Uniform

Second hand uniform shop

The Girton Grammar School second-hand uniform shop has been established in Girton House in response to parent feedback requesting this service.  We hope that this will meet the needs of parents who would like the option to purchase some second-hand uniform items.

Opening hours are currently Fridays from 8.15am-8.45am and 3.00pm-4.00pm. Mrs Kate Mahony (Georgia 4 Frew & Sophie 2 Frew) is the facilitator of this service.

As some garments are discontinued lines, and for any goods that are not in wearable condition, Kate will coordinate donations to animal shelters, or overseas where appropriate (such as the unbranded white shirts that went to Thailand last year).  Any money raised through second hand uniform sales will be donated to the GPF.

DONATION OF GOODS

• The donation points are Junior School Reception and Morey Reception.
• To meet OH&S standards, all items of clothing need to be washed or dry cleaned (eg. blazers, skirts, pinafores) before they are submitted – this is a condition of acceptance.
• Providing they are clean, clothing in any condition can be donated to the second-hand uniform shop.
• Garments will be sorted into those which are saleable and those which are not.
• As well as providing a service to families by selling functional garments, the second-hand uniform shop will facilitate the disposal of garments which are not fit to wear by re-distributing or re-purposing them, thereby contributing to a reduction in waste.

SELLING OF GOODS

• Clothing may be donated to the second-hand uniform shop, or the shop may sell on behalf of parents for a 20% commission.
• White school shirts will only be accepted as donations.
• Money raised from the sale of second-hand goods will be donated to the Girton Parents’ and Friends’ Association.
• The current fundraising priority for the GPFA is the refurbishment of the rear Junior School playground.

BUYING OF GOODS

• With the large turnover of clothing, some items and sizes may not always be available.
• The second-hand uniform shop cannot take orders for second-hand clothing.
• The second-hand uniform shop will operate on a cash only basis.
• It is not possible to charge second-hand uniform purchases to your school account.

School Hats

All students must wear a uniform hat or cap when out in the open during recess, lunch time and during the school day in Terms 1 and 4.  The Girton “bucket” hat, the broadbrimmed hat or the straw “Anna” Tuscan hat may be worn to fulfil this requirement.  The Girton sports cap is also available and may be worn at parents’ discretion. A School hat or cap is required for all outdoor Physical Education lessons.

Caps, bucket hats and Tuscan (straw) hats may be purchased at Bolton's Office National or, if a student forgets their hat, bucket hats and caps can be purchased via the Junior and Senior School receptions, with parental consent. Broadbrimmed hats are given to all prep students on their first day of school. Broadbrimmed hats may also be purchased from Junior School Reception.

The wearing of suitable SPF suncreeens on exposed areas of skin is highly recommended. Sunglasses may be worn.

Summer dress dye issue

The new style summer dress has presented with intermittent issues of the red dye running into the white collar.  It has not affected every dress.  As of today’s date (24/10/18), Bolton’s only have the faulty dresses in stock.

Bolton’s have 400 summer dresses expected on the next shipment (at the end of October) and another 200 in January 2019.  Before these dresses go on general sale, the uniform committee and some volunteer parents will conduct a washing trial and provide feedback to the uniform committee.  When the uniform committee is satisfied that the dye issue is resolved, we will advise families, in this newsletter, that they are available for sale in Bolton’s.

• If you own a faulty dress, bring it back to Bolton’s and it will be replaced.
• If your child has grown since the original dress was purchased, your replacement dress will be fitted to your child.
• If you need to purchase a summer dress and the dye runs, it will be replaced when the new stock comes into the store.

Uniform lists and supplier details

The school’s uniform supplier is Bolton’s Office National.  Most uniform garments are displayed on their website.

Bolton’s encourages parents to have garments fitted and place an order well ahead of the start of each term.

Here is the uniform list: 

School Bags

The plain black Spartan “Smart pak” back pack, which has been the Girton school bag for many years, has been discontinued by the manufacturer.

The new style bag is a Spartan Airopak. It is very similar in function and size.

• Contoured adjustable shoulder straps
• Ergonomic design which, when worn correctly, provides comfort and support to the lumbar area
• Side compression straps to reduce sag
• Padded back panel
• Detachable waist belt
• Mesh drink bottle holder
• Double zip compartments
• Internal laptop compartment
• Lifetime warranty*  (*the duration of the student’s school lifetime)

The new style backpack will be available from Bolton’s towards the end of the 2018 school year.  We will advise parents via this forum when the bags are in stock.

