In April 2009, the Board of Trustees approved Policy II-41, School Uniform Dress Code/School Dress Code. Since that time, and as part of the ongoing review process that is undertaken with all policies, Policy II-41 has been reviewed annually. 

School Uniform Ad Hoc Committee
At the Regular Board Meeting held on February 21, 2012, the Board of Trustees established the School Uniform Ad Hoc Committee to review the parameters within the existing policy and make recommendations regarding potential amendments to the policy, or changes to the process of implementation of school uniforms. 

At the Regular Board Meeting held on October 2, 2012, Trustees adopted motion #147/12, recommending that Policy II-41 be forwarded to the Policy Committee for further review. The policy was reviewed at the Policy Committee Meetings held on October 9, 2012, November 13, 2012, January 8, 2013, and February 12, 2013. Amendments to Policy II-41 were made, and submitted to the Board for consideration.

Amendments to Policy II-41
At the Regular Board Meeting held on February 19, 2013, the Board of Trustees accepted the recommendation of the Policy Committee and approved Policy II-41, School Uniform Dress Code/School Dress Code, as amended. 

The amendments made to Policy II-41 were based on the following principles:

• The Board is committed to providing a learning and working environment that is safe and respectful of the needs and well-being of all individuals, and believes that a school uniform dress code supports such environments.
• The Board endorses and encourages the adoption of a school uniform dress code in our elementary schools, consistent with the values, traditions and distinctiveness of Catholic schools as an effective strategy to build inclusive Catholic communities and encourage a sense of belonging for all students.
• The Board affirms a role for parents to determine, through democratic vote conducted in accordance with this policy, whether or not to adopt and implement a school uniform dress code for elementary school communities.

The amended policy includes the following elements:

• A simple majority vote (50% +1) is required to adopt a school uniform.
• Community votes are scheduled later in the school year. Every family with children confirmed as pre-registered for the next school year is eligible to vote.
• If the youngest child in the family is in grade 7 or 8, a family would not be eligible to participate in the vote.
• In the first year of implementation, grade 8 students will not be required to wear the uniform.
• Each school community must vote on school uniforms at least once.  The uniform vote may be revisited on a three year cycle.