Current Edition | Term 3, Week 10

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

As Term 3 draws to a close, we thank you for your continued support of your son and of the College over what has been a full and rewarding term. Term 3 is traditionally one of our busiest, and our young men have risen to it, from Sports Day and the Solidarity Mass and Walkathon, to academic assemblies, subject selection and SETP interviews and the many co-curricular and cultural commitments that fill our calendar. It has been pleasing to see so many students engage with purpose and represent St Laurence’s with pride.

Term 3 concludes on Friday 18 September. We hope every family enjoys a safe and restful holiday break and that the boys use the time to recharge properly ahead of a term that will ask a good deal of them — particularly, our senior students.

Term 4 Commencement

Term 4 commences on Tuesday 6 October, following the King’s Birthday public holiday on Monday 5 October. Students are expected at school by 8.30am on the first day, in full summer uniform and with a haircut that meets College standards.

Term 4 is a short and consequential term. For our Year 12 students, it is the final stage of their Laurie’s journey and for every year level it is the term in which the year’s work is completed and finalised. We ask for your help in ensuring the boys begin well, rather than spending the first week of term attending to the basics.

Summer Uniform Expectations

All students will wear the College summer uniform for Term 4. Blazers and ties are not required in Terms 1 and 4, with the exception of the Year 12 tie, which is worn each day.

• Primary and Middle School: Jacaranda blue shirt, College grey shorts or trousers, College socks if wearing shorts, black leather belt and black leather shoes.
• Senior School: Jacaranda blue shirt (Years 10 and 11) or white shirt with College tie (Year 12), College trousers, black leather belt and black leather shoes.

Shirts are to be tucked in at all times, a belt is to be worn and shoes are to be black leather, polished, in good repair and not black sport shoes. The summer uniform is to be worn to and from school and is to be worn to the same high standard we expect of the winter uniform.

The College black yard hat, with your son’s name embroidered, is a compulsory uniform item and must be worn in all unshaded areas of the College, including Gair Field. UV levels climb quickly through Term 4, so please assist your son by replacing his yard hat over the holidays if it has been lost, outgrown, is in a poor state of repair or missing the band on the brim. White sports hats are not to be worn except for HPE classes and co-curricular sport.

SLC hoodies and co-curricular jumpers are not to be worn at school at any time. Senior Jerseys are only to be worn on Fridays.

The holiday break is the ideal time to check that your son’s uniform still fits, that his shoes are serviceable and that any missing or worn items are replaced before the first day of term.

Hair Expectations

Our hair and grooming standards are unchanged and will be applied from the first day of Term 4. We ask families to attend to haircuts during the holidays rather than in the first week of term.

• Haircuts must be appropriate and in accordance with the College’s uniform/grooming policy.
• Haircuts are to be acceptable to the student’s House Mentor, Head of House, Head of School and Dean of Students.
• Only one’s own natural colouring is acceptable.
• Hair must be cut no shorter than a No. 3 blade on top and sides.
• Tracks, shaven strips, undercuts and tails are not acceptable.
• Hair is not to be over the collar, eyebrows or ears.
• Hair is to be neat, clean and combed — not messy and untidy.
• Students must be clean shaven, with sideburns no longer than the middle of the ear.
• Extreme hairstyles which draw attention to the student will not be permitted.

It is difficult to define what is acceptable with the modern ‘mullet style’ cuts. Therefore, if a student attends the College and it is evident that there is a discernible difference between the length of hair on the sides and the back of the head, this will be deemed ‘extreme’.

As a College, we acknowledge and respect the inclusive nature of our different ethnicities, and religious and cultural backgrounds. The College is happy to talk to parents (with the student) concerning exceptions to the above standards on religious, cultural or medical grounds. Please contact your son’s Head of House in those circumstances.

If a haircut is borderline with the policy, students will be told to rectify it (ongoing education) and parents will be contacted. If it is not rectified by an agreed date, the student may be withdrawn from classes.

If a haircut is extreme, the student will be internally paused (removed from class) and parents will be contacted to arrange immediate action.

Other Reminders

• Punctuality: Students are expected to be at school by 8.30am each day. Parents can monitor their son’s attendance, including arrival times, through Parent Lounge. If there are extenuating circumstances that will regularly make it difficult for your son to arrive by 8.30am, please contact his House Mentor and Head of House.
• Bags: St Laurence’s College bags are to be used when travelling to and from school.
• Laptops: Students must carry their laptop in their laptop bag for insurance purposes if accidents or damage occur. It is also essential that students bring headphones or earphones for lessons that require them.
• Sun safety: In addition to the yard hat, we encourage families to send their son with a water bottle and sunscreen as the weather warms.

Pastoral Leadership in Term 4

Families should be aware of a change to pastoral leadership for Term 4. I will be acting in Dr Liam Herbert’s role during his period of leave and Mr Nathan Burridge will be Acting Dean of Students in my place. Mr Nathan Burridge is well known to our community in his role as Head of Students (Senior School), and will be the appropriate point of contact for matters relating to student behaviour, uniform and grooming, and pastoral processes during this time. He can be contacted at nburridge@slc.qld.edu.au.

As always, your son’s House Mentor and Head of House remain the first point of contact for day-to-day matters.

Year 8 and 9 Camps

Information has now been sent to the families of the Year 8 and 9 cohorts about the camps that occur early in Term 4. Please follow the details on the letter with regard to acceptance via Parent Lounge and the updated procedures for medication. Should you have further questions, please contact your son’s Head of House or the camp coordinators as detailed in the communication.

In Closing

Finally, the Pastoral Team would like to ask for your continued support as we focus on encouraging the students to get the small things right, punctuality, uniform and grooming. These are small habits, but they are the habits that shape the character of the young men we are forming.

We wish all families a safe and happy holiday break and look forward to welcoming the boys back on Tuesday 6 October.

MR DAVID KNIGHT

Dean of Students