Principal Communications, 23 October 2023
Dear Parents/Carers
This is a very long communication and I recommend that you settle back and read through it carefully, paying close attention to the positive impact on your family as your Calvary journey progresses!
For the past two years we have been working on uniform changes motivated by the desire to:
- Lower the uniform cost to parents by having fewer changes as a student progresses from P-12.
- Update the look of certain items in the formal uniform to make students more comfortable. Our hope is that a more contemporary style would make students even more proud to wear the Calvary uniform.
Over recent months I have alerted all members of our community, including parents (via comms and at our recently held Evening with the Principal events in August) to the imminent updates. Today I am excited to share with you the final outcome of our work. In the two year period that led to this exciting announcement today, we have consulted with a working party of staff and parents. Students have also participated in the consultation process.
Any change can be startling when we first hear of it. I ask you to consider these changes and support the change with your children. As always, my door is open to you should you wish to discuss these changes with me.
There are no changes to the sports uniform. Over the next few years, you will find that as stock is depleted, the updated logo will appear on sports uniform items. Students may wear the most recent circle logo that appeared on uniforms after School Locker began managing the production and sale of our uniforms.
The Middle School items (striped garments and ties) are being discontinued. Students may, however, continue to wear the old style Middle School uniform until the end of 2025.
Students in years 9 – 12 (Stages 5 and 6) will wear white shirts and white blouses. No students will wear ties. The boys’ white shirt will be styled to wear untucked: the shirt has a deep hem and vents on the sides. Boys who wear old style white shirts must tuck these in at all times but do not wear ties at all. The old shirt may be worn until the end of 2025.
For female students in years 9 – 12, formal purple knee length shorts have been introduced. The purple skirt has an updated style. Purple culottes may be worn by older girls if sizes are available. The grey long pants remain an option.
An updated unisex formal hat is being phased in from year 7 over the next few years. For new students entering the college in years 9-12 and current students needing a replacement hat, if the required hat size is not available, you may purchase the new style.
The purple blazer is optional for students in years 9 and 10 and remains compulsory for students in years 11 and 12.
Students in years 5 – 8 (Stages 3 and 4) will wear the same fabric for shirts and blouses. This fabric is currently worn by Junior school students only. For boys, the shirt is styled to be worn untucked. No ties will be worn. Boys who wear old style shirts must tuck these in at all times but do not wear ties at all. The old shirt may be worn until the end of 2025.
The girls’ blouse has a restyled collar and neck closing (worn without ties). This blouse style is available in both child and youth sizes with the youth sizing shaped for growing girls. Girls who wear old style blouses (both current JS and MS shirts) must wear these with ties. The old blouse styles may be worn until the end of 2025.
For female students in years 5 – 8, formal purple knee length shorts have been introduced. The purple skirt has an updated style and is included in the options available to girls in years 5 and 6. Purple culottes may be worn by girls in years 5 – 8. The grey long pants remain an option for girls in years 7 and 8.
An updated unisex formal hat is being phased in from year 7 over the next few years. Year 7 students in 2024 are to wear the new style unisex hat. These students may also choose to continue to use the JS purple formal hat for 2024.
The current formal hat styles for male and female students apply to all students in years 8 and beyond. If a current 8 year student needs a replacement hat, and the required hat size is not available, you may purchase the new style.
Students in years 1 – 4 (Stages 1 and 2) will transition to the boys’ shirt styled to be worn untucked by December 2025. This shirt length has been corrected and is now manufactured in appropriate lengths for size. Girls’ blouses have a different collar and neckline and will be worn without a tie. Girls who wear old style blouses must wear these with ties. The old blouse styles may be worn until the end of 2025. Purple formal shorts have been introduced as an option along with the culottes.
The junior school girls’ dress will be discontinued and may be worn (until December 2025). New stock will no longer be manufactured.
ALL students
The decision that excites students most is that the purple jumper is being replaced with a black softshell zip front jacket that can be worn all year by students YR 1 - 12 with the formal uniform. This is a comfortable addition to the blazer for students in years 11 and 12 who must continue to wear the blazer for formal occasions.
To provide certainty for you about what your child requires, we have prepared documents for each group of students. You can access the appropriate links for your child/ren below.
I trust you will enjoy the transition over the next two years to this updated look that will take our Calvary students boldly into the next decade.
Finally, our uniform suppliers have established their own manufacturing service in recent months. The outcome of this is that the new uniform items will only be available from mid January. The College will notify you when you can purchase these items. I apologise for the inconvenience of this delay to your back-to-school preparations.
Please note that both newly purchased ‘old style’ uniforms and secondhand items can be worn until the end of 2025 should this make the transition to the new style easier for you and your family. Our College staff can help answer any questions you have about uniforms. Please call or email info@calvarycc.qld.edu.au if you have any questions.
I look forward to seeing many of you at our upcoming events: Awards and Affirmation assemblies, Year 12 Valedictory, Celebrations and our Carols evening. Let’s celebrate this year together!
Yours sincerely
Cherylynne Gostelow
Principal & CEO