Principal's Page
Angela Dawson
School Uniform: The School Expectations
Each morning I stand at the gate and see a growing number of students arriving out of uniform, whether that's hair down, black instead of navy, or something else. I want to ask for your help getting every student back into correct uniform each day to reinforce the school expectation that school uniform is to be worn correctly at all times.
A school uniform is about more than clothing. It's a visible sign of belonging to Valkstone Primary School, connecting every student to the history and community of our school and to each other. Wearing it well -- and with pride -- is one small way students show respect for themselves, for their peers and for our school.
Our school colours
Navy blue and yellow are Valkstone's colours. Black has never been a part of our school uniform and this is reinforced regularly with students in classrooms, on yard duty and at assemblies.
Cold weather layers
If your child needs extra warmth, a thermal under the polo is fine, as long as it's navy blue or yellow.
A vest or jacket for extra warmth can be any colour, as this sits on top of school uniform rather than being part of it. It needs to go over full uniform, including the uniform jumper, windcheater or hoodie, not instead of it. Please do not send your child with a jacket or vest over the top of just their polo, as there are uniform items that should be worn in this case.
Uniform requirements
Plain navy pants, shorts, tracksuits and skorts only.
Yellow Valkstone PS polo shirts and jumpers/windcheaters/Y6 hoodie.
No branded or logo items (e.g. Nike, Adidas) worn as part of school uniform.
Shoulder-length or longer hair must be tied back (for safety and to help prevent the spread of head lice). This applies to boys and girls.
Only small stud earrings, sleepers and watches are permitted. No other decorative jewelry is allowed, except a small cultural or religious necklace.
This is a school-wide expectation
Correct uniform has been expected at Valkstone since day one, for every student. When an issue comes up, we expect that it's corrected quickly. Oftentimes, to support this, we have provided loan of a uniform piece to a student for the day to ensure they are in correct uniform.
If wearing incorrect uniform becomes an ongoing pattern rather than a one-off, a teacher may reach out to the family to talk it through, and there may also be a consequence at school, handled on a case-by-case basis. Treating this consistently keeps things fair for everyone, and a quick check each morning is the easiest way to avoid it altogether.
If cost is a barrier
If purchasing uniform items is putting pressure on your family, please reach out. Cost should never stand in the way of a child being in correct uniform. We run regular second-hand uniform sales (dates in the newsletter), our office can help source specific pieces from our second hand uniform, and we also have a small hardship fund available. You can also ask about eligibility for State Schools' Relief. Contact the office. These conversations are always handled sensitively.