Academics Page Title

The Mercy uniform consists of:

• the uniform skirt or pants (color is grade specific)
• a blouse or polo
• legwear (see policy below for colors and types)
• Mercy ID/lanyard worn around neck at all times while in the building
• optional uniform items are sweaters and quarter-zip sweatshirts, which may be worn in addition to the uniform blouse or polo with the uniform skirt/pants (not in place of the blouse or polo).
• optional 80th Anniversary sweatshirt worn with the uniform skirt/pants (uniform blouse or polo is not required under the 80th Anniversary sweatshirt)

Accessories: Accessories to the uniform, including but not limited to hats, are not allowed. Any garment worn under the uniform blouse may not be visible; this includes sports bras. A long-sleeve, white or black only, top may be worn under the uniform blouse or polo. Sweatpants or pajama pants may not be worn underneath the uniform skirt.

Alterations: Skirts should be worn no more than two inches above the knee. Any student who permanently shortens their uniform skirt to an unacceptable length will be required to let out the hem or purchase a new skirt.      

Birthdays: Students may be out-of-uniform on their actual birthdate. If the birth date falls on a weekend, the student may not be out-of-uniform on another day. Attire must be appropriate for school and jeans are allowed. A birthday sticker must be picked up from the Reception Area at the beginning of the day and visibly worn all day. It is inappropriate to expose cleavage, mid-section, or hips. Ripped clothing, jeans with large holes, pajama pants, sweatpants, casual shorts, camis, off-the-shoulder or strapless tops are not allowed. Dress shorts, dresses and skirts must be fingertip length or longer. Leggings or yoga pants may not be worn as stand-alone pants, only as an accessory to a dress or skirt. If this policy is violated the student will be given a uniform to wear for the day and will receive one detention.

Cap and Gown: All seniors are required to have a Mercy cap and gown as part of their formal academic attire. The cap is worn so that the mortar board (flat part) is parallel to the floor with the tassel on the right. Clothing must be worn underneath the gown; jeans and shorts are not appropriate and collars or turtlenecks should not show from the top of the gown. The gown should be zipped. For all cap and gown assemblies, liturgies or prayer services, any senior not properly attired will be asked to leave the procession line.               

Classroom Presentations: If the class is 1st, 2nd or 3rd hour, students may come to school dressed up (according to presentation requirements), and must change into full uniform during Adviser Group. If the class is 4th, 5th, 6th or 7th hour, students must come to school in full uniform, change during Adviser Group, and may remain out of uniform for the remainder of the day.

Coats: Coats and jackets may not be worn in school at all during the school day. If coats or jackets are left unattended anywhere in the building, they may be taken by school personnel and claimed at the Reception Area by the student.

Field Trips:  If the field trip occurs during the school day, the school uniform is worn, unless special permission has been given by the Dean of Student Affairs to be out of uniform. If the field trip occurs after school, the uniform is worn during the school day. Students may choose to bring other clothing and change prior to the event.

Legwear: Legwear is required with both skirts and pants. Acceptable colors include black, dark green, gray, maroon, navy, or white — solid colors only. Students may wear socks, footed tights, or straight-leg leggings (no flares) with socks underneath the uniform skirt. Please note that sweatpants or pajama pants are not permitted under the uniform skirt.

Maroon & Gold Raffle Days:  Students out of uniform as a result of the M & G Raffle incentives may wear jeans, pajama pants or sweatpants in addition to Special Dress Day attire. It is inappropriate to expose cleavage, mid-section or hips (this means no crop tops). Ripped clothing, shorts (of any kind without a pass), camis, off-the-shoulder or strapless tops are not allowed. For students with a leggings pass, a top that covers the bottom must be worn with leggings. For students with a shorts pass, shorts must be fingertip length, meaning standing straight up with arm and fingers straight, the shorts must be at least as long as the longest finger. Anything shorter is a uniform violation and the student will be given a uniform skirt to wear for the day in addition to appropriate consequences under the guidelines.

Promotional Days: Student groups and athletic teams are permitted to vary from the uniform as follows:

• Athletic teams may select one day during their season to wear team athletic apparel to school. In addition, any athletic team whose members qualify for state final competition will be able to wear team apparel on the last school day prior to leaving for the state events.
• Link Leaders will be able to promote the final social follow-up event by wearing their Link Crew t-shirts, with the uniform skirt, on the day of the event (some time towards the end of the 2nd semester).
• LORE staff will be able to advertise the sale of books in October, November, and December by wearing their yearbook t-shirts, with the uniform skirt, on the first day of the sales in October, November and December months.
• Newsprint staff will be able to wear their Newsprint shirts, with the uniform skirt, on each distribution day.
• Students participating in the fall play or the spring musical will be able to advertise by wearing their shirts during one designated week (Monday-Friday) before the performance weekend and one day after the performance weekend.

These additional allowances require advance notification to and approval by the Dean of Student Affairs.

Shoes: Shoes must be closed-toe and closed-heel at all times, during uniform and out-of-uniform days. Mule, slide and slipper type shoes may not be worn. Examples of shoes that may not be worn are: Birkenstock clogs, Crocs, UGG slippers (Tasman, Tazz) and anything similar. Boots may be worn only during the months of November – March (subject to be adjusted with inclement weather). Examples of appropriate shoes are: sneakers, loafers, mary janes, oxfords, boat shoes (Sperry, Hey Dudes or similar).

Special Dress Days:  Special dress days for holidays, liturgies (when announced) or other special events should be viewed as dress-up days rather than dress-down days. Attire must be appropriate for school. It is inappropriate to expose cleavage, mid-section, or hips (this means no crop tops). Ripped clothing, jeans, pajama pants, sweatpants, casual shorts, camis, off-the-shoulder or strapless tops are not allowed. Dress shorts, dresses and skirts must be fingertip length or longer. Leggings or yoga pants may not be worn as stand-alone pants, only as an accessory to a dress or skirt. If this policy is violated the student will be given a uniform to wear for the day and will receive one detention.

Spirit Attire Days: One day each month (usually the first Friday) will be designated Mercy Spirit Attire Day. On these days students will be permitted to wear a Mercy shirt. Mercy accessories (hats, scarves, etc.) are also allowed. Students must be in uniform on the bottom (uniform skirt/pants, leg wear and shoes).