Parents who
have school-aged children who wear uniforms have to make sure that uniforms are
ready at the start of the school year and daily during school.
Uniforms are the norm
in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) and many other Caribbean Islands for both
private and public school students in all levels of education, namely pre-schools,
primary/elementary and secondary schools. Many parents plan ahead to get their
children's uniforms ready before school starts. Uniforms need special attention
during the school year to ensure that the clothing continue to look clean and
fresh.
Typical Uniform
Checklists for Boys and Girls
Schools of all
levels typically provide parents with the details of the uniforms that children
are to wear. Other than the particular school's uniform colors, there are
standards for the uniforms for both boys and girls.
- Buttoned-down or
polo shirts: Most schools in the BVI require that children wear oxford
buttoned-down shirts with the girls wearing the round-collar or Peter Pan
collared shirts. Some public and private schools allow children to wear polo
shirts but parents should always check with the school before purchasing the
uniforms to avoid wasting money by buying twice.
- Pleated skirts
for girls: Most schools in the BVI require that girls wear knife-pleated
skirts. In the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) and other Caribbean islands,
this may vary. Pre-school and kindergarten girls wear pleated skirts with a
pinafore. BVI students have two options for acquiring their skirts as skirts
can be made or purchased from the stores. Some parents prefer to have the
uniform skirts made by a seamstress because they can choose the quality of the
material which can help the skirts to last longer than the store bought skirts.
- Jeans are not
uniform for boys at school: Schools in the BVI are now requiring that boys wear
uniform pants other than jeans. In the BVI, school pants for boys are colored
maroon, navy blue, green, grey, black, khaki, brown and other colors and
usually consist of a blend of cotton and polyester. So parents rely on local department
stores or shopping overseas or online to find the uniform pants.
- Socks are a part
of uniform too: Socks are a part of a child's uniform since most schools
require that children's socks compliment the tops and bottoms.
Tips for Getting
Uniforms Ready for School
Shirts, skirts and
pants have to be washed, ironed and cared for properly to promote longer wear
and use.
- Uniform shirts:
When Oxford uniform shirts are newly bought, be sure to wash them before
ironing or wearing. Polo shirts should also be washed before wearing and should
be hung as soon as removed from the dryer for easier ironing. This also helps
to keep the shape of the shirts.
- Girls' uniform
skirts: Whether made or purchased, girls' uniform skirts should be steam-ironed
or taken to the dry cleaners to keep a crisp look. While pleated uniform skirts
should be washed regularly, it is also important not to leave them too long in
the dryer to avoid the pleats losing the crispness.
- Boys uniform
pants: Boys' uniform pants should be washed with like colors and should also be
hung or neatly folded after removal from the dryer. Pants can be taken to the
dry cleaner or ironed on the appropriate iron setting. Dark colored pants
should be covered with a white cloth when ironing to avoid shine.
Uniforms for
school-aged children are the norm in the Caribbean and can be costly. Parents
should pay attention to the school's rules to avoid buying twice. Uniforms
should be bought early to avoid the shopping rush. Take care of uniform shirts,
skirts and pants by washing and ironing with care and dry-cleaning occasionally
if possible so that the clothing can last longer.
