Several changes have been made to the St. Teresa’s Academy uniform policy for the 2015-2016 school year.

According to Dr. Liz Baker, the biggest change is the permitting of untucked shirts. In the past, all students had to tuck their shirts into their skirts in order to be in uniform. The change stemmed from administrative team conversations and conversations with teachers.

“I had the teachers stand up during their in service to introduce this concept of girl having their shirts untucked because I was looking around the room… and almost 90 percent of the women in the room had their shirts untucked, so it’s a commonality is business clothing right now,” Baker said. “…I really want the uniform to be part of getting students ready for college and careers.”

In addition to tights, ankle length leggings are now allowed.

“[Adding leggings to the uniform policy] was a good compromise because they are easier to purchase and easier on the girls to find,” Baker said.

STA sweatshirts and t-shirts are now to be worn on Fridays instead of Wednesdays. Because mass days are on Wednesdays, the administration wanted to preserve the sacredness by having students in full uniform. According to Baker, Fridays are a more laidback day, so it made sense to have a “casual day” then.

“A ‘let down day’ on Friday is more appropriate,” Baker said.

Baker said the administration made the decisions collectively as a team after reviewing the student handbook.

“My plan of action is to be really mindful of what student opinions are and teacher opinions are because it’s your school,” Baker said. “I’m the principal for student affairs so I should be the student advocate.”