Q. What is the color of the Preschool & PreK shorts and pants?
A. The color of the full dress uniform for Preschool and PreK students is Charcoal (it is a Dark Gray). Early printings of the dress code were not correct. The color to be worn on Monday's and Tuesday's is Charcoal. This is to be worn with the white, gray, or burgunday polo with the embroidered crest.
If desired the Preschool and PreK students may wear Challenger uniform attire on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and on those (optional dress) days they may choose to wear items such as the Navy shorts or pants with the polo or oxford shirts or the jumpers with sailor or polo shirts that the Kindergarten children wear on optional dress days. The PreSchool and PreK students may also wear non uniform clothing such as jeans or dresses on optional dress days as long as they conform to the standards outlined in the Challenger Dress Code.
Q. Is it allowed for 1st Grade through 4th Grade girls to wear the skirts on optional dress day?
A. No. The Preschool skirts may only be worn by the Preschool & PreK & Kindergarten girls on optional dress days. The reason the Kindergarten girls are allowed to wear the skirts on Thursdays and Fridays is so they may get the full use out of the skirts that they purchased as Preschool and PreK girls. The Preschool skirt must still fit and be long enough to reach mid knee. Kindergarten girls are allowed to purchase the PreSchool skirts for Thursday and Friday optional days but must keep in mind that they will not be allowed to wear them in 1st - 4th grades even if they still fit and reach mid knee.
Q. I heard that ... (fill in the blank ) from a director or a teacher or a sales associate that ... (fill in the blank) was allowed ...
A. Even a teacher or a director or sales associate can be wrong when they tell you what is allowed. Please refer to the dress code which you signed and read our frequently asked questions for clarification on what is or is not allowed on full dress days, special event days and optional dress days. If you still cannot figure out the answer to your question, please send an email to Info@Scholarwear.com. We have most likely encountered your question before and have confirmed our answer with Challenger Corporate office.
Q. Do Preschool and PreK students have to wear a belt on full dress days with pants and shorts?
A. No. Belts are optional for Preschool and PreK students. Kindergarten through 8th Grade students are required to wear a belt when they are wearing pants or shorts both on full dress and optional dress days.
Q. Do Preschool and PreK students have to tuck their shirts in?
A. No. Tucked in shirts are optional for Preschool and PreK students. Kindergarten through 8th Grade students are required to tuck in their shirts on both full dress and optional dress days.
Q. Are Preschool and PreK girls allowed to wear pants on full dress days (Mondays and Tuesdays)?
A. No. Preschool and PreK girls can choose between the skirt and the shorts on full dress days. They may choose to wear pants on free dress/optional dress days. In cold weather they may wear heavy tights or leggings under their skirts.
Q. Are the Challenger jackets allowed for wear in the classroom in Kindergarten - 8th Grade?
A. No, Jackets, sweatshirts, and other outerwear items are not allowed to be worn in the classroom even on Optional dress days. This is a change in policy from last year when the jackets were allowed on Optional dress days. Teachers found that they were disruptive. Challenger sweaters and vests are to be worn in the classrooms. White undershirts may be worn under shirts (short sleeve under short sleeve shirts and long sleeve under long sleeve shirts) for warmth in the classroom on optional dress days and full dress days. Jackets from home or Challenger crested items are allowed on the playground and during loading and unloading.
Q. Do we have to press the jumpers and skirts?
A. Yes, as needed. We would like to teach parents and students how to care for their Challenger uniforms properly so they can wear them as long as possible and meet the Challenger dress code standards which say that "all uniform items must be clean, in good condition and worn as specified".
We have attended Challenger School Programs where the uniform items were not pressed on some children. Some parents and students are not following the care guidelines for the pants, jumpers and skirts which call for pressing the uniform before programs, special function and picture days if the uniform needs pressing. (See our "How to care for uniform" item guides at the end of our FAQs.) These jumpers are made of high quality material which often last for several years of wear. They will need to be pressed on occasion in order to maintain Challenger's standard of "good condition". Our online pressing demonstration is our way of helping our customers learn how to press their pleats and be ready for their full dress days and their next special function or program, so their child looks pleasing every day. With proper care of the uniforms you may be amazed at how little effort is required to keep your child's uniforms looking their best. Again, for more information, see below at the end of the FAQ's for pressing instructions.
