Uniform Policy
Toolooa State High School is a “uniform school” because the Parents’ and Citizens’ Association, consulting with the parents of this school, decided at the outset to support the wearing of school uniforms. The Minister for Education has stated that the advantages of wearing school uniforms include, “developing a sense of belonging to a group, pride in membership of that group and identification of students travelling to and from school”. He also stated that “where uniforms are supported by the majority of parents, he would expect all parents to ensure their children wear the school uniform.” This is our expectation and we require all parents to support the accepted standard of dress as detailed below, by ensuring that their students wear the correct and appropriate Toolooa High School uniform at all times.
Uniforms - General
The school uniform is advocated by the school and the P & C Association for the following reasons:
a. It gives all students a sense of personal pride in their own appearance.
b. It encourages identification with the school and promotes school spirit.
c. Distractions caused by variations of dress and grooming are avoided.
d. Visitors to the school are easily identified.
FOOTWEAR: Education Department instructions on safety procedures to be adopted by schools clearly state that students’ footwear must provide adequate protection which means footwear must cover the entire foot. Footwear such as thongs, open-heeled sandals and openwork shoes shall not be worn by the students. This regulation will be enforced. Students who do not comply will be withdrawn from classes as necessary and appropriate. More stringent rules apply in Workshop/Laboratory areas and during physical activities.
Notes On General Appearance Of Students
- Hair must be neat and clean. In the interest of safety and good health, students will be required to tie long hair back when working in some curriculum areas.
- Safety, security and other reasons demand that only plain sleepers and studs may be worn for pierced body parts. Neck chains or religious medals must be worn against the skin out of sight.
Watches may be worn.
The Everyday School Uniform Is As Follows:
| COLOURS | Maroon, Black and Grey.
|
| POLO SHIRT (BOYS AND GIRLS) | These are available at the School Uniform Shop |
| SHORTS (BOYS AND GIRLS) | Plain black shorts with logo available at the uniform shop
|
| SKIRT (GIRLS) | Plain black skirt with logo available at the uniform shop |
| SHOES (BOYS AND GIRLS) | Closed in shoes
|
Winter Uniform (Boys and Girls)
Slacks and Tracksuit Pants
Plain black slacks or tracksuit pants of fade resistant material may be worn in winter.
Jeans or jeggings (no matter what the colour) are not to be worn at any time.
Pullover and Jacket
A school jacket is available for purchase through the office. Alternatively, a plain black pullover or zip-up jacket may be worn in winter. The Capricornia representative or Queensland sporting jackets (Obtained through school sporting teams), are also acceptable.
Girls are allowed to wear plain black stockings under a skirt during winter. The wearing of tights at school is not acceptable even under a skirt or shorts.
Headwear
Baseball/bucket hat styles are acceptable. Students must have a hat on if out in the sun. No hat – no play. Dispensers of sunscreen are available at the office and HPE staffroom if sunscreen is needed.
Hats showing bad taste (language/signs) are not acceptable.
Uniform - Sun Safety
In the interests of sun safety, students must wear a hat to play on the oval or hard courts. Sunscreen is provided for outdoor activities and can be obtained from the office and the HPE staffroom. Shelter in the form of pergolas, shades, trees, and the multi-purpose shelter are supplied around the school.
Where it is possible, outdoor lessons are scheduled for the cooler parts of the day
Uniform Infringement Procedures
If a student is unable to follow the above requirements, then he/she must present a signed note from a caregiver explaining the reason for being out of uniform on each occasion. The form or class teacher will then issue a uniform pass for that day. For repeated uniform breaches that are explained with a note, administration will be informed and a decision in consultation with caregivers will be made.
For students who cannot supply their form teacher with a note explaining the reason for being out of uniform, a detention at first break on that day will be issued. For those students who arrive late to school, a compulsory meeting with a member of administration will be held before they go to class.
In this time, uniform infringements and reasons for being late will be addressed. Uniform detentions occur in the allocated area and require students to report with their uniform infringement notice to the staff member on duty. Failure to attend uniform detention will result in referral to year coordinator and possibly administration.
