PFC

Over the last six months, our School Council Education and Policy Subcommittee has led a comprehensive review of our school uniform, focusing specifically on the Grade Six top. Feedback over time had suggested that the existing design didn’t fully allow our graduating class to stand out and truly shine. In response, we launched a redesign process structured to give students a meaningful voice in creating a new look for their final year.

To keep the process as open and inclusive as possible, we provided a broad brief. Students were encouraged to explore all design options: they could choose any colours, and the design could be indigenous or non-indigenous, geometric, abstract, or anything in between. We wanted the senior students, particularly Grade 5, to feel empowered in crafting what will be their legacy project.

With Mrs. Smith leading the way, focus groups of students discussed, refined, and narrowed down the brief. They were clear in their preferences—they wanted the top to reflect our school colours and to incorporate an indigenous theme. Through collaborative brainstorming and internet research, the students eventually developed four potential designs, which were put to a vote across the year level.

One design emerged as the clear favourite, capturing over 54% of the total vote. We are excited to introduce the new LPPS Grade Six uniform polo top! Orders have already been placed by next year’s Grade Six cohort, and these vibrant new tops will be seen in the yard from Term 1 next year.

A few key points about the new top:

No Names or Dates: To support sustainability and allow these tops to be passed down to younger siblings, the new Grade Six tops will not have names or dates printed on them. The Grade Six hoodie will remain our legacy item with all students' names printed on the back.

Continued Availability of the Existing Top: The current Grade Six top will still be acceptable as part of the uniform and is now available at 50% off from PSW. There is no fixed phase-out date for the existing top; students may wear either style for the foreseeable future.

Design and Supplier: The new design was created by an Indigenous artist, and the company chosen to produce it adheres to guidelines from the Koorie Education Support Office (KESO). This ensures that they are Indigenous-friendly and that artists receive fair compensation for their work.

In addition, our School Council has used this opportunity to review and update our uniform policy. We’ve clarified and adjusted some areas, mainly around enforcement, to ensure a clear and fair process for teachers, students, and parents. We will share the revised policy shortly.

Thank you to everyone involved in this exciting project. We’re thrilled to see our students’ voices reflected in this new design, and we look forward to seeing our Grade Six students proudly wearing their unique, meaningful tops next year. 

Mel Schmidt

School Council President