Pacifica Stories

Leading up to the spring of 2020, the uniform conversation at Pacifica was relatively consistent year over year. After the Covid-19 pandemic began, the standard conversation about uniforms changed along with everything else in our world. As an institution, we flexed with the times at hand. Supply chain shortages made uniform acquisition challenging, students became accustomed to flexibility in their education that was unthinkable years before. Classes from home in your pajamas, extended deadlines to accommodate for Covid fatigue, a lax uniform policy to help students re-enter the learning environment. A slow degradation of cultural cues and routines that signaled to students what it means to be a student. 

At Pacifica, we would argue that the uniform acts as the first step of a habit loop that sets students up for a successful academic experience. It may seem counterintuitive that what you wear would influence your academic mindset, but following Duhigg’s logic, putting on a uniform acts as a cue to create a daily mindset that says “I’m ready for school” which hopefully leads to stronger academic outcomes, i.e. your reward.

Next year, Pacifica’s uniform will largely look the same as this year, with a few slight adjustments to better help in creating a structure to build on the habit of dressing professionally to set a mindset for success academically. The first adjustment to the dress code policy that we are making is that we are changing vendors to allow for greater access to the uniform. I know for many of you over the last two years, you’ve waited at times over eight weeks to get a Pacifica branded sweatshirt or polo which is why we are moving to Lands’ End beginning this month to be Pacifica’s official uniform provider. If you’ve purchased new uniform supplies from our old provider, Dennis Uniform, those garments will still be allowed through the 2023-2024 school year.

Secondly, the options for Pacifica branded outerwear will expand with Lands’ End while the flexibility for off-brand outerwear will be eliminated. How will this play out on a practical level? Currently, when it’s cold or raining, students will wear warmer off-brand clothing or rain jackets. Think puffy North Face jackets, thicker hooded sweatshirts, and rain jackets to stay dry. We get it, when it’s cold or raining, a simple cotton sweatshirt just doesn’t cut it. With Lands’ End, students will have access to Pacifica-branded puffy jackets as well as insulated rain jackets and sweats that can be worn on Fridays. Yes, students, you can wear spirit wear sweats on Fridays. With increased options for cold weather clothing and added comfort in spirit wear options, the expectation next year is that students must be in their Pacifica-branded uniform at all times, including outerwear, even when it is cold or raining.

Knowing that all Pacifica students will possibly need to pick up a Pacifica-branded rain or puffy jacket, we’d like to ask that you consider purchasing these items over the summer while the weather is dry (and warm) and while Lands’ End is offering back to school sales. Better to have these items waiting in the closet now so that when the weather does change in the fall, you’ll be prepared. 

Lastly, the final adjustment to the Pacifica uniform style guide for next year will be the addition of a “PE Uniform” that will be required for students taking dance during the first period of the day. The dance uniform will consist of workout shorts and sweats in addition to short and long sleeve cotton shirts. Students will wear these articles of clothing in the morning to dance and then change into their Pacifica uniform like they currently do. For more specific information on the updated uniform policy, please see the Pacifica Uniform Style Guide for the 2023-2024 school year.

At Pacifica, there are a number of cultural norms that we’re looking to reestablish following the disruption of the Covid-19 pandemic ranging from consistency in turning in homework, being on time for class and the larger uniform discussion above. We believe that while all of these targeted areas of improvement may seem disconnected, when seen as part of a larger “habit loop,” they’re critical to helping students build healthy rhythms and routines necessary for academic success. 

Wally Hirsch
Associate Head of School for Student Affairs