Formal Uniform
The Formal Uniform of the school is distinctive and can be worn by any student irrespective of their year level as an alternative to their everyday uniform. The Formal Uniform of Toolooa State High School is as follows:
- Maroon Toolooa State High School buttoned shirt/blouse available from our School Uniform shop.
- Approved Black trousers or shorts/skirt with logo available from our School Uniform shop.
- White socks/black stockings
- Black shoes (any sort of black shoe). Footwear must cover the entire foot.
- Shoes such as ballet flats are not acceptable to wear at school.
- A school tie may be worn with the formal uniform but is optional.
Senior Jersey (Year 12, Term 2)
As this is an optional part of the uniform there is an expectation that students will wear the uniform IN FULL.
Jewellery/Cosmetics Policy
Heads of Department and teachers will do risk assessments for activities where they believe the wearing of jewellery, the amount and position of jewellery worn could increase the level of risk of injury to the person or others, for example manual arts, sewing or cooking, physical education, science labs, to an unacceptable level. If the risk level is assessed as unacceptable, students will be asked to remove the jewellery, or teachers may choose to supply masking tape to cover up or to hold the jewellery in a fixed position for the duration of the activity.
Mobile Phone Policy
All Queensland state school students will be putting their phones “away for the day” starting term 1 2024. The Queensland Government is committed to reducing the distraction of mobile phones and other devices to provide optimal learning environments for all state school students. Notifications on phones and wearable devices, such as smartwatches, must be switched off so that phone calls, messages and other notifications cannot be sent or received during school hours. The decision to implement a consistent, state-wide approach to putting mobile phones away during the school day is based on an independent review.
All students will put their phones into their bag/pocket/pencil case at 8:45am and their phones will stay away until they leave the school at the end of the day, this includes keeping phones away during break times.
“Away for the day” will support schools to maintain a strong focus on educational achievement, and student wellbeing and engagement, by:
- providing optimal learning and teaching environments
- encouraging increased face-to-face social interactions between students
- promoting the health and wellbeing of students through increased social interaction and physical activity
- reducing the potential for students to be exposed to the negative impacts of the digital world, resulting from unsafe or inappropriate technology use.
Students are permitted to bring mobile phones and wearable devices to school to:
- support safe travel to and from school
- make contact with parents, friends and part-time employers outside of the school day, and
- be contacted about their own child or person under their care.
Students can only check their phones before 8:45am and at the end of the school day. If a parent needs to contact their student throughout the day, they can contact the school office on 4971 4333.
Exemptions
The Department of Education consulted with key stakeholder groups to develop a list of exemptions for instances where students may require access to, and use of a mobile phone or wearable device during the school day. Students with an approved exemption must only use their mobile phone, wearable device for the intended, approved purpose. Principals (or their delegates) will consider requests for exemption received from students or parents on a case-by-case basis. These individual circumstances may include:
- the mobile phone or wearable device is used by the student to monitor or manage a medical condition
- the mobile phone or wearable device is used as an adjustment for a student with additional language or learning needs
- the student has extenuating circumstances that necessitates the need for access to their phone or wearable device. such as (but not limited to) students who contribute financially to their household, independent students and students who are primary carers for other household members.
You will find more information on our school’s Facebook page or at:
INFRINGEMENT PROCESS:
DEVICE SIGHTED
1st infringement:
device confiscated and handed
to office by student.
2nd infringement:
device confiscated and handed
to office by student.
Parent/carer contact (SMS)
3rd infringement:
device confiscated and handed
to office by student.
Parent/carer contact (phone)
Consequence: detention
Repeat infringements:
Deputy Principal meeting with parent/carer
Possible consequences as per Student Code of Conduct
Students who refuse to follow instructions given to them
by a staff member will be referred to a Deputy Principal:
Consequences as per the Student Code of Conduct
Students can refer to their Student Success Journals for more Rules & Policies.