The Annie Wright Schools administration has made a major decision regarding uniform policy. Inkwell uncovered several yet-to-be-announced uniform edits that significantly alter both Upper School divisions’ uniforms. These changes come after a joint student government (Student Life and Governance [SL&G] of the USG, Legislative Assembly of the Boys School [LABS] of the USB) push for more uniform options for both divisions.

Eireann Corrigan, director of the Upper School for Girls, summed up the process of making changes to the uniform: “Rob Scotlan met with both SL&G and LABS to gather ideas and feedback from the student body. Then Mr. Stubbs and I met with the other division directors and the Senior Leadership Team to finalize details.” She says both her and Jeremy Stubbs, director of the Upper School for Boys, are excited about the uniform changes. However, as Corrigan added, “uniform[s] evolve just like schools do. We want future students in the USG and USB to feel comfortable and included.” Ultimately, she points to student feedback as a key factor in the decision making process and hopes students continue to share their ideas.

Corrigan explained the new uniform decided upon by the Annie Wright administration: “Students in both the USB and USG are now able to wear components like khaki or navy trousers, blazers, ties or ribbons, white button-down shirts or polos, as well as the plaid skirt that remains a part of school tradition.” Jeremy Stubbs, director of the Upper School for Boys, clarifies, “If students are wearing a polo they need to wear the ribbon tie. If students wear a button-down they can wear the striped tie or the ribbon tie.” Corrigan emphasized that the new uniform will be more gender-neutral and span both divisions.

A potential change to the uniform concerns dress uniform days. Addressing whether or not there will be dress uniform next school year, Head of Schools Jake Guadnola said, “I’m not sure. We are actively considering uniform alterations that we think are perhaps in the best spirit and keeping of our intentions with the uniform.” Guadnola pointed to price as a main factor in these conversations. “[We are] also trying to recognize the inherent cost of purchasing items that are so infrequently worn.” He said it doesn’t make sense to require families to spend hundreds of dollars on uniforms. “In the lower school it’s even worse where you know a kid will go through three different shoe sizes in a year, and each one coincides with a different dress uniform moment.” Ultimately, Guadnola said the administration isn’t set on anything: “if we [keep] it, why? If we get rid of it, what would replace it?”

Stubbs mentioned one alternative option that had been discussed. The Upper Schools would implement a system of “Uniform+” days, where students would be asked to wear a button down shirt with tie instead of the more casual daily uniform. It is important to note that although students from both divisions will be allowed to wear blazers next school year, under this system, they would not be required at any point to do so.