Uniforms

An important component of our school environment and school culture is the school uniform. Mandatory school uniforms are considered a critical piece to achieving a positive and safe school climate and a sense of community for Patterson Park Public Charter School. Research shows that wearing uniforms affects students’ perceptions of school climate. Students are made to feel as if they are a part of a team by wearing a uniform. School climate is improved considerably because children perceive that they fit in because they look like everybody else and school pride is enhanced because a feeling of togetherness is created. In addition, the gap between the "haves" and the "have-nots" is narrowed due to uniforms. Student respect for teachers, administrators, and especially for each other is improved with the institution of a mandatory uniform dress code.

When parents enroll in Patterson Park Public Charter School, they sign a pledge indicating that they understand and support the uniform policy. Students are expected to comply with the school’s mandatory uniform policy by dressing appropriately for each school day. We ask that parents familiarize themselves with PPPCS uniform policy and enforce it daily with their children.

See Appendix 1: Uniforms for a detailed description of uniform requirements and ordering information.

Key Uniform Support Programs

PPPCS has put in place four key programs to ensure that uniforms are available, accessible and affordable to our families. All uniforms are to be FLYNN O’HARA brand uniforms in the school’s selected styles, colors and logos and may be purchased directly through FLYNN O’HARA or one of the PPPCS programs.

On-Site Fittings and Purchase of Uniforms

FLYNN O’HARA conducts one on-Site fitting and ordering opportunity in June. In addition to the on-site visit, families can purchase uniforms at any time on-line, by mail, or at the FLYNN O’HARA retail store in Towson, Maryland. On-site fitting days are organized by HOPPP.

Uniforms purchased on site will arrive by mail directly to the family’s home. FLYNN O’HARA does have a lay-away program available, and once the item is paid in full, the uniform will be shipped out to the house. On-site visiting days will be announced via the Tuesday folder and order forms will be available at the front office that indicate the dates that FLYNN O’HARA will be at the school.

Used Uniform Store

Patterson Park Public Charter School has a Used Uniform Store where previously worn uniforms are sold for significantly reduced prices. Used Uniform Store days will be announced in the Weekly Announcements and available at designated times throughout the year. The Used Uniform Store is managed and operated by HOPPP.

Prior to each Used Uniform Store, there will be a Uniform Collection Drive, where families can donate their gently used Flynn O'Hara uniforms. Families can choose to receive either a credit that can be used to purchase items at the Used Uniform Store or a receipt for tax deduction. The Used Uniform Store operates up to four times a year. Families will receive a $2.00 credit for Flynn O'Hara pants, shorts, sweat pants, knit shirts or a $5 voucher for jumpers, sweaters, skorts or skirts. Pants, shorts, polo shirts, PPPCS t-shirts, sweat pants, and sweatshirts are sold for $5.00; jumpers, skorts, skirts and sweaters for $10.00. All proceeds from the Used Uniform Store go toward measures supporting the uniform policy. Families can donate uniforms throughout the year and leave them in the front office in a tied bag with a Uniform Donation Form. In order to receive credit a receipt for tax donation families must complete the Uniform Donation Form.

Click here for a Uniform Donation Form!

Formulario de Intercambio de Uniformes

Uniform Exchange Guidelines:

Please drop off gently-used school uniform items either before or after the PPPCS HOPPP meetings (first Saturday of the Month) or on Mondays between the hours of 8 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. or 2:00-3:00 p.m. in the Family Resource Room (upstairs above the cafeteria)
Donated items must be new or gently used. They should be laundered, free of stains, having all buttons and no tears.
All items must be in compliance with the PPPCS School Uniform Policy.
Put all items in a plastic bag along with a completed "donation form". Tie the bag.
Give your bag(s) to a designated volunteer or school employee.
Keep a copy of the form for your records.
HOPPP will inventory the items collected and prepare credit vouchers or tax deductible receipts that can be used towards a purchase of school uniform items at designated Uniform Exchange days.
If you do not plan to shop at the exchange, thank you for your tax-deductible donation. .
The credit vouchers will have no actual cash value. HOPPP will not pay cash for unused vouchers or for any clothing donations.
HOPPP has no control over and cannot guarantee the availability of sizes or items. Everything is on a first-come, first-served basis.
If you have donated uniforms and filled out your donation form completely, including checking that you do want a credit voucher, your credit coupon will be held for you at the registration table during the hours of the exchange.

