UNIFORM & APPEARANCE

Paraparaumu College is a uniform school. Every student is expected to wear the correct full school uniform. Our uniform is inclusive, there are no defined items by gender, and students may wear any combination of our approved uniform items.  

Please note that regulation uniforms are only available from the College Uniform Shop and items from other retailers are non-regulation and are not approved by the Board for students who attend the College.

Regulation items include:

• plain black-navy pleated skirt (skirt to be knee length) 

• plain black-navy lavalava (self purchase as not currently sold in the uniform shop)

• plain black tights may be worn with the skirt as an alternative to black-navy socks with green stripe 

• plain black-navy wool/poly blend trousers (straight leg) or shorts 

• College silver/grey overshirt (long or short-sleeved with embroidered College logo) 

• College black-navy knee length socks with green stripe or black-navy ankle socks with green stripe (not trainer liners) 

• official school jersey

• College tie (optional) 

• white, black or navy blue short-sleeved T-shirt (can be worn under shirt)

  • undergarments must not be visible below the shirt

Shoes 

• plain black lace up or slip on shoes that are on, or below, the ankle

  • no boots, crocs, slides, scuffs, slipper type, high tops, or platform/high heels

• black sandals during Terms 1 and 4 only (optional) 

  • no crocs and jandals

NB: Students involved in workshop technology/ science/ food and nutrition classes must have shoes that cover the whole foot during practical lessons. 

Physical Education

• Students are to wear their house coloured PE tops and blue or black shorts, leggings or tracksuit pants

Jacket 

• Soft-shell College jacket with College logo or plain black jacket or puffer vest

Hats, caps and scarves

• Plain navy or black hat or cap
  • No other types of hats or caps are to be worn
• School scarf

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Parents and caregivers are asked to ensure that uniforms and footwear are in good order at the start of each term; and that students leave home each day in the correct uniform. Please speak with the year-level deans if you require assistance.

If students don’t have the correct uniform on the day, they must provide the deans a note from a parent/caregiver explaining the reason.  Spare uniform will be loaned for the day unless the reason is medical, and then they will be issued a uniform pass.

We expect that students wear approved items of uniform well and with pride. They should look good, feel good and be a visible part of our community.

Correct uniform must be worn to and from college, and on all college occasions, unless a uniform exemption pass has been granted 

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This policy acknowledges that the clothes people choose to wear are an expression of their own identity.  Students, however, are expected to dress in a manner suitable for an educational environment. Furthermore, we look to our Year 13 students as role models who set the tone for the younger students.

Guidelines

• A suitable standard of dress is one that is smart but not necessarily formal

• Clothing should be clean and in good condition (not ripped or torn)

• Tops must be long enough to cover the top of shorts/pants/skirts

• Low-riding shorts, pants, skirts and low-cut tops are not acceptable (underwear should not be visible)

• Bare feet are unacceptable.  Shoes which enclose the feet must be worn in workshops, laboratories and practical rooms.

• Clothing should not include anything related to alcohol, drugs or have offensive images or text

Please note: Where the college management considers dress to be unsuitable, they reserve the right to send students home to change.

When wearing the College blazer the following must be worn:

• College plain black-navy pleated skirt (skirt to be knee length), or

• plain black-navy lavalava, or 

• College plain black-navy wool/poly blend trousers 

• white shirt

• College tie 

• College black-navy knee-length socks with green stripe, or black-navy ankle socks with green stripe (not trainer liners) 

• plain black tights may be worn with the skirt as an alternative to black-navy socks with green stripe 

• plain black lace-up or slip-on shoes that are on or below the ankle

• Earrings: Students may wear earrings that are studs or small sleepers. Students may have more than one ear piercing. Looped earrings or dangling earrings that could get caught or pose a health and safety risk for students are not permitted. 

• Necklaces: Students may wear a necklace or taonga. They should not be dangling outside their clothing during activities or classes where they can get caught and cause a health and safety hazard.

• Rings: Rings may be worn except in situations where they may be a health and safety risk

• Bracelets: Bracelets may be worn except in situations where they may be a health and safety risk

• Facial piercings: Students are able to have a single nose piercing (eg: side of nose or septum). No other facial piercings including lips, eyebrows, nose (other than described above). 

• Facial hair: It is up to families to determine what is right for them around student facial hair. We expect any facial hair to be tidily groomed. Students representing the school in a formal capacity may be asked to be clean shaven for particular events. 

• Make up: Students can wear natural, discrete make up 

• Nail polish: Allowed, but nails must be suitable lengths for safety at school and working effectively (e.g. nail length must ensure safety in PE, or being able to use a keyboard and type effectively in classes). 

• Hair: It is up to families and students to determine what is right for them when it comes to hair colour.  Extreme hairstyles (such as razored skinheads) are not permitted.