Where are Friday Civvies? This is a commonly asked question throughout the Upper School. Brunswick boys have free dress every Friday without fail, and last year we used to have the same.. But as this school year has progressed, there has been a significant decrease in the number of civvies days—exactly two in the first quarter. Only two! But why? Have alumnae complained? Is it because teachers do not want us to have civvies? Who knows?
The real question now is: How do we get our civvies back?!
We asked Ms. Riverain, obviously. Turns out, she is not the one who makes them happen! “Civvies are sort of organic,” she said, explaining the process of a typical civvies day. Here’s how it works: A teacher or staff member brings up a civvies day, and often a reason to grant this free dress day. Ms. Tarrent then checks in with Mr. Sullivan and then Ms. Riverain if needed. Then, an all-school email goes out announcing the civvies day.
So why the decrease this year? Ms. Riverain says last year she “was told” that the Upper School has too many compared to the other divisions, so they cut back Upper School civvies days. However, this is not the only reason. New this school year, faculty get casual Fridays, meaning they don’t have to follow the normal dress code. Why the change? Turns out most of last year’s civvies days were initiated by teachers! So, it is likely that these new casual Fridays are causing students to have fewer civvies days. One thing can be said though: GA students want their Friday civvies back—and soon!
Seriously: Is it fair that teachers and Brunswick boys both get their civvies Fridays, while GA girls are stuck in kilts? You tell us!