Discounted Pre-Order Store

Patterson Park Public Charter School has a uniform “pre-order store” that operates up to four times a year. New FLYNN O’HARA PPPCS knit polo shirts, oxfords, sweaters, gym shirts, gym pants and sweatshirts are available at a discounted price through the Discounted Pre-Order Uniform Store. The Pre-Order forms are available at the front office, the Family Resource Room and online at the HOPPP and PPPCS websites. Selected new items are available at the store at approximately 20% less than the FLYNN O’HARA retail price. Items that are sold through the Discounted Pre-Order store include: light blue uniform knit polo and oxford shirts, PPPCS gym pants, PPPCS gym shirts, PPPCS Sweatshirts and PPPCS girls and boys ties. Families may pre-order/pre-pay and will receive a call to pick up their items at the school’s front desk. Forms are available at the preceding HOPPP meeting and in the Family Resource Room. All proceeds from the uniform store go toward measures supporting the uniform policy. The Uniform Store is managed and operated by HOPPP.

Financial Aid

More information about financial aid

Financial Aid Form

Formulario de Asistencia Financiera de Uniformes

Patterson Park Public Charter School will make every effort to provide assistance to those that need help with purchasing uniforms. PPPCS has taken a multi-pronged approached to make uniforms affordable to families. PPPCS offers significantly discounted used uniforms through the uniform exchange and discounted selected new uniform pieces through the Uniform Store.

Families that qualify for financial aid will receive a $5.00 Flynn O’Hara gift card for pants and $10 Flynn O’Hara gift card for jumpers or skirts, with a maximum of two (2) pairs of pants per year per child and one (1) jumper per child per year. The gift cards can be used at the On-Site Fitting Days, the Uniform Store, and the FLYNN O’HARA retail Store. Families need to apply for financial aid on a yearly basis and complete an application. Uniform Financial Aid applications are available in the Family Resource Room and at the front office. Applicants are not guaranteed financial aid, and availability of funds will be dependent on available funds and number of applicants.

Eligibility Criteria: Eligibility for financial aid will be determined by participation in the Free and Reduced Meals Program. Families that qualify for and are receiving Free Lunch are given priority. Families with special circumstances/needs for aid will be reviewed on an as needed basis by a member of the school staff. Financial Aid Applications are due by October 1 of every year.

Uniform Compliance and Enforcement

As part of homeroom procedures, homeroom teachers will monitor student dress. If a student is determined to be inappropriately dressed, an “out of uniform” notice will be issued to the student and his/her parents.

Administration may perform periodic uniform checks which may result in rewards or violations. The administration reserves the right to have the child change into borrowed Uniform Exchange Clothes so that the child is in uniform. Students wearing skirts, shorts, pants, shirts or blouses too short, too tight or too large may be asked to change into another skirt, pair of pants/shorts, or blouse/shirt, or gym uniform, and a phone call will be made to the home. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to return the borrowed clothing to the school. The administration reserves the right to determine whether students are observing the expectation in regard to mandatory uniform code and grooming and act accordingly.

Regular Uniform Boys (Grades K-5)

Mandatory Daily except Gym Day

Clean navy blue PPPCS uniform trousers*
Dark belt with inconspicuous buckle
Light blue PPPCS uniform polo shirts (unisex)*
Solid navy or white socks
Solid white, light blue, or navy undershirt/layering shirt (if worn)
Brown, black, or navy school shoes (no canvas, no tennis shoes, no boots)

Optional

Solid navy blue PPPCS uniform cardigan sweater*
Solid navy blue PPPCS uniform sweater*
Solid navy blue PPPCS uniform vest*
Navy blue PPPCS uniform walking shorts*
PPPCS sweatshirt*

Reminders:

Belts must be worn with trousers except for Kindergarten (and pre-K if applicable).
Shirts must be tucked in, allowing the belt of the pants to show (except for K and pre-K if applicable).
Pants can be no larger than 1 measured size.
No bracelets, necklaces, or dangling/hoop earrings.
Only PPPCS uniform sweaters/vests/sweatshirts may be worn over uniform.
Gym uniform and tennis shoes (nonmarking soles) must be worn to school on scheduled gym days.
No Oxford shirts, no ties for K-5.

