Navigating school uniform policies can sometimes feel overwhelming, but at Trinity Christian School (TCS), we believe our uniform guidelines are designed to foster a focused and respectful learning environment. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about the Tcs Uniform, ensuring your child is appropriately and comfortably dressed for each school day. Understanding and adhering to these guidelines helps promote unity and pride within our school community.
Daily Attire: Dressing for Success Every Day
For regular school days, TCS has specific requirements for both girls and boys to maintain a neat and consistent appearance. Here’s a detailed look at the daily attire expectations:
Girls’ Daily Uniform
- Tops: Girls should choose from red, white, or navy polo-style shirts or turtlenecks. These should be free of ruffles and logos, keeping the look clean and uniform. For cooler days, shirts, sweatshirts, and jackets from the TCS Spirit Shop in school colors are perfect. Plain red, white, navy, black, or grey sweaters or jackets are also permitted (again, no logos or denim). For a more formal option, a red, white, or navy broadcloth blouse or a white Oxford blouse (orderable from Designs in Thread) are excellent choices.
- Bottoms: Options include navy, plaid, or khaki shorts, skorts, or skirts. It’s important to note that skirts and skorts should be no more than 3 inches above the knee to ensure modesty and appropriateness. Navy or khaki pants or capris are also acceptable, made from woven cotton or performance material (avoid stretch or knit fabrics, and pocket designs). To maintain modesty under skirts and jumpers, red, navy, or white modesty shorts are required (no stripes, polka dots, or designs). Jeggings and leggings are not permitted as pants.
- Jumpers/Dresses: Polo dresses in red or navy are allowed, provided they have no extra ruffles on the bottom hem or collar and no emblems or sleeveless designs. These must be worn with modesty shorts, tights, or leggings. Plaid, red, navy, or khaki jumpers (no more than 3 inches above the knee) are also suitable, again worn with modesty shorts, tights, or leggings and a collared shirt underneath.
- Belts: Belts are a required accessory with all pants, shorts, or skirts that have belt loops, helping to keep the uniform looking sharp and tidy. Acceptable belt colors are red, white, navy, black, or brown (no animal prints or glitter). Please note that belts are not required for Pre-K or Kindergarten students.
Boys’ Daily Uniform
- Tops: Boys’ uniform tops mirror the girls’ options with red, white, or navy polo shirts and turtlenecks, ensuring they are logo-free. Similar to girls, TCS Spirit Shop shirts, sweatshirts, and jackets in school colors are great for layering. Plain red, white, navy, black, or grey sweaters or jackets are also allowed. White oxford shirts are another smart choice.
- Bottoms: For bottoms, boys can wear navy or khaki shorts (no cargo style) or navy or khaki pants (also no cargo style). These should be made from woven cotton or performance material for comfort and durability throughout the school day.
- Belts: Just like with the girls’ uniform, belts are mandatory with all pants and shorts for boys in grades K-5. Acceptable colors are red, white, navy, black, or brown. Belts are not needed for Pre-K or Kindergarten boys.
Wednesday Chapel Attire: Dress Code for Chapel Services
Wednesday Chapel is a special time at TCS, and there is a designated dress code for all students in Kindergarten through 5th grade to reflect the reverence of the occasion. The attire varies slightly depending on the time of year to accommodate different weather conditions.
Chapel Attire: August, September, April, May (Warmer Months)
During the warmer months at the beginning and end of the school year, the chapel attire is designed to be comfortable yet respectful:
- Girls: Khaki skirts, shorts, pants, or capris are the base for the bottom. Tops should be a white polo-style shirt, Oxford blouse, or broadcloth blouse, and these must be tucked in to maintain a neat appearance. Modesty shorts are required under skirts. If the bottoms have belt loops, a belt is also necessary.
- Boys: Boys should wear khaki shorts or pants. A white polo-style shirt or Oxford shirt is required and must be tucked in. A belt is also part of the chapel uniform.
