What school is Petula Devorak talking about?

[Anonymous]

"One D.C. public charter school requires embroidered uniforms and ties that can run $500 a year." (https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/for-homeless-kids-school-uniforms-are-just-one-more-problem-to-overcome/2016/09/01/70d75758-705f-11e6-9705-23e51a2f424d_story.html)

I admit, her unwillingness to name the school for no apparent reason has me very skeptical of this claim. Can anyone tell me which charter school requires embroidered uniforms and ties that can run $500 a year?

[Anonymous]

Bizarro. I have never heard of a uniform violation at our DCPS and there are two shelters that feed into our school. Most parents use a uniform because of ease and comfort, but tons of students don't wear the preferred colors.

I have heard that some schools are stricter, but always have clothes at the ready if students aren't in the uniform for school.

I was in a school today and a child was out of uniform because she just had an operation and needed more comfortable clothes. Schools can't really question clothing choices too much.

[Anonymous]

Uniforms are stupid.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know how we can help? I would gladly purchase the mom of the 4 YO with 5 days of uniform pants and shirts so that she does not need to stress over this. There is enough stress she is under.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know how we can help? I would gladly purchase the mom of the 4 YO with 5 days of uniform pants and shirts so that she does not need to stress over this. There is enough stress she is under.

Email Dvorak your contact info and offer to help - either one kid or maybe for a stash of extras at the school. She can relay the offer to the family.

[Anonymous]

She mentioned the Homeless Children's Playtime Project. They have an Amazon wish list: https://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/1GDDCLR8G7CXQ/ref=ord_cart_shr

[Anonymous]

Well, Petula Devorak is always a bit dramatic, so it's hard to know if this is accurate.

[Anonymous]

Someone was complaining about this here recently re: DC Prep

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/15/392882.page#9236132

[Anonymous]

Is there a central place to donate uniforms other tha Goodwill, Salvation Army, or those big yellow donation boxes in parking lots. Bought uniforms for child to go to school, but got called of the wait list at another school. Instead of returning the two week supply to the merchants, thought they could be donated. Really don't want to actually take them to the school abandoned.

By the way, uniforms are good because parents and guardians don't have to think about what the child wears and the cost isn't bad if one shops around and tries online, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there a central place to donate uniforms other tha Goodwill, Salvation Army, or those big yellow donation boxes in parking lots. Bought uniforms for child to go to school, but got called of the wait list at another school. Instead of returning the two week supply to the merchants, thought they could be donated. Really don't want to actually take them to the school abandoned.

By the way, uniforms are good because parents and guardians don't have to think about what the child wears and the cost isn't bad if one shops around and tries online, too.

What school were you planning to attend? You could just donate them there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there a central place to donate uniforms other tha Goodwill, Salvation Army, or those big yellow donation boxes in parking lots. Bought uniforms for child to go to school, but got called of the wait list at another school. Instead of returning the two week supply to the merchants, thought they could be donated. Really don't want to actually take them to the school abandoned.

By the way, uniforms are good because parents and guardians don't have to think about what the child wears and the cost isn't bad if one shops around and tries online, too.

The only way to make sure they get to the kids will work for is to give to the 'abandoned' school for distribution. The yellow boxes are kind of a scam and send things overseas. Goodwill or Salvation army donations may end up in the suburbs or another city, and who knows if parents from that school will shop there.

Take to post office tomorrow am, put in the priority mail box and send.

[Anonymous]

We struggle with this a lot at our school. We have a uniform closet, but it is not enough for the demand. We have also found that when the younger set have accidents, teachers often rely on the uniform closet to provide dry clothing.

I was told a couple years ago that assistance for homeless children is available through the Neediest Kids Fund. This year I was told that that "assistance" often takes months to get through (our social worker put in a request in May of last year that has still not been filled) and that when the request is finally filled, there is a low limit to what kids can receive from the fund. It's something like 1 pair pants and 3 shirts. To me, that does not sound like real assistance.

These are PUBLIC schools. Children have a right to attend them. That children are being punished, sent home from schools they have a legal right to attend, because they are not wearing the proper clothing is disgusting to me - particularly when the schools do not provide the clothing themselves.

I feel very strongly that if schools are going to require uniforms, the schools have a moral obligation to provide those uniforms themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We struggle with this a lot at our school. We have a uniform closet, but it is not enough for the demand. We have also found that when the younger set have accidents, teachers often rely on the uniform closet to provide dry clothing.

I was told a couple years ago that assistance for homeless children is available through the Neediest Kids Fund. This year I was told that that "assistance" often takes months to get through (our social worker put in a request in May of last year that has still not been filled) and that when the request is finally filled, there is a low limit to what kids can receive from the fund. It's something like 1 pair pants and 3 shirts. To me, that does not sound like real assistance.

These are PUBLIC schools. Children have a right to attend them. That children are being punished, sent home from schools they have a legal right to attend, because they are not wearing the proper clothing is disgusting to me - particularly when the schools do not provide the clothing themselves.

I feel very strongly that if schools are going to require uniforms, the schools have a moral obligation to provide those uniforms themselves.

PP - I agree.

This would be a great issue for OSSE to take on and issue a policy that all schools would have to comply with. Given your first hand experience please please email Hanseul Kang (she actually will answer within a couple days) and raise it.

[Anonymous]

Instead of uniforms - which I believe the kids probably have a lot of already but their parents either lack the opportunity to wash them due to cost or location of laundry, maybe that whole put a washing machine in the school would work or even donating laundry cards or working with a laundromat near the school to provide a discount wash day to parent.

another good idea - eliminate white and light color uniform pieces and go with dark solids only. Those Catholic school plaid skirts are actually ideal for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We struggle with this a lot at our school. We have a uniform closet, but it is not enough for the demand. We have also found that when the younger set have accidents, teachers often rely on the uniform closet to provide dry clothing.

I was told a couple years ago that assistance for homeless children is available through the Neediest Kids Fund. This year I was told that that "assistance" often takes months to get through (our social worker put in a request in May of last year that has still not been filled) and that when the request is finally filled, there is a low limit to what kids can receive from the fund. It's something like 1 pair pants and 3 shirts. To me, that does not sound like real assistance.

These are PUBLIC schools. Children have a right to attend them. That children are being punished, sent home from schools they have a legal right to attend, because they are not wearing the proper clothing is disgusting to me - particularly when the schools do not provide the clothing themselves.

I feel very strongly that if schools are going to require uniforms, the schools have a moral obligation to provide those uniforms themselves.

PP - I agree.

This would be a great issue for OSSE to take on and issue a policy that all schools would have to comply with. Given your first hand experience please please email Hanseul Kang (she actually will answer within a couple days) and raise it.

PP here.

My kid goes to a uniform school. Navy and white. I just calculated up what we have spent on uniforms this year. We got some of the Children's Place deals that tend to occur before school starts. White shirts for $5-7 each, depending on short or long sleeved. 3 short sleeved, 3 long sleeved. Navy pants for $7 each, x5. 2 short sleeved polo dresses for $10 each. 2 long sleeved polo dresses for $12.50 each. Plus a new pair of shoes ($15), plus a 3-pack of heavy tights for winter for $15 on Amazon. That's $146, requiring a credit card and a stable address where things can be shipped.

Yes, uniforms make things easier and avoid the North Face Stabbing, but it's not a magic bullet.

I will email this person. Thanks for the suggestion.