Dear Members of the Galen Community,
The Galen Catholic College uniform committee was set up last year by the Galen School Board to review the current school uniform and make recommendations to the Board on how to improve it. The committee is made up of parents, school leaders and uniform shop representatives. The committee has met on a number of occasions over the past 9 months and has developed a proposed school uniform which:
- Reduces the current variations making it easier for students to wear and for the school to enforce
- Is modern and comfortable
- Is distinctive from other schools in Wangaratta
- Is suitably professional to prepare students for the expectation of dress codes which apply in the workforce and broader community
- Positively reflects Galen in the broader community
It is the expectation of Galen Catholic College that parents and students who agree to enrol also accept the uniform, and that the uniform will be worn without variation.
For the attached uniform options (download via the links above), we seek your feedback on the following:
Boys Summer Uniform:
- Blue pin striped shirt and blue shorts; or
- Plain sky blue shirt and blue shorts;
Boys Winter uniform:
- Long sleeved blue pin striped shirt and blue pants; or
- Long sleeved plain sky blue shirt and blue pants;
- Plain navy blue tie; or
- Plain maroon tie; or
- Existing Champagnat striped tie
- A maroon blazer must also be worn to and from school in Terms 2 and 3.
Girls Summer Uniform:
- Blue pin striped shirt and blue shorts, or dress; or
- Plain sky blue shirt and blue shorts, or dress.
Girls Winter Uniform:
- Blue pin striped shirt and blue trousers or blue pin striped shirt and tartan skirt; or
- Plain sky blue shirt and blue trousers or plain sky blue shirt and tartan skirt.
- Plain navy blue tie; or
- Plain maroon tie; or
- Existing Champagnat striped tie
- A maroon blazer must also be worn to and from school in Terms 2 and 3.
Boys and Girls Sport Uniform
- White sport shirt is to be replaced with the current blue polo shirt and girl’s leggings will no longer be available. Sport shorts and pants will remain the same.
School Bag
- An optional Galen school bag will be available for purchase.
Below are responses to some potential Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: What is the timeline of the uniform change, phase-in times? Blazers, shirts, ties?
A: Compulsory uniform change for Yr 7’s in 2018 and optional for the rest of the school. 2019 all Yr 7 and Yr 8 to be compulsory and optional for the rest of the school. 2020 the whole school to be in the new uniform.
Q: When and what item needs to be worn during the year? e.g Blazers, Short Sleeve shirts, Long Sleeve shirts?
A: Pants and skirts to be worn during Terms 2 & 3, dress and shorts to be worn during Terms 1 & 4, blazers to be worn to and from school during Term 2 & 3, to formal occasions and assemblies etc. Ties are also to be worn with the shirt and blazer.
Q: Do shirts need to be ironed, or require any special care?
A: There is no special care for washing, they are a poly/cotton base shirt, which helps with creasing, meaning if they are hung dry, ironing is not always required
Q: Do I need to dry clean the blazer? How often and how much?
A: Local dry cleaners charge $9.50 to dry clean a school blazer. The recommendation would be to dry clean the blazer twice a year. Probably at the end of Term 2 and Term 3 as they are the wet terms and when they’ll be worn most.
Q: What is the price and resale of the school blazer?
A: The cost will be $125.00, and as long as they are looked after, the second hand price could be around half the buy price after a year or so.
Q: Can I still wear my Galen spray jacket?
A: Yes, the Galen spray jacket is still an option and can be worn for PE and during sport activities at school (eg. Downball at lunchtime)
Q: What if I can’t afford the new uniform options?
A: Payment options will be available to assist in the affordability of the new uniform.
Q: Can I wear parts of the new uniform with my old uniform?
A: If the old parts of the uniform are still uniform items then, yes that is fine. However, if items have been deleted or changed then no eg. Blue polo shirt, to become sport shirt, cannot be worn with navy trousers, only to be worn during sport.
Q: Do I have to wear a tie all the time?
A: No, the tie should be worn during Terms 2 & 3 only.
Q: Can I still wear my VET (Sport & Rec or Building & Construction) polo shirt?
A: Yes, however VET polo’s should only be worn during VET practical classes and not to and from school.
The Galen Catholic College Uniform Committee is calling for feedback in regards to the proposed uniform changes.
Please click on the following link to a survey;
https://goo.gl/forms/BnjNuLXmZA9onL6v2
This survey will be available for students, parents and staff to complete until 9am Monday 14th August. The proposed changes to the school uniform will be on display in the main office for your perusal.
Kind regards,
Galen Catholic College Uniform Committee