School Uniforms

Uniform Revision for 2028

Uniform Revision: Beginning in Fall 2028, all uniform polo shirts will be required to display the Hope logo. To help families prepare for this transition, Hope logo polos, crewneck sweatshirts, hoodies, and other approved spirit wear will be available for purchase at the main campus school office during Back-to-School Week and after. Or, you may purchase logo embroider items through Land’s End (see below for ordering informaiton). Uniform items without the logo will be permitted this current academic year and 2027-28 academic year, but will be required Fall of 2028. More details will be shared as they become available.

Please review the Uniform Expectations document (previously emailed in the summer mailing packet).

Uniform and Personal Appearance Policy: K-8 Only

Overview

The purpose of the Uniform and Personal Appearance Policy is to ensure that the students of Hope Lutheran School are neat, clean and well groomed for success at school. Uniform dress promotes school spirit and an improved self-image, while reducing the distraction of competition and emphasis on clothing or financial status.

Uniform dress further identifies students as members of the school community and fosters a spirit of cooperation and participation. Students in grades K through 8 are required to be in uniform at all times except on designated free dress days, typically the first and third Fridays of each month. It is the responsibility of students and parents/guardians to ensure that students are dressed in accordance with this policy.

Uniform Policy

All students in grades K through 8 are required to wear a uniform except on designated free dress days (first and third Fridays of the month).

The uniform plaid (girls skirts and dresses) may be purchased from Lands End. The plaid is not required. Other uniform items such as shirts, shorts, pants and skorts can also be purchased at Lands’ End from a provided listing of required uniform styles for Hope Lutheran School.

Uniforms may be purchased from other retailers other than Lands’ End (such as Target, Old Navy or French Toast), but must closely follow the school uniform guidelines or the styles already designated for Hope Lutheran School on the Lands’ End web site. Please note: In Fall 2028, all polos will be required to have the embroidered Hope School logo on them. You can purchase branded items from Hope School directly or from Land’s End.

To view the approved uniform styles at Lands’ End click here and enter our school number: 900147711

Personal Grooming

Hair must be of a modest style, a natural color, and groomed. Any piercing must be limited to the ear piercing only. Any other body piercing (nose, tongue, eyebrow, etc. including ear gauges) will require the student to remove the article of jewelry immediately. Jewelry may not be worn by athletes playing sports.

Clothing Guidelines

The following guidelines apply to both uniform and free dress days:

Clothing must cover the area from one armpit across to the other armpit, down to the fingertip length when arms are extended. All clothing must be neat, clean, and in good condition.
Clothing must fit the child appropriately. This means clothing is not too small, nor is it worn several sizes too large. Room for growth is acceptable. Pants/shorts/skirts should be worn at the waist.
Undergarments may not be visible.
Undershirts must be plain white and may not be visible (may not extend past the bottom of the uniform shirt or uniform sleeves but may be seen at the neckline).

Uniform Tops

Shirts:

Students must wear either a basic polo shirt or turtleneck in white or navy blue, or a simple white button-up shirt.
Shirts may be short or long sleeved.
Shirts must be solid colored with no striping or logos with the exception of the Hope Lutheran School logo.
Sweatshirts & Sweaters:
Students may wear any sweatshirts with the Hope logo, including L.E.S.T and athletic team sweatshirts.
A uniform polo shirt must be worn underneath all sweatshirts or sweaters.
Basic navy blue sweaters, sweater vests and cardigans are acceptable.
Students in 8^th grade only may wear the school sweatshirt of their chosen high school upon acceptance to high school, which typically occurs in February and March.

Uniform Bottoms

All uniform bottoms must be either navy blue or khaki. Skirts and jumpers may also be classic navy plaid available at Lands’ End.

Pants:

Navy pants fabric must be chino, knit, corduroy, or broadcloth.
Khaki pants fabric must be chino, knit, corduroy, broadcloth, or denim fabric.
Back pockets are permitted, with no contrasting stitching and minimal design.
Basic capri pants are permitted.
Pants may be pleated or flat front and must be solid colored with no stripes or decorations.
Cargo-pocketed/pockets on legs-type pants are not permitted.
Shorts/skirts/jumpers:
Shorts/skirts/jumpers must be made of basic chino fabric, corduroy fabric, or knit fabric.
Shorts/skirts/jumpers must be no shorter than the student’s fingertip length when arms are extended and must not extend below the knee.

Middle School PE Uniform (Grades 6-8 only)

Middle school students are required to change into their PE uniform before attending PE class. Time to change is included in the daily schedule. Students should keep their PE clothes in their locker and take them home each week to wash. All PE clothing should be appropriate for physical activity and should follow the school’s general free-dress expectations.

