Braden River adopts dress code

RIVER CLUB — Back-to-school shopping for families of children attending Braden River Elementary will easier this year.

When school starts Aug. 22, children at Braden River will be wearing school uniforms for the first time.

The school adopted the new policy after parents voted in favor of the idea last school year. Children will be required to wear polo or golf-style shirts in navy blue, light blue, white or red and khaki, navy blue or black bottoms. Children also will have the option of wearing a dry-fit style Braden River uniform shirt. (See related sidebar for policy details.)

“Our policy is basically the same as Willis’ or others, except we have a dry-fit T-shirt option children can wear any day of the week,” Braden River’s Parent-Teacher Organization President Alison denBoggende said. “Anything that would fit in our uniform policy is widely available. (Parents) don’t have to buy (the uniforms) from the school.”

DenBoggende said parents both for and against uniforms served on the committee that developed the new policy. The policy, she said, provides clothing options for children who are uncomfortable wearing collars as well as for children of different body types.

“I think we walked away with a win-win,” she said. “I expect by this time next year, people will say this was such a great thing.”

Parent Liz Labriola, who has two boys attending Braden River this year and has friends who were both for and against uniforms, said she felt the new policy was fair and would benefit students.

“I think it sets the precedent for a better environment,” she said. “They aren’t being compared, have or have not. You want to make sure everybody’s concentrating on what they need to be concentrating on. I think it’s better for the school overall.”

Braden River’s new uniform policy also establishes every Friday as a School Spirit Day. At that time, students can wear any Braden River school T-shirt, as well as jeans or denim.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].

UNIFORM POLICY
SHIRTS: Solid polo/golf style shirt with or without the BRE logo in navy blue, light blue, white or red, or a BRE uniform T-shirt in navy blue or red.
BOTTOMS: Pants, shorts, skirts, skorts, jumpers or Capri pants in black, khaki or navy. Shorts, skirts, skorts and jumpers must be two-thirds length from the waist to the knee. No blue jeans or denim, except on Fridays.
OTHER INFO: Any items worn under uniform clothes must be solid appropriate uniform colors for the item under which they are worn. Oversized, baggie, extremely tight or ill-fitting clothing is not allowed. Any logos on clothing other than the official BRE logo must be less than one-and-one-half inches in diameter.

UNIFORM FAIRS
Willis Elementary
The Willis Elementary PTO will host a school uniform fair from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Aug. 12, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Aug. 13, at the school, 14705 The Masters Ave. School uniform pants, capris, shirts, shorts and scooters will be available to try on and purchase, along with Willis backpacks and school supply kits.

Braden River Elementary
The Braden River Elementary PTO will host a school uniform fair from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Aug. 12, and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Aug. 13, at the school, 6125 River Club Blvd. School uniform pants, capris, shirts, shorts and scooters will be available to try on and purchase.

NEXT WEEK
The East County Observer will publish its annual Back-to-School Guide in the Aug. 11 edition.