Chapel Attire: October – March (Cooler Months)
As the weather cools down, the chapel attire includes a navy chapel vest for added warmth and formality:
- Girls: A navy chapel vest is required (please note that the chapel sweater vest is optional for Pre-K). Bottoms should be a khaki skirt (with modesty shorts underneath). The top is a white shirt – either a Polo, Oxford blouse, or broadcloth blouse, which must be tucked in. Tights, if worn, should be solid red, white, or blue. In extremely cold weather (below 42°F high), girls may opt for khaki pants instead of skirts for warmth.
- Boys: Boys also wear a navy chapel vest (again, optional for Pre-K sweater vest). Khaki pants are required. The shirt should be a white Oxford or Polo style shirt, tucked in, and a belt is also necessary.
TCS Chapel Vest and Uniform Example
The navy chapel vest, a key component of the TCS chapel uniform, is required for students in grades K-5 and can be purchased at Designs in Thread. Use username ‘tcs’ and password ‘trinity’ to access the ordering portal.
General Appearance: Maintaining a Standard of Excellence
Beyond specific clothing items, TCS has guidelines for general appearance to ensure a positive and focused learning environment.
Accessories
- Hats and caps are not allowed inside school buildings and classrooms, promoting a respectful indoor environment.
- Tattoos (including temporary ones) and body piercing are not permitted, maintaining a distraction-free setting.
- Girls may wear pierced earrings, while earrings are not allowed for boys.
- Scarves or vests (other than TCS Spirit Shop vests) are not permitted in the classroom, keeping distractions to a minimum.
- Smartwatches are not allowed at school, encouraging focus on learning and interaction.
Hair
- Boys’ hairstyles should be neatly trimmed above the collar and no lower than the bottom of the ear lobe, and hair should not fall below the eyebrows, ensuring a tidy and professional look.
- Extreme hairstyles or colors, including cut-out designs, are not permitted.
- Excessive hair accessories, such as large flowers or scarves, are discouraged.
Jeans Day
- On designated “Jeans Days,” plain jeans, long denim shorts, or denim capris can be worn with a TCS shirt for a relaxed yet school-appropriate style.
- No holes, sparkles, or fancy stitching are allowed on jeans, keeping the look simple and appropriate.
- Low-rise, stretch denim jeans, skinny or tight jeans, and denim skirts/skorts are not acceptable, ensuring modesty and adherence to dress code standards even on Jeans Days.
Makeup
- Makeup is not allowed for elementary students, focusing on a natural and youthful appearance.
Shoes
- For safety during Physical Education (PE) activities, all students must wear lace-up tennis shoes on their scheduled PE days, ensuring safety and preventing injuries.
- Flip-flops, high-heeled shoes, and tall wedges are not acceptable at any time, due to safety concerns and appropriateness for a school setting.
Socks
- Socks should be solid red, white, navy, black, or grey, offering flexibility within the school colors. Minimal stripes or designs in school colors are acceptable, adding a bit of personal touch while staying within guidelines.
Jackets
- Students have flexibility in jacket colors while outside for breaks or PE.
- Inside the classroom, jackets should be solid red, navy, white, black, grey, or from the TCS Spirit Shop. Denim jackets are not permitted in the classroom.
Homecoming
- During Homecoming, 3rd-5th grade students may wear mums and spirit ribbons throughout the day to celebrate school spirit.
- PreK-2nd grade students may wear spirit ribbons only after chapel, ensuring focus during chapel services.
Key Reminders for TCS Uniform Compliance
To summarize, here are a few important reminders to ensure your child is always in line with the TCS uniform policy:
- Chapel sweater vests are optional for PreK students only.
- All shirts (except for PreK and kindergarten) must be tucked in to maintain a neat appearance.
- No brand logos should be visible on any clothing item, keeping the focus on school unity.
- Items purchased from the TCS Spirit Shop are permitted as long as they are in school colors, offering a convenient and compliant option.
- Please label all jackets and sweaters with your child’s first and last name to prevent loss and ensure easy identification.
By following these guidelines, we can collectively ensure that TCS students always present themselves in a way that is respectful, unified, and conducive to a positive learning environment. We appreciate your partnership in upholding these standards.