PE Uniform Guidelines

T-shirt: Wear a plain t-shirt of any color. Hope branded t-shirts are also permitted.
Shorts or sweatpants: Wear activewear shorts of any color that meet the school’s minimum length requirement, or sweatpants of any color. Hope branded sweatpants are permitted. Shorts and sweatpants should not have graphics or logos other than Hope branding.
Shoes: Wear appropriate closed-toe athletic shoes, such as tennis shoes. Crocs, Uggs, flip-flops, sandals, and other open-toe or non-athletic shoes are not permitted.
Hoodies: Hope branded hoodies may be worn to stay warm.

Please Do Not Wear:

T-shirts with graphics or logos other than Hope branding
Tank tops or crop tops
Yoga pants or leggings
Volleyball shorts or running shorts
Clothing that does not meet the school’s free-dress guidelines or minimum length requirements

Shoes, Accessories, & Outerwear

Shoes must have a back strap and a low heel to ensure students are able to actively play safely at recess and PE. Athletic shoes are encouraged.
The following types of shoes are not permitted: open toe, slip-on shoes (i.e. clogs, mules, flip-flops, Crocs, slippers/moccasins, Uggs), shoes with a wheel inserted in the sole, and combat and steel toe boots.
All tights, leggings, or shorts worn under skirts must be solid navy or white in color, with no visible logos, images, or words.
All accessories including jewelry, headbands, and socks should be simple and should not cause a distraction to self or others. No extreme jewelry is permitted.
Outerwear (jackets, sweatshirts without a Hope logo, vests, mittens/gloves, hats) are to be removed upon arrival at school and are for outside use only

Free Dress Days

The first and third Friday of every month have been designated as free dress days. In addition to the general uniform guidelines listed above, the following policy guidelines apply to all free dress days:

Clothing must meet all length requirements of the Uniform Policy.
Free Dress “Dos”
•Do enjoy Free Dress on the first and third Fridays of each month. Students may also choose to wear their school uniform on these days.
•Do express your personality through your clothing choices while maintaining a school-appropriate appearance.
•Do follow the same coverage expectations as the regular uniform: clothing should cover from armpit to armpit and be at least fingertip length.
•Do wear jeans or pants with small rips, frays, or tears below fingertip length, provided no opening is larger than 3 inches in any direction.
•Do wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes
Shoes, accessories and outerwear guidelines for uniform days apply, except for tights color.
Hats are allowed to be worn on free dress days although hats are to be removed during chapel services.
Free Dress “Don’ts”
•Don’t wear Free Dress clothing on the second, fourth, or fifth Fridays unless the day has been designated as a special spirit day.
•Don’t wear leggings as pants. Leggings may be worn under skirts, dresses, or shorts.
•Don’t wear tank tops, spaghetti straps, mesh, or see-through clothing. No tank tops should be worn with a sleeved shirt underneath (shoulders must be covered). Cap sleeves are acceptable; “cold-shoulder” sleeves are not acceptable. No mesh or see-through clothing is allowed.
•Don’t wear pajamas or costumes unless it is an officially designated Pajama Day or Costume Day. that are appropriate for an active school day.

Spirit Days

Our school community enjoys spirit days throughout the year. Spirit days follow the free dress guidelines. Hair coloring must be approved by the administration and will be communicated to the student body as needed.

Spirit Day “Dos”
•Do enjoy Free Dress on the first and third Fridays of each month. Students may also choose to wear their school uniform on these days.
•Do express your personality through your clothing choices while maintaining a school-appropriate appearance.
•Do follow the same coverage expectations as the regular uniform: clothing should cover from armpit to armpit and be at least fingertip length.
•Do wear jeans or pants with small rips, frays, or tears below fingertip length, provided no opening is larger than 3 inches in any direction.
•Do wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes that are appropriate for an active school day.

Spirit Day “Don’ts”
•Don’t wear Free Dress clothing on the second, fourth, or fifth Fridays unless the day has been designated as a special spirit day.
•Don’t wear leggings as pants. Leggings may be worn under skirts, dresses, or shorts.
•Don’t wear tank tops, spaghetti straps, mesh, or see-through clothing.
•Don’t wear pajamas or costumes unless it is an officially designated Pajama Day or Costume Day.

Policy Enforcement

If a student (or parent) is unsure whether an item of clothing meets the dress code, they are encouraged to ask a teacher or administrator before wearing it to school.

Students who arrive out of dress code on either a uniform day or a Free Dress Day will be asked to change into appropriate clothing. If a change of clothes is not available, the school will provide a clean, gently used uniform item for the day, and parents will be notified.

Repeated dress code violations will result in the following:
•First occurrence: Student changes into appropriate clothing; parents are notified.
•Second occurrence: Student changes clothing, parents are notified, and the student loses the next Free Dress opportunity.
•Third occurrence: Student changes clothing; K–2 students miss one recess, and students in grades 3–8 receive a detention.
•Additional occurrences: An individualized plan will be developed with the family, which may include the loss of Free Dress privileges for the remainder of the school year.

Our goal is not simply to enforce a dress code, but to create a school environment where students can learn, play, and worship together without unnecessary distractions. We appreciate the partnership of our families in helping students come to school dressed for success.