Some Lloyd Road School students will sport new back-to-school look

Lauren Brereton, 6, and sister Heather, 8, model optional schoolwear which is to be worn at Lloyd Road School, Aberdeen, this school year. The schoolwear consists of a maroon shirt, khaki pants or skorts, and a blue fleece jacket.

ABERDEEN — A group of parents, teachers and the principal at Lloyd Road School will introduce school uniforms to the students this year.

Wearing them, however, won’t be required.

"It has saved me a lot of money already," said Helen Brereton, a parent on the schoolwear committee. "[My kids] know what they will wear in the morning; there will be no argument. I think this is important for them."

Because children already wear uniforms to show pride in the sports teams they play for, it shouldn’t be unusual to wear them for the school where they receive their education.

"They already wear soccer uniforms," she said. "[Going to school] is the most important part of their lives."

The system is more a uniform way of dressing than a set of specific outfits. For example, boys would wear khaki bottoms with maroon tops, such as polo shirts or T-shirts, as long as they are maroon, Brereton said.

"They can wear a maroon shirt in any style they want and choose," she said. "It’s not the traditional uniform."

Girls would wear khaki pants or skorts.

"When kids get out of school, people will know they are from that school," Brereton said. "They know that’s where they belong."

Many teachers typically wear dungarees to class and have taken that to be their uniform, Brereton said. This may prompt her to try to get them involved with the new system as well.

The idea got its start at a Parent Teacher Organization meeting in January.

"The principal brought it up at one of the PTO meetings," Brereton said.

The principal noted that studies found wearing school uniform was a beneficial practice, she said.

"She said, ‘Let’s do a survey on it and see how it goes,’ " Brereton said.

The survey of Lloyd Road School parents and teachers found that more than half would be interested in participating, Brereton said. Parents have approached her to say that they believe this is a good idea, she said.

Personally, it saves Brereton the trouble of shopping for clothes for her three girls, she said.

After the survey reflected interest, a schoolwear committee was set up in April, composed of the principal, three parents and two teachers.

Studies have shown students wearing uniforms do better on tests and get into fewer fights, Brereton said.

A display board showing the uniforms was set up at the school. A few students were brought to Monday’s kindergarten orientation to show off the uniforms.

"Hopefully, even more students will participate once they’ve heard about or seen [the uniforms]," Brereton said, "I’m hoping the other grammar schools will pick up on this."

Lloyd Road School houses prekindergarten to fifth grade in the Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District.

— Josh Davidson