a couple of areas that we wish to address going forward: Attendance/Lates and Uniforms and personal appearance of students.
Attendance/Lates: This year we implemented a new policy to address students who are consistently late for school. While we encountered a tremendous improvement, there are still some students who arrive late after the homeroom bell has rung. We will continue to reinforce the importance of attendance. Should your child have four unexcused lates in a semester, we will be requesting a parent meeting to discuss. When a child is late to school, whether it is excused or unexcused, it puts unnecessary stress on the child at the beginning of the school day.
Uniform and personal appearance of students:
“A school uniform teaches students to dress smartly and take pride in their appearance. Uniforms say you are part of an organization, therefore, you should take pride in what that organization represents. Wearing a uniform also help students to prepare for when they leave school and may have to dress smartly and represent themselves.”
The MSA uniform is not a new concept as students have always worn a uniform—that would be for 127 years. More recently, we have been experiencing concerns with regards to how the MSA students are presenting themselves and not showing respect and pride in their school and uniform. This concern has been raised in a number of circumstances, especially with parents. Beginning in September, and this letter serves as notification, students who do not wear the uniform as prescribed in the school policy, or they do not present themselves respectfully and are in violation of the school’s policy, will be sent home and not be permitted to return until the problem has been resolved.
The MSA Uniform Policy is very clear. The problems which we have experienced most recently that have caused us concern, and have been brought to our attention by members of the MSA community, are as follows:
Boys:
· Coloured hair or streaks
· Shaved lines in the eye-brows
· Tracks in the hair to look like a part
· Exceptionally long hair on the top of the head
· Jewelery that does not meet the school requirement
· Earrings on shirt collars.
· Incorrect socks with Bermuda length shorts
· Visible tattoos
· Sport socks with long pants
· Ear piercings then covering with bandaid
· Facial hair—visibly needing to shave
· Sideburns below the ear
· Sweaters which are tattered and have worn sleeves
Girls:
· Make-up including mascara—this is a privilege for Gr. 12 only
· Nail polish
· Gel nails
· Skirts which are way too short—often rolled or shortened
· Multiple earrings
· Streaked hair
· Tips of hair dyed
· Sweaters which are tattered and have worn sleeves
Attached is a copy of the Uniform Policy. Please review it with your children to ensure they are in compliance. When the teachers and administration have to spend their time in the morning addressing these issues with students, it does not start any of our days off well. We want the best success for your children, so cooperating with the school’s uniform policy and making sure your child looks respectable would be appreciated.
DRESS CODE GRADES 6 -12
Students are expected to be in uniform each day. Students must be neat, clean, well-groomed and modest at all times—during and after school hours—while on campus and at all school-related functions. It is important that students keep in mind they serve as ambassadors for Mount Saint Agnes Academy.
In keeping with these principles, students at Mount Saint Agnes Academy are required to abide by the uniform guideline. Uniform items may be purchased through the school’s Uniform Shop.
From time to time, a Non-Uniform day may be approved by the administration. Guidelines governing the non-uniform must be followed.
Middle and High School Uniform
Boys:
- White polo shirt with school crest (short or long sleeves)
- Grey Bermuda shorts or grey trousers
- Grey or black socks with long trousers – not ankle or sports socks
- Grey knee socks with Bermuda shorts
- Dress shoes in black or dark brown
- MSA vest, cardigan, or long sleeved pullover.
Gentlemen are reminded they MUST have on knee socks when wearing Bermuda shorts. Ankle socks pulled to be knee socks is not acceptable. If gentlemen are not prepared to wear knee socks, they are required to wear long pants.
Girls:
- Plaid Kilt
- White polo shirts with school crest (short or long sleeves)
- White knee socks in summer; navy knee socks in winter.
- Navy slacks may be worn in the winter months.
- MSA vest, cardigan, or long sleeved pullover.
- Low heeled shoes in dark brown or black
MSA Navy Blue Jacket both gentlemen and ladies:
- The MSA navy jacket may be worn to and from school. It is outer wear. THE MSA JACKET MAY ONLY BE WORN OVER A SWEATER OR VEST ON VERY COLD DAYS. STUDENTS MUST OWN A SWEATER. THE MSA JACKET MUST NOT BE WORN TO MASS OR ASSEMBLIES.
OTHER DRESS CODE REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL STUDENTS:
Skirt length: The hem of the skirt should rest at the top of the knee.
Proper shirt wear: Only the top button is to be unbuttoned on polo shirts and the shirt must be tucked in at all times whether inside or outside the building. Shirts must not be too large or oversized.
Undergarments: Only SOLID, plain, white undergarments may be worn under the uniform polo. Undergarment sleeves should not extend past the length of the outer shirtsleeve.
Shoes: Shoes must be polished leather or vinyl. Suede shoes and canvas sneakers are not permitted. High top athletic shoes are not permitted. Ballet style shoes for the females are discouraged as they do not provide adequate support.
Socks: Low rise athletic socks are not permitted.
Bermuda shorts and knee socks: Boys wearing Bermuda shorts must wear knee socks and not ankle socks.
Proper shorts, pants, and skirt wear: All shorts, pants, and skirts must rest at the waist.
Pants must not be too large or too long. No large belt buckles are permitted. Belts must be brown or black.
Sweater Policy: MSA vest, cardigan, and long sleeved pullover are the regulation uniform.
Jewelry & Hair:
- No body piercing is permitted.
- Tattoos are not to be visible.
- No rosary beads as necklaces.
- Earrings: One Pair only, of Small Round Gold, Silver, Pearl, Navy Blue, White or Birthstone Studs; in the lowest hole of each earlobe.
- Girls are permitted to dye or color their hair, provided that the color is consistent with a natural hair color. Extreme colors, highlighting or distracting hairstyles are not acceptable.
- Hair ribbons, headbands and other hair accessories must be colours clearly visible in the skirt or white. Large flowers and ribbons are not acceptable.
- Girls are allowed to wear only clear lip-gloss. Natural nails only are permitted. No make-up is permitted. This includes mascara, eye liner and eye shadow. Grade 12 girls are permitted to wear modest make-up.
- Boys are not allowed to wear any earrings.
- Hair should be kept out of the eyes and looking clean and neat.
- Boys are not permitted to color or highlight their hair.
- Boys’ hair is not to extend over the top of the ear or below the natural hairline and should be kept out of the eyes.
- Extreme hairstyles such as Mohawks, faux hawks, lines, and other distracting hairstyles such as exceptionally long hair on the top of the head, are not permitted.
- Boys are to be clean-shaven; sideburns are not to extend below the ear lobe. A mustache only is permitted.
- No shaved eyebrows
- Boys and girls are permitted to wear a watch, medical alert bracelet or chain, or silver or gold chain with one Christian medal on it.
- For seniors, a Mount Saint Agnes Academy class ring is permitted.
The Principal and Assistant Principal will decide the application of any of the above rules concerning jewelry and hair.
The School’s Administration has authority to make decisions regarding the above policies and the appropriateness of clothing and hair style. Students are asked to respect the decision of the Administration and cooperate accordingly.
Boys who need to shave and girls who wear fingernail polish or make-up will be subject to a $10 fine payable within the week.
We hope that all of our MSA Families have a great summer and we look forward to the students returning in September with renewed energy for another successful year of learning.
Sincerely,
Sue Moench Margaret DiGiacomo
Principal Assistant Principal