If you will not press the uniforms yourself, please take the uniforms every few months to a drycleaner who will press the uniform for a small charge. In our experience with our own children's uniforms, with proper care, the plaids may require pressing every so often, but if done correctly, a pressing can last for months time. Remember, do not dry the skirts and jumpers in hot dryers because you will lose the pleats and need to re-press them.
Q. Can we pay with credit cards, cash or checks?
A. ScholarWear is no longer accepting checks at the stores
or at the on-campus shopping events. Credit cards, Debit cards
and Cash are accepted methods of payment for school apparel.
Q. Is the cardigan sweater required? Which
one is that?
A. Yes, it's true. Every student, (Kindergarten - 8th
Grade), is required to have a Challenger burgundy cardigan
sweater and wear it on Challenger special function days. The
cardigan sweater is the one with the buttons on the front. The
alternative to wearing the cardigan sweater on normal Mondays
through Wednesdays for full dress day is to wear a Challenger
tie or burgundy sweater vest or burgundy pullover long sleeve
sweater.
Q. But why do we have to purchase a sweater our child
will only wear a few times a year?
A. The sweaters can be worn every day of the year (assuming
it's not too hot). They can be worn in the classroom on
full dress days, special function days, picture days, optional
dress days. Many children wear the sweaters as a typical daily
wear item during the cold seasons inside and outside of the
classroom. The sweater vest is particularly nice for
keeping the white shirts clean on the boys. Often,
Challenger students wear the sweaters for two or more years
until it is thoroughly worn out or passed to another child for
another year of use.
Q. I would like to see the uniforms my child has
outgrown recycled. It seems a shame to throw them out when
they are still in excellent condition especially those with
the Challenger crest. Can I donate them to be recycled for
Challenger students?
A. Many parents have asked ScholarWear if they could donate
their used uniforms to a recycling program. ScholarWear
will accept donations of uniforms at the stores, and at
on-campus sale days, and the ScholarWear staff will wash,
press and make minor repairs as their staff's time permits.
Recycled items will be placed on racks for sale in the stores
during the year as they are renewed. They will not be placed
on the web site since wear and tear varies by item the
condition of the item needs to be seen in person before the
decision to purchase a recycled item is made. The uniforms in
nice condition will be placed for sale for the renewal
cost, about 1/2 the normal purchase price, of a new
uniform item. Items that are not up to the Challenger
Standards of nice condition, but that are still usable, will
not be placed for resale but will be donated to institutions
which can make them available to children who cannot afford to
purchase new uniforms.
Q: What are your shipping and handling costs?
A: Our shipping and handling costs are easy to calculate.
For most orders, shipping will be $7.95 for the first item,
and between 25 and 95 cents for each additional item in that
order. The wheeled backpack has an additonal fee. We usually use USPS priority mail
and UPS ground shipping and provide tracking numbers via
email. Free ship orders may be shipped via 1st class mail.
Q: What is ScholarWear's Return Policy?
A: You may return most items* for a refund or exchange
within 30 days of the delivery date. Items returned must
be unworn, unwashed and unaltered with original tags attached
and a receipt/packing slip. Exchanges shipped to you will
incur a shipping charge. We recommend using insured pre-paid
mail or UPS service to return your items. Returns and exchanges may also be made at
a ScholarWear store. Nevada customers may bring returns to the
on-campus sales for exchanges or refunds. Merchandise
presented with original receipt/packing slip will be issued a
refund in the manner of the original transaction.
Refunds for credit card purchases will be applied to the card.
*Note: Items sold as clearance items or recycled items are
sold "as is" and are considered final sales and are not
returnable for an exchange or refund. Please examine these
items carefully before purchase.
Q: What if my item is defective?
A: Each of our garments is guaranteed against manufacturer's
defects when they are returned within 30 days from
the date of purchase. Use and care practices vary by
customer so we do not guarantee against
buttons falling off, hems falling down, holes in the knee area
or bicycle chain area, or elbows, a strap or handle breaking after months
of use, or shrinkage. We do not guarantee replacements for
wear and tear. We do not guarentee our uniforms for a year. You may return a defective item, within 30 days
of the day you received it, for a refund or exchange.
