Dress Code

At Bright Water Waldorf School, we see it as our task to guard and cherish the children in our care. To do this, we strive to create a nurturing space in which children can safely learn, wonder and grow. With this in mind, we ask our families to partner with us to protect our children from a consumer culture that does not care for their individual well-being but sees them as prospective customers. We ask parents to keep media images, branding, and obvious logos off their children’s clothes, lunch boxes, and gear, as much as possible, and particularly in the Early Childhood and 1-5 classes . Our students work and play best together when they do not need to negotiate the social status of branded items or media graphics, and when their imaginative faculties are less influenced by commercial entertainment.

We also recognize that exploring one’s individuality is a crucial part of the development process. Students at Bright Water are empowered to explore their burgeoning individual style and freedom in a safe and comfortable environment that resists the reinforcement of racist, sexist, classist, and ableist stereotypes, and other forms of bias. Individual style choices are celebrated here as an antidote to marginalization and oppression based on race, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, cultural observance, household income, ability, or body type/size.

Bright Water Waldorf School’s dress code ensures that students have clothing to support learning, working, and moving without distractions or discomfort. Clothing that does not inhibit movement and provides adequate protection from the elements is required.

Guidelines (Consider the following as you shop for school)

• Weather: Students need seasonal attire: rain jackets, winter jackets, rain boots and rain pants in the lower grades; pants, sweaters, winter hats, and gloves should be worn on cold and or rainy days. Every student should have an extra pair of clean, dry socks.

• Daily Wear: Clothing should be clean and in good repair, and must allow for comfortable movement and full participation in all classes and at recess.

• Shoes: Proper footwear is essential as students have outdoor recess twice a day plus various other movement activities throughout the day. Flip-flops and crocs are discouraged. Sensible shoes are to be worn in all classrooms.

• Words/Images: Students should wear clothing without distracting words, swear words, hate speech, alcohol/drug references, or similar images.