St Michael’s Prep
Parent/Student Handbook

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Chapter 5: Dress and Appearance Code

1. INTRODUCTION

St. Michael’s has always maintained high standards for good grooming. Proper grooming demonstrates a healthy self-respect and prepares a student for the larger stage of life where stringent standards of comportment and clothing are prerequisites. The first part of grooming is attention to personal and oral hygiene. The complementary component is how one is dressed. [Return to Table of Contents]

2. NEATNESS IN APPEARANCE

Students are expected to have enough well-fitting, clean and mended clothing to be able to always dress neatly. Each school day a well-pressed shirt should be worn; trousers should be pressed and shoes shined. A coin-operated washer and dryer are provided for the use of the students. A prerequisite of dressing neatly is daily attention to oral and personal hygiene. The important thing about hair is that it is kept in a manner appropriate for a conservative, professional business setting. Normally, this means that it is short, neatly trimmed and combed. It should not touch the ears, shirt collar, or cover the eyes. No bleached or colored hair is permitted. All students must be clean-shaven. Sideburns may be no longer than mid ear. All personal items must be marked for easy owner identification. It is the right of the headmaster and/or his delegate to judge whether the dress code has been followed. [Return to Table of Contents]

3. SCHOOL UNIFORM

All students wear the uniform of St. Michael’s Prep, which consists of the following:

A single-breasted navy blue blazer with the emblem of St. Michael’s Prep;
Pressed, charcoal gray dress trousers with a dark dress belt;
White, long sleeve, dress shirt with a white, logo-free, crew-neck T-shirt underneath; white, short-sleeve, dress shirts may be worn during the warmer seasons;
School tie;
Plain black socks;
Black dress shoes able to be shined (no high-tops, deck shoes, boots, half boots, work shoes or similar).
A solid grey or navy cardigan sweater (front buttoned, without collar and free from logos) may be used in place of the blazer during classes and most other school activities.
A button-less sweater vest may be worn either with the blazer on any occasion or in place of the blazer during classes. The sweaters are dark gray or navy blue.
Each student carries a handkerchief or tissue on his person at all times.

Students arrive at and depart from St. Michael’s in uniform. Wearing the blazer is optional for arrival and departure.

Students wear navy blue, logo-free, gym shorts for Physical Education. The top is a white P.E. T-shirt with the school name. These must be purchased from the school. A white, logo-free T-shirt with half sleeves may substitute for the P.E. top. At those times when students not attending P.E. dress for sports and/or recreation, their clothing must conform to these same standards.

The letterman jacket is optional for all those who have successfully completed a varsity sport and wish to purchase it. When the letterman jacket does conform to school standards it may be worn at all functions and activities with one exception: blazers are the standard when Jesus is sacramentally present (Mass, Holy Hour and Benediction).

The ties, P.E. uniform, letterman jacket, school emblem for the blazer, and sports uniforms are ordered through the school.

Students are always in uniform in the classroom, church, during study period, in the library, or when departing from or returning to school. Students decide individually to wear their blazer or not when the weather is hot. Wearing the tie during study periods or while studying in the library is also at the student’s discretion.

The uniform is also worn by the weekenders when they are taken to the store, and the sports uniform is worn by the sports teams when being driven to and from games. Students attending games, contests, or any school sponsored activities wear their full uniform, unless explicitly stated otherwise. All students come in uniform when first reporting to school. [Return to Table of Contents]

4. NEEDED ARTICLES

LINENS	CLOTHING
blanket/comforter¹ pillow pillowcase fitted sheet¹ towels laundry bag	uniform handkerchiefs bathrobe shower slippers sleeping clothes work/play clothes work/play shoes swim suit sweater²
TOILETRIES	MISCELLANEOUS
soap/shampoo deodorant toothbrush/toothpaste retainer & case shaving kit comb or brush Kleenex™ Q-Tips™ nail clippers Chapstick™ vitamins Band-Aids™	drinking cup/mug bowl/fork & spoon shoe shine kit black dress shoelaces rosary 8 hangers laundry soap family picture glasses or contacts storage containers³ school supplies⁴

Notes:

Students should not bring over-the-counter medications. If they have some need, they ask in the headmaster’s office.

¹ for a twin bed

² Collarless cardigan or v-neck, dark grey or navy blue

³ Snack foods are kept safe and fresh when they are stored in air-tight, plastic containers with lids.

⁴ There is no formal list. For the first week new students may want to bring the few essentials (like pen, pencil, paper, notebook) and then go shopping over the next weekend.

Casual clothing should also be appropriate so as to represent the dignity of the human person and the values of the school. Pants should fit the student’s current waist. Clothing with highly visible logos, slogans, or messages must not be worn at school or its sponsored-activities. Non-school caps are not permitted. [Return to Table of Contents]

5. ETIQUETTE

In the broad sense, etiquette is the accepted manner of behavior among educated people who desire to be just as well as charitable to others. How we behave towards one another shows our respect for others, ourselves, and our surroundings. This type of respect reflects personal development very clearly. Moreover, knowing these manners gives one a sense of security in dealing with people. At St. Michael’s we seek to foster those skills that are appropriate for a Christian gentleman living in polite society. [Return to Table of Contents]

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