Upon our receipt of the defective item, and confirmation of
the defect, (our employees are experienced at telling what is wear and tear and what is a manufacturers defect), we will reimburse you for the cost you incurred to
ship it back to us and refund your purchase price or exchange the item.
Q. The seam ripped under the arm on my child's sweater?
It happened during the first week of school. Can I return the
sweater for a replacement?
A. Scholarwear does not replace sweaters or other items of
clothing that have been worn and torn or ripped or snagged
creating holes. Some buttons may come off when children pull
on them as normal wear and tear. As detailed in our return
policy, we will replace an that has a manufacturer's defect.
There is a time limit for reporting and returning an item with
a manufacturers defect. Damage from wear and tear, even if it
occurs during the first week of school is not a
manufacturers defect. The best thing to do is look over the
item purchased closely before wearing it. If there is a button
missing before it is worn, or a seam that is poorly sewn or a
zipper that won't zip, please return the item for replacement
or repair before removing the tags.
If the garment has been worn, and it is brought to the store
within 30 days from the purchase, the employees at ScholarWear
can use their judgement to determine if the problem was caused
by wear and tear or not. If an item looks used and worn, the
problem was most likely caused by the child, not by the
manufacturer, and we recommend that the parent repair the item
or have it repaired. I have repaired hems that have come
unstitched or seams that have ripped for many of the items
that have been donated and the items have gone on to be worn
by children who are grateful for the clothing. A hem on a
jumper that comes loose calls for a needle and thread and a
few quick stitches to secure the hem so the problem will not
continue around the rest of the jumper. It is not appropriate
to ask for a new jumper because a hem was snagged on a shoe or
a chair. We do have buttons available for minimal cost if you
lose a button and hemming tape for repairing loose hems.
If a sweater comes back looking like it was only worn a few
times and a hole is under the arm pit where the seams meet, it
probably was cause by the manufacturer not finishing the seam
properly and may be replaced by ScholarWear. The decision is
up to the ScholarWear employee and their experience with what
is typically caused by wear and tear and what may be a
manufacturer's defect. We are not trying to sell faulty
merchandise, but we will not replace items that a child has
worn and torn or items that have been improperly cared for.
Since the items are the same from year to year there have been
occasions where parents have brought items from previous years
asking for replacements only to find that the item was really
an old item confused with the newer purchases made that year.
There can be confusion with items that were an older sibling's
used item or friend's sweater mixed in with the clothing from
the newer purchases. Since there are no serial numbers on each
item, it is up to the employee's judgment in issuing
replacements even if the parent thinks the item is newly
purchased. Keep in mind that if an item is heavily worn it may
not be exactly the same item you recently purchased and listed
on the receipt.
Some problems are caused by improper care. It is the parent's
responsibility to read and follow the manufacturer's care
instructions. There was an item brought to ScholarWear that
the parent thought that there was some problem with the
material. It was wrinkled and bumpy and the parent asked for a
replacement. We found that the item had been washed or dried
in extreme heat and we were able to repair it by some careful
steam pressing. The item was returned to the parent looking
like new. Following the fabric care tips is the parent's
responsibility. Tips for fabric care are given below. Some
children are tougher on clothing compared to others and they
may ruin an item of clothing after only a month. Some parents
realize this and take precautions by adding fabric patches
before the knees are torn or tightening buttons when they
become loose. Some children wear our clothing for the entire
year and the items still look great with no holes in the
knees. We do not guarantee the items will last an entire year.
I attended a school event recently, where a child was wearing a sweater with holes in both elbows. I was concerned that the sweater had appeared to to have worn out and that it was allowed to be worn during a special function event or even any school day. The dress code states that "all uniform items must be clean, in
good condition and worn as specified". I asked my child about the sweater and was told that the child had cut the holes into the elbows with scissors. Some children are harder on their uniforms than others. We do not guarantee the items will last an entire year.
Q: Are all the items on your website carried all year?
A: We keep our required uniforms
inventory stocked all year. However our selection is best in
July, just before the "Back to School" rush in August.
Quantities may be limited for optional, discontinued and
high-demand items. The unique nature of the Challenger crest
merchandise may create an occasional delay.
Q: What unique sizing options are available to help give
my child that perfect fit we've had difficulty finding?