PE Uniform

WARM SPORTS JUMPER

As a result of parent feedback an optional zip sports jumper has been introduced to the PE uniform.  The top is intended to provide an additional layer on top of existing sport tops. Layering is in line with current textile industry recommendations and provides flexibility for individual body thermostats.

Whereas the old-style sports uniform had only two layers – House t-shirt and fleece, the new sports uniform has 4 layers – House t-shirt, training top, sports jumper (new) and then the jacket, which comes with or without sleeves.  The full range of PE tops can be seen below.

HOUSE TOP NECK OPENING

Several parents have advised that their child has difficulty in getting the new House top over their head.  OnTrackSportswear has taken this feedback on board and adjusted the top slightly.  A fabric panel, showing the change is on display in the second hand uniform shop.

JUNIOR SCHOOL WEARING OF PE UNIFORM

Junior School students may wear their PE uniform ALL DAY, including to and from school, on any day that they have a PE class or school athletics events (athletics, cross country). This does not apply to co-curricular sports, and exceptions (such as school photo day and excursions) may apply.

• For the old-style PE uniform this means the tracksuit pants and fleece in winter; the house top and shorts in summer.
• For the new PE uniform this means the tracksuit and soft-shell jacket (outermost garment) in winter; the house top and shorts/skort in summer. This rule will continue beyond the uniform  sunset period.

JUNIOR SCHOOL TRACKSUIT PANTS

We have followed up our sports uniform supplier in relation to concerns regarding a batch of junior school tracksuit pants that were manufactured without “double knees”.  The manufacturer has acknowledged these concerns and has supplied a quantity of fabric free of charge, so that the affected garments can be retrofitted with the knee patches. If you would like to obtain a length of this fabric to patch your child’s tracksuit pants, it can be obtained for free, from the second-hand uniform shop.

All future batches of the junior school tracksuit pants in Bolton’s will have the double knee design.

New style winter skirt and pinafore

NEW STYLE PINAFORES AND SKIRTS (advice about fitting)

1. When purchasing skirts and pinafores at Bolton’s, parents are advised to ensure there is adequate room for growth through the hip area.  The waistband is adjustable, but the hip width is not.
2. The skirts and pinafores are designed to be adjusted at the waist.  There is a piece of elastic fed through a channel at the back of the waistband. It has button holes at either end, and there are 1 or 2 buttons (depending on the size of the garment), which can be moved in either direction if you need to gather the waistband in or let it out for a better fit around the waist.

JUNIOR SCHOOL WINTER SKIRT

As a result of parent feedback, the rule relating to which year level Junior School students may move from winter pinafore to winter skirt is relaxed.  Junior School students may change from pinafore to skirt whenever it is deemed practical for that child/family. Parents and students can make their own mind up about when it is appropriate to change from the pinafore to the skirt.

Transitioning to the new school uniform

The sunset period for the old style school uniform (both academic and sports uniforms) comes to a conclusion at the end of 2019.

UNWANTED “OLD STYLE” GARMENTS

All old-style garments can be deposited at Junior or Senior school reception. A parent (Kate Mahony) has offered to arrange re-purposing of these garments as a service to families, and in an effort to reduce waste.

BURGUNDY SCHOOL JUMPERS

Students do not need to upgrade their school jumper at the conclusion of the sunset period if they own a serviceable school jumper with the old style, centrally stitched V-neck. The difference between the old and new styles is almost imperceptible.

NEW STYLE PINAFORES AND SKIRTS (advice about fitting)

1. When purchasing skirts and pinafores at Bolton’s, parents are advised to ensure there is adequate room for growth through the hip area.  The waistband is adjustable, but the hip width is not.
2. The skirts and pinafores are designed to be adjusted at the waist.  There is a piece of elastic fed through a channel at the back of the waistband. It has button holes at either end, and there are 1 or 2 buttons (depending on the size of the garment), which can be moved in either direction if you need to gather the waistband in or let it out for a better fit around the waist.

Other useful information

WINTER UNIFORM START DATE IN TERM 2

At the commencement of Term 2, students may choose between their summer and winter uniform, according to the weather conditions. The official date for the commencement of exclusively wearing the winter uniform will be Foundation Day (usually the first Friday in May).

Moving the other way, from winter back to summer uniform, families are reminded that the “full” school uniform (the winter uniform) is appropriate all year.  This means that students may elect to wear it in Terms 1 and 4, at their discretion.