Regular Uniform Girls (Grades K-5)

Mandatory Daily except Gym Day

Clean plaid PPPCS uniform jumpers*
Light blue PPPCS uniform polo shirts (unisex)*
Solid white, light blue, or navy undershirt/layering shirt (if worn)
Solid Navy blue or white socks OR solid navy blue or white tights
Brown, black, or navy school shoes (no canvas, no tennis shoes, no boots). No high heels (greater than 1 inch)

Optional

Navy blue PPPCS uniform trousers (two styles)*
Navy Blue PPPCS uniform walking shorts*
Solid navy blue PPPCS uniform cardigan sweater*
Solid navy blue PPPCS uniform sweater*
Solid navy blue PPPCS uniform vest*
PPPCS sweatshirt*
Plaid cross tie*

Reminders:

Hemlines are to be at no more than 2 inches above the knee.
No make-up
No bracelets, necklaces, or dangling earrings
Only PPPCS uniform sweaters/vests/sweatshirts may be worn over uniform.
No long pants/jeans may be worn under girls’ jumpers. Solid white or navy leggings or PPPCS uniform sweat pants can be worn on cold days.
Gym uniform and tennis shoes (nonmarking soles) must be worn to school on scheduled gym days.
No skorts, skirts, oxford shirts or plaid clip-on ties for grades K-5.

Regular Uniform Girls (Grades 6-8)

Mandatory Daily except Gym Days

Plaid PPPCS uniform skorts or skirts*
Light blue PPPCS uniform Oxford shirt*
Blue plaid clip-on tie*
Solid navy blue or white socks OR Solid navy blue or white tights
Brown, black, or navy school shoes (no canvas, no tennis shoes, no boots)
No high heels (greater than 1 inch)

Optional

Plaid PPPCS uniform skirt*
Clean navy blue PPPCS uniform trousers (two styles)*
Navy blue PPPCS uniform walking shorts*
Solid navy blue PPPCS uniform cardigan sweater*
Solid navy blue PPPCS uniform sweater*
Solid navy blue PPPCS uniform vest*
Plaid PPPCS uniform tie or cross tie*

Reminders:

Hemlines are to be at no more than 2 inches above the knee.
No make-up
No bracelets, necklaces, or dangling earrings
Only PPPCS uniform sweaters/sweatshirts may be worn over uniform.
No long pants/jeans may be worn under girls’ skorts or skirts. White or navy leggings or uniform sweat pants can be worn on cold days.
Gym uniform and tennis shoes (nonmarking soles) must be worn to school on scheduled gym days.
No jumpers
For 2009-2010 school year, light blue uniform polo shirts will be phased out for the middle school. In 2010 and beyond, they will no longer be allowed.

Regular Uniform Boys (Grades 6-8)

Mandatory Daily except Gym Days
Clean navy blue PPPCS uniform trousers*
Dark belt with inconspicuous buckle
Light blue PPPCS uniform Oxford shirt*
PPPCS middle school uniform tie*
Solid navy or white socks
Solid white, light blue or navy undershirt/layering (if worn)
Brown, black, or navy school shoes (no canvas, no tennis shoes, no boots)

Optional

Navy Blue PPPCS uniform walking shorts*
Solid navy blue PPPCS uniform cardigan sweater*
Solid navy blue PPPCS uniform sweater*
Solid navy blue PPPCS uniform vest*
PPPCS sweatshirt*

Reminders:

Belts must be worn with trousers.
Shirts must be tucked in, allowing the belt of the pants to show.
Ties must be worn with uniform Oxford shirt
Pants can be no larger than 1 measured size.
No bracelets, necklaces, or dangling/hoop earrings.
Only PPPCS uniform sweaters/vests/sweatshirts may be worn over uniform.
Gym uniform and tennis shoes (nonmarking soles) must be worn to school on scheduled gym days.
For 2009-2010 school year, light blue uniform polo shirts will be phased out for the middle school. In 2010 and beyond, they will no longer be allowed.

Gym Uniforms (Boys and Girls grades K-8)

Warm weather (Sept.–Oct. 15 & April 30-End of school year)

Cold weather (October 16- April 30)

Navy PPPCS uniform gym shorts or uniform sweatpants
PPPCS t-shirt*
White socks
Tennis shoes (non-marking soles)
Navy PPPCS uniform gym sweatpants*

Optional

PPPCS sweatshirt*

Gym uniform and tennis shoes (non-marking soles) must be worn to school on scheduled gym days.

Uniform Tips

Do not use bleach on your school uniforms.
Pants can be cut off and hemmed to make walking shorts.
Turn in or donate your used uniforms that no longer fit. The more uniforms we have in the Uniform Exchange, the more chances people have to find what they need for a significantly reduced price.
If you have a shirt that has a few small stains, make that your child’s “art day” uniform or wear it under a jumper.
Line Dry uniforms or turn inside out for the dryer. Remove them from the dryer slightly damp to eliminate wrinkles.

Click here for Flynn & O'Hara locations and hours: http://www.flynnohara.com/.