Dress Code

Early Childhood

Clothes need to fit well and be comfortable for movement.
Clothes can be made of natural fibres like cotton and wool. These fibres prevent sweating and provide warmth in winter.
Please choose clothes without pictures, logos or words. Tank tops and spaghetti straps are not recommended for school.
Avoid nail polish, hair dye, make-up and tattoos.
For fall and spring provide a sun hat, rain pants, coat and hat and rubber boots (on colder days, with warm socks). Layers are essential on cool fall and spring mornings.

In winter, children need:

long underwear;
a woollen sweater or vest;
a snow suit – (check for length when child bends over);
winter boots – (removable liners for easy drying);
a hat;
mittens or gloves;
a scarf or neck warmer; and
two pair of socks when it is very cold

A rule of thumb is two layers below the belt and three layers above. Layering allows us to take some clothing off as needed. Check that boots allow your child to move freely.

Avoid watches and jewellery.
Indoor shoes should have an enclosed heel and a waterproof sole. Avoid shoes with gimmicks like wheels, flashing lights etc. In kindergarten, shoes that lace up rather than fasten with Velcro are preferred.

Lower School

The TWS lower school dress code encourages clothing choices that create a focused, safe and supportive learning environment while at the same time respecting each family’s freedom to choose clothing according to their unique tastes, cultures, budgets and values. Exceptions to the dress code can be made for health, cultural or religious reasons by speaking directly with your child(ren)’s class teacher.

Grades 1 – 3

Below are our requirements to ensure that all children have freedom of movement so that they may move and play with ease and comfort and be safe in all kinds of changing weather. Also included are our recommendations to support a simple and focused learning environment.

Required:

Spring/Summer: sun hats, dressed in layers as the temperatures shift throughout the day, raincoat, rain pants and rain boots
Autumn/Winter: winter hats that keep the ears warm, warm mitts, neck warmers, snowsuits and waterproof snow boots
Outdoor and indoor shoes must be safe, supportive and suitable for the weather (no flip flops, sandals must be secured around the heel)
Jewelry and accessories are reasonably simple and light to allow for safety, while climbing, running and jumping rope
No makeup, nail polish or hair dye until grade 7

Grades 4 – 6

Below are our requirements to ensure that all children have freedom of movement so that they may move and play with ease and comfort and be safe in all kinds of changing weather and recommendations to support a simple and focused learning environment.

Required:

Outdoor and indoor shoes must be safe, supportive and suitable for the weather (no flip flops, sandals must be secured around the heel)
Jewelry and accessories are reasonably simple and light to allow for safety, while climbing, running and jumping rope
No makeup, nail polish or hair dye (including natural colour) until grade 7

Recommended:

Spring/Summer: dressed in layers as the temperatures shift throughout the day, raincoat, rain pants and rain boots
Autumn/Winter: winter hats that keep the ears warm, warm mitts, neck warmers, snowsuits and waterproof snow boots
Hair worn off the face to allow clear vision
Clothing without large images, logos, animated characters, pictures, or offensive language

Grades 7 & 8

Required:

Outdoor and indoor shoes must be safe, supportive and suitable for the weather (no flip flops, sandals must be secured around the heel)
Jewelry and accessories are reasonably simple and light to allow for safety, while climbing, running and jumping rope

Spring/Summer: dressed in layers as the temperatures shift throughout the day, raincoat, rain pants and rain boots
Autumn/Winter: winter hats that keep the ears warm, warm mitts, neck warmers, snowsuits and waterproof snow boots
Any hair dye is natural colour
Hair worn off the face to allow clear vision
Clothing without large images, logos, animated characters, pictures or offensive language

High School

Proper school attire promotes self-respect and a positive school attitude. Students should wear clothing that is clean, neat, modest and suitable for the activity and the season. Because clothing is part of the school environment, we expect our dress code to contribute to an ambience conducive to learning.

The following conditions are essential clothing requirements at Toronto Waldorf in the High School:

In the interest of students’ safety shoes must be worn at all times, flip-flops are not allowed. Some activities require specific foot-wear that will be determined by the teacher.
Hats and other head-coverings, including girl’s head-scarves, may not be worn in class except for religious reasons.
Sun-glasses may not be worn indoors.
Shirts must fully cover the cleavage, kidneys and midriff area; T-shirts with spaghetti straps and bare shoulders must be covered; underwear should not be visible
Shorts and skirts must be no shorter than mid-thigh length. No inappropriate slogans or images may be worn on clothes at school. Ripped, torn or dirty clothing may not be worn at school
On some occasions in the school calendar, such as performance evenings and festivals, students may be required to wear more formal clothing such as dark pants or skirts an black shirts (often referred to as “dress blacks”).
Students are required to change into a gym uniform for physical education classes, for hygienic reasons and to allow safe and full movement in all activities. The uniform consists of the TWS school shirt, TWS school shorts or appropriate athletic pants (no zippers, pockets or belts that can be caught in equipment) and athletic shoes with non-marking soles.

In addition to these essential requirements, the faculty reserves the right to decide whether dress or appearance support the high school dress code. Students may be asked to change into their gym uniform if dress attire is deemed inappropriate, or parents may be called to supply other clothes.

Please refer to our current Highschool Handbook for more on the dresscode.