This petition is in regards to this year's policy requiring the 5th-8th grade students to change into and out of their PE uniforms while in school. The past several years , as you may know, St. Edward allowed the students to come to school dressed in their PE uniforms and remain in them for the whole school day. The exception was for mass on Formal Thursdays where the students would bring their PE uniforms to change into after mass. However, they didn't have to change back to their school uniform afterwards. They would remain in their PE uniform the rest of the day.

The reasons for the change in policy are as listed:

1. Feedback from parent, student, faculty surveys from April 2014
2. Inconsistency between all grades, especially the lower grades having to wear uniforms all days and seeing the older kids wearing uniforms only two days a week.
3. Cleanliness and healthy habits - kids sweating at PE and staying in the same clothes all day
4. Preparing students for school down the road in High school, where they will have to change for PE there.

There were no issues in the school with the old policy, yet changes were made which not only inconveniences the students but also inconveniences the teachers. The teachers are responsible for ushering the kids back and forth to the bathroom to change their clothes. As a result, it cuts into the valuable class time of the students while they change in the bathrooms, one group at a time.

Cleanliness and healthy habits are a very important issue at any school environment, yet the lower grades who participate in PE do not change out of their school uniform and, in fact, remain in their clothing all day. It is hard to believe they did not sweat in their uniforms during PE, or any other time during recess or lunch as they play. There has not been any issues or complaints of students' hygiene in classes after PE.

The fact is, the school doesn't have appropriate changing facilities such as a boy's and girl's locker room as in high schools. Instead, the students have to squeeze into the bathroom stalls with no tables or benches to place clothing and change as best they can next to the toilet. Due to lack of space, most students forego the stalls and change in the open area of the bathroom. Because it is shared with the school, there is no guaranty for privacy as it is very easy for someone to peek into the bathroom and catch the students in different stages of undress.

So this petition is a demand to change the policy back so that the students can stay in their PE uniforms on PE days until proper facilities are provided by the school to ensure the students' learning is not disrupted and their safety not compromised. Thank you very much for your support!