A: We carry a more extensive line of sizes in our products
for grades K-8 than many uniform outfitters. While most will
carry standard even sizes (4, 6, 8, 10...), we also carry many
odd sizes and slim, half and husky sizes to ensure the best
possible fit. A common area of confusion is in the half sizing
of the girls clothing. A half size is not a size in between
two sizes but actually is more of a husky size. For example, a
size 8 jumper has a skirt length of 18.25" and a waist of
24.5" and if you have a child who is the height of a size 8
but needs a husky waist we would recommend trying the 8.5
jumper.. The 8.5 jumper has a skirt length of 18.5" and a
waist of 29.5". If a child need a waist size of a size 8 or 10
jumper but finds the length and top too long, we often find a
better fit by choosing the 6.5 jumper.
The same is true for the boys husky pants sizes. For example,
the boys size 6 pants have an inseam of 20.5" and a waist of
22.5" and if you have a child who is the height of a size six
but needs a husky waist we would recommend trying the size 25"
waist husky boys pants which have a 20" inseam. The husky
shorts also have elastic at the waist which helps with the
fit.
The jumpers have been made with an extra 3 inches in length
and large hems to meet the mid-knee or longer dress code for
girls and to extend the number of years the a jumper can be
worn. Girls in the Kindergarten - 4th grade present a
broad range of sizes. There are some who fit our size 3
jumpers and others who fit our size 18 1/2 jumpers. We
try to fit the waist first and then adjust the length at
either the waist or the hem. There is an easy adjustment
feature on the jumpers on both the front and the back of the
jumper. The manufacturer makes the seam where the bib of
the jumper meets the skirt so that it can be easily detached
and re-sewn to make the adjustments needed for the length of
your child's torso. I have lowered the waist seams and hems on
the jumpers for my girls and was able to use the same jumpers
for 2 years. They are still in great shape and I plan to pass
the older girl's jumpers to my younger daughter for next
year. Pressing the jumpers two or three times a year is
needed if you dry your jumpers in the dryer.
Q: Do you have sizes available for my extra tall
student?
A: Yes. Our unfinished hem boys pant is 37" in total length
which allows for an inseam of 36". Most students find the 30"
or 32" inseam the best for them. Only those who are over 6'2"
tend to need the unfinished 37" hem. Our girl's pants teen
sizes have a 32" inseam. For the 5th-8th grade skirts, some
girls under 5'2" tall may be able to wear the Girl's sizes,
but most between 5' 3" and 5' 8" should go to the Teen Sizes
for extra length. The Challenger Uniform Code specifies the
mid knee cap for length. For those girls 5'9" and above we
have some Teen Extra-Long Skirts in limited quantities at higher prices.
Q: If my child is growing quickly, what size should I
order?
A: Measure! Don't guess! First, measure your child's
waist, and additionally her hips if a girl. Look at the sizing
charts, choose the size which is at least 1" larger than your
actual measurement. Don't forget your child will have to tuck
in a shirt or blouse, and may be wearing a T-shirt or camisole
under their knits, sailors or oxfords. Allow for clothing to
shrink normally based on the fabric content and to be a
slightly loose or oversized in the fall, as they will most
likely grow as the year goes on. And please keep in mind that
children's abdominal measurements can vary significantly
depending upon whether or not they eaten recently.
Q: Will I run into problems if attempting to hem my
child's pants 4 or 5 inches?
A: Our boys' pants are designed to allow them to be hemmed
up to 5 inches before needing to taper the leg. This assists
in fitting a child who is larger in the middle, but has yet to
get his or her height. Your best choice if you need a much
larger waist, for sizes 6 and above, will be a husky size for
the boys or a half size for girls as they are cut shorter in
the stride and inseam. For example, The boys size 6 pants have
an inseam of 20.5" and a waist of 22.5" and if you have a
child who is the height of a size six but needs a husky waist
we would recommend trying the size 25" waist husky boys pants
which have a 20" inseam. The husky pants also have elastic at
the waist which helps with the fit. The girls pants have a
slight flare which may be lost in hemming. We have iron on
hemming tape available at the ScholarWear stores.
Q: How do I figure which neck tie to buy for my student?
