1
Table of Contents General Uniform Review & Feedback
3
Full List of Uniform Requirements
3
Purpose of Recent Uniform Review
3
Community Survey Highlights
3
Junior Campus Uniform FAQ
4
Hoodie Guidelines for 2026-2027 Academic Year
4
Phys. Ed Uniform Update
4
Senior Campus Uniform FAQ / Updates
5
Hoodie Guidelines and Expectations
5
Campus Clothing & Branding Standards
5
Phasing Out Previous Branding and Cresting
6
Impact the Used Uniform Program
6
Excess stock of old brands
7
The Next Steps
7
2
Uniform Review FAQ (2026-2027 Academic Year) Following our recent uniform review, we have compiled the most frequently asked questions and key updates for the upcoming school year. Thank you to all parents, students, faculty, and staff who participated in this consultative process. The Uniform is an important part of the KCS experience. Wearing the uniform respectfully reflects leadership of the self, and sets up our students to engage with and add to our community of respect, manners, and trying your best, as well as to a productive learning and teaching environment. Additionally, uniforms play a positive role in schools. They help build community and school pride, they remove social pressures and other complications around daily clothing choices, and they allow our students to confidently represent themselves and the school when engaged with external experts and in offsite activities.
General Uniform Review & Feedback (1) Where can I find the full list of uniform requirements? The Division breakdown of uniform items needed for Daily Wear, Formal Wear, and Phys. Ed, along with other important dress code reminders, can be found in the respective Junior Campus or Senior Campus Family Handbook. (2) What was the purpose of the recent uniform review? The review was a consultative process designed to gather input from parents, students, faculty, and staff via surveys. Uniforms represent a unique intersection of individuality and community, of expression and belonging, and so, while all suggestions were considered as part of the wider review, participation did not guarantee that specific changes would be adopted. Some feedback will be addressed for the upcoming school year, while other ideas will require more time for consideration. (3) What did the survey tell us the community appreciated about the uniform? Three major themes emerged as positive aspects of the uniform: ● Simplification of Routines: The uniform eliminates "decision fatigue." Parents appreciate easier mornings, students enjoy less daily outfit stress, and faculty value the professional environment that does not interfere with educational processes. ● Equality and Community: The uniform fosters a sense of belonging and pride. Parents and students both appreciate how a uniform is benign to trends and fashion statements, and therefore reduces social competition or pressure based on brand names and trends. ● Visual Identity: Navy blue, the tartan, and the school logo are universally viewed as professional and polished, and set the right tone on each campus.
3
(4) What did the survey identify as challenges to the uniform? Participants highlighted three primary areas of difficulty: ● Material, Quality, and Comfort: Concerns were raised regarding the quality of materials purchased through our current provider. ○ We are actively exploring this with our current and other providers, and will provide an update in the Fall ● Wearing the Uniform and Personal Appearance: There is a general consensus that the current way uniforms are worn looks "messy" and does not reflect respect for KCS and our brand. ○ We are working to improve clarity with our families and students on the expectations of the uniform, and we will be focusing our attention on ensuring the uniform is worn properly throughout the year. We expect that you will see a difference in the diligence of how our students are wearing the uniform. ● Pants for Youngest Students: Clasps and buttons on pants are difficult for our youngest students to manipulate independently. ○ This will be a part of our exploration with our current and other providers.
Junior Campus Uniform FAQ (1) Why change the Hoodie guidelines? This is in response to the visual aesthetic of wearing the uniform identified in the survey results. Hoodies are deemed to be appropriate for more athletic endeavours, whereas the changes highlighted below are meant to discern a uniform appropriate for teaching and learning (2) What are the hoodie guidelines for Junior Campus students in the 2026-2027 academic year? Hoodies can only be worn with the Phys. Ed. uniform. On non-Phys. Ed. days, students are expected to wear the navy or white polo, or white button-up shirt and tie. If additional warmth is needed over the polo, students may wear the KCS embroidered V-neck sweater or the full zip KCS embroidered sweat top, or their blazer. (3) What are the hoodie guidelines for our JK - Gr. 3 students who do not change for Phys. Ed? As hoodies can only be worn with the Phys. Ed. uniform, students in JK - Gr. 3 will be expected to wear their navy or white polo (long or short-sleeved). If they want additional warmth, they may wear the KCS embroidered V-neck sweater or the full zip KCS embroidered sweat top. On days when JK - Gr. 3 students wear the PE uniform (for example, Norval, Terry Fox Run, Sports Day), they may wear a KCS branded hoodie over their PE/House shirt if desired.
