Principal's Comment

Kia Ora Kevinians and Supporters of the College,

I am writing today to ask our school community to please remind your students about their school uniform and the reasons we have for wearing these.

We have had a number of issues with regards to school uniforms lately with students pushing boundaries with regards to earrings and nails as well as socks, shoes and jackets.

As young people, students often consider uniforms to be old fashioned and increasingly today we hear arguments about our quashing individual freedom and expression.

To be clear, as a college we are quashing individual freedom for students by imposing a uniform and we make no apologies for that. We are quashing the opportunities for individuals with a lot of money to make other students feel small, we are quahsing an individuals ability to hurt themselves in our tech areas by insisting they wear leather shoes and we are quashing individuals freedom to express that they are above the law by doing what other people know they are not supposed to do.

A school uniform, for many of our students in their first opportunity to experience having to present a corporate image to the wider public. It is their first experience of having to subjugate their own wishes so that they are able to support the wishes of a community. By wearing their uniform well, they are outwardly saying "I support my community as a member of a wider group".

In today's world which is driven by individual wants and the expectation that anyone can do whatever they want when and wherever they want, wearing a school uniform is a uniquely counter cultural thing. It is done for precisely that reason. Whether a student likes a uniform or doesn't, whether it is in their preferred style or not all goes to teach the important lesson that at times, the needs of the group are more important than the whims of an individual.

We would ask that parents support our teaching this important lesson to the young adults who will one day be needing to put the needs of a family, including you, before their own needs.

Basic things to know about uniform:

• Earrings should be simple and only one pair worn.
• Nails - can be false but need to be natural colours
• Make up may be worn, especially when dealing with acne, but needs to be subtle and natural looking
• Necklaces and taonga need to be tucked in under shirts - this includes crosses and crucifixes or rosaries
• Socks need to be regulation
• Shoes must be black and leather in the traditional school style.
• Jackets can be purchased from the uniform shop and I urge students to buy these before winter as well as scarves and hats. The uniform shop is open on a Thursday at lunchtime.

Families struggling to pay for elements of uniforms need to contact their Dean for support with these items.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation and support.

God Bless

Jo