A: Young boys and girls wearing pants and jumpers sizes 3,
4, or 5 may wear the 12" Pre-tied Tie. Those wearing sizes 6
or 7 usually fit the size 13" zipperless tie and those wearing size 8
through 10 can wear the 14" Pre-tied Tie. Boys wearing 12-14
pants can usually wear the 15" Pre-tied Zipperless
Tie. Tall young men or girls in sizes 16 and up, normally need
the Self-tied Tie in 54-56". All
men's sizes need the 54-56" Self-tied Tie. If you have an old
style pre-tied tie, (the kind with the hook on the collar),
that is too short we may be able to re-tie it for you with a
shorter tail underneath so it can be worn for another year.
For the girls please keep in mind that the boy's torso is usually longer than a girls of the same size so choose sizes for torso length.
The Sailor cross-over tie is
still the appropriate tie to wear with the Middy/Sailor shirt
worn with the jumpers. We have limited quantities of the Sailor tie that can be tied in a square knot. These are best suited for older girls wearing the large and XL sailor shirts. The pre-tied oxford ties are best to be
worn with the oxford shirts with the jumpers and skirts.
Q: How do I know what size belt to buy?
A: Usually, a belt should be two inches larger than the
waist of the pants or shorts purchased. For example, if a
child wears a Size 10 regular which is a 25" waist, you would
purchase a 27" belt. The adjustable belts fit most children
and youth sizes.
We have very popular
adjustable belts that are either leather tab or magnetic or
heart shaped clasps.
Q: Will uniform colors fade?
A: ScholarWear uses high quality uniform fabric to ensure
resilience and color retention. However, they may fade or
discolor more rapidly depending upon how you care for them.
The 100% cotton in navy has shown to show more fading than the
poly/cotton blend. This is natural for cotton fabric. We
only carry the poly/cotton blend. We do not recommend washing
garments in hot water or drying on hot. When in doubt, follow
the manufacturer's instructions. The knits stay colored for
years if cared for properly as well. (cold wash, warm dry, no
bleach) We highly recommend turning sweaters and knit
shirts inside out before laundering to reduce snagging and
pilling.
Q: Do I need to dry clean these uniforms?
A: Dry cleaning is not needed for general care. Most uniform
garments are machine wash cold, and low warm dry. Dry cleaning
or pressing with an iron set on low steam is recommended on
pleated items two to three times a school year to sharpen the
pleats. Several Challenger
parents have recommended taking the pleated jumpers and skirts
out of the washer and never putting them in the dryer but
instead hanging them to dry overnight to maintain beautiful
pleats. In my experience, ironing the jumpers with a steam
setting on the iron, a few times a year before pictures and
school programs has been great for maintaining crisp pleats
all year. Be careful since the plaid items are polyester and
can melt under a hot iron. A hot dryer can also ruin the
pleats.
Please note, your girls will look better for school programs
and assemblies if you take a few minutes to steam press the
pleats the night before a special function. I see girls
wearing old jumpers at the end of the year that look new
because someone took the time to press the skirt the night
before and other girls that look like the skirt has never been
ironed all year. A little care in ironing once every few
months can keep the jumpers and skirts looking like new all
year. I find that ironing with a steam iron with the
temperature hot but not too hot will keep nice pleats for many
washes and dryings.
I only iron every few months
and my children's jumpers lasted 4 years through 2 girls.
After they finished 4th grade, I was able to take the top off
of the jumpers and use the size 6 jumper skirts for my 5th
grade girl. Then I plan to recycle the skirt when she outgrows them
as I have her smaller jumpers. Challenger has extended the
options on allowed skirts to include the knife pleat skirts just for this
reason. Jumpers may be converted to skirts and worn in 5th to
8th grade if they are still long enough for Challenger's mid
knee cap length dress standard and fit the child properly in
the waist.
Q: Will I need to iron these uniforms?
A: Yes, if you put them in a hot dryer. It all depends on your care of the garments.
Leaving them in the dryer overnight will cause them to wrinkle
and they will not be ready to wear in the morning!
Overstuffing the washer and dryer can also cause wrinkling.
ScholarWear has chosen an excellent oxford shirt. You will
notice the smooth collars and front button placket. Jumpers
and skirts will need pressing on the pleats
occasionally. Several Challenger parents have
recommended taking the pleated jumpers and skirts out of the
washer and never putting them in the dryer but instead hanging
them to dry overnight to maintain beautiful pleats.