4
(4) When do students in Gr. 4 - 8 wear their Phys. Ed uniforms? In Grades 4 and 5, students wear their Phys. Ed uniform for the full day when they have Phys. Ed. They are not required to change into their Daily Wear uniform before or after Phys. Ed. class. Therefore, they may wear a hoodie for the full day when they have Phys. Ed. In Grades 6 - 8, if the student has Phys. Ed. in the morning, they come to school in their Phys. Ed. clothing and then change into their Daily Wear uniform at the end of their Phys. Ed. class. If a student has Phys. Ed. in the afternoon, they come to school in their Daily Wear uniform, and then change into their Phys. Ed. uniform at the beginning of their Phys. Ed. class. They then remain in their Phys. Ed uniform for the rest of the school day. Students may only wear a hoodie during the portion of the day when they are wearing their Phys. Ed. uniform. (5) Why can students at the Senior Campus wear the hoodie regardless of whether it is with Phys. Ed. wear or not? The Sr. School Uniform is distinctive to the programming and is a differentiator between our Junior and Senior Campus uniform expectations. As you can appreciate, there are certain “rites of passage” that happen as students progress through school and that differentiate our Kindergarten, Junior, and Senior students. Just like our Junior Campus students do not wear ties until Grade 4, and the tie differs between the Junior and Senior Campuses.
Senior Campus Uniform FAQ/Updates (1) What are the expectations regarding hoodies for Senior Campus students? Students in the Sr. School can wear their hoodie as part of the Daily Wear uniform. They must wear it properly, and it must be in good condition. The Hoodie is not considered a ‘uniform top’, therefore, Senior Campus students can only wear them over other uniform tops and Hoodies are not restricted to Phys. Ed. wear. (2) Do I have to buy a new Hoodie to align with the new guidelines? No, you do not. Hoodies for Senior Campus students will feature an all-white logo. However, students who currently own a hoodie with a colored logo are permitted to continue wearing them.
5
(3) Why can students at the Senior Campus wear the hoodie regardless of whether it is with Phys. Ed. wear or not? The Sr. School Uniform is distinctive to the programming and is a differentiator between our Junior and Senior Campus uniform expectations. As you can appreciate, there are certain “rites of passage” that happen as students progress through school and that differentiate our Kindergarten, Junior, and Senior students. Just like our Junior Campus students do not wear ties until Grade 4, and the tie differs between the Junior and Senior Campuses. (4) Do uniform tops at the Senior Campus need to be school-branded? Yes. All tops (including polo shirts, rugby shirts, hoodies, sweaters, and full or ¼ zip sweat tops) must be KCS-branded. Students may wear any white Oxford button-down shirt as part of their uniform (5) What type of grey pants are allowed for Senior Campus students? As outlined in the Senior School Family Handbook, grey pants must be dress pants. Grey athletic bottoms, any type or cut of denim, or tightly tapered pants are not appropriate and are prohibited as part of the uniform.
Phasing out previous branding and cresting When KCS rebranded in 2022, we grandfathered older uniform logos to help families transition. Today, there are still legacy brands in circulation. To bring our community together under one unified look, we are phasing out these legacy brands. Starting in the 2028-2029 academic year, only our current brand will be worn on campus. With a two-year runway ahead, we are excited to work together toward a consistent, compelling school identity that we can all be proud of. (1) How does this phased approach impact the Used Uniform Program? We are working diligently with the Parent Network Used Uniform Program (UUP) team to stock newly branded items, and thank you in advance as we work to ensure the UUP continues to serve all our needs. During this two-year transition, legacy branded uniforms are still acceptable. They are a cost-effective option for fast-growing, younger students, and we will have plenty of this stock available at the upcoming UUP sales.
6
(2) What will we do with the excess stock of old brands so that they do not end up in the landfill? The PN Used Uniform Team has a textile recycler who will take our previously branded items and recycle them for other material use. We will not be donating the items to local charities as we do not want our brand misrepresented in the wider community.
Next Steps (1) How is the school addressing the remaining uniform challenges? We are continuing to actively address the challenges brought forward during the review through research and by exploring different options. You can expect an update in the late Fall.
7