Another alternative is to dry in the delicate cycle and remove
the jumper before it is completely dry and with the fingers
patting the pleats into place as you put the jumper on a
hanger to dry the rest of the way.
In our experience, ironing the jumpers with a steam setting on
the iron, a few times a year and before pictures and school
programs has been great for maintaining crisp pleats all year.
Be careful since the plaid items are polyester and can melt
under a very hot iron. A hot dryer can ruin the pleats. See our
Fabric Care Tips below for detailed care instructions on each
type of item.
Q: Will the knees of my student's pants tear?
A: Our pants are heavy durable pants and are equipped with
tough knee reinforcement. Obviously, boys will be boys,
and some boys like to slide, crawl, and spend a lot of time on
their knees. In fact, we met one boy one summer who was
boasting to us that he'd worn through 12 pair of another
manufacturer's pants in the preceding year. We asked him
what he did at recess and he described a game he plays with
his friends where they run and then see how far they can
slide, on their knees on the cement. Clearly, we cannot
guarantee that the knees of our pants will not tear, but we
are providing to you with reinforced knees. The built-in knee
patches keep small outside tears from developing into full
holes. If the pants are occasionally washed in hot and warm
water and dried on hot, the patches may start to pull apart
from the pant. If this occurs we suggest you reverse the pant
and re-apply using a hot iron. You may want to place a thin
towel over the patch before ironing otherwise you will scorch
the pant. Knee patches may be reinforced with additional
patches which are available for purchase at our ScholarWear
stores.
If you know that your child
tears through his knees in the same place each time, we
suggest that you put an extra knee patch in the underside that
area before he wears the pants. This precaution may help keep
a tear from developing. The manufacturer has placed patches in
the knees of its pants but the patches that we sell in the
store are even thicker and can be placed where your specific
child needs the patch.
Q: Are the knits and oxford shirts different for boys
and girls?
A: No, we only carry a "boys" oxford which we sell for both
boys and girls. The polo shirts have a gender neutral fit.
Parents find it easier to pass these items from boys to girls
or girls to boys within the family rather than purchasing new
clothing.
Q: My child says the shirts are scratchy, what should I
do?
A: First, we would suggest pre-washing the shirt a few times
to soften the garment. My children wear a t-shirt or camisol
underneath until the shirts become softer. In my experience,
the old shirts, purchased from the previous retailer, were so
worn out by December that they were see-through under the arms
and the collars were rolling so the shirts had to be replaced.
This is not the case with ScholarWear's oxfords. The
difficulty ScholarWear is faced with is how to find the right
mix between a tight weave with heavy interfacing, for long
lasting durability, and the need for a comfortable wear.
I assure you that we are working to find the best clothing to
meet the requests of all the parents.
Q. The Saratoga store was crowded in August, what can
I do to avoid the crowds?
A.We suggest shopping early in the summer if you like to
shop at a quiet, un-crowded store. The store is well stocked
year round. We enjoy getting acquainted with the Challenger
parents that come to make purchases during our slower season
between September and July. If you find that you cannot shop
earlier in the summer, you may attend the on-campus school
uniform sales this year to be held at the Ardenwood and
Sunnyvale schools, which have large auditoriums and ample
parking space and which are in convenient locations for most
parents. These on campus uniform events take the pressure off the
Saratoga store in August. See dates and times above and on the
scholarwear.com home page. NOTE: Uniform items for Grades 5th - 8th will not be available at the On-Campus Events in California. If your child is going to be in 5th through 8th grade or needs teen/adult size items please come to the Saratoga, CA store or order on the web at www.ScholarWear.com.
We hvae had many wonderful comments from parents on the
organization, friendly and helpful staff, the lack of lines
and the large stock of inventory we made available at the on campus uniform events. That said,
it's still a better choice to shop in the store before August
if you can arrange your schedule to do so.
On-line shopping is available throughout the year. We
ship by priority mail or UPS and usually have ample stock at our shipping
facility.
Q. My child's tie snap has broken. I just bought it. What
should I do?
A. While we do not guarantee the ties against breakage, we
may be able to repair or re-tie your tie. The next time you
come to the ScholarWear store, please bring the tie that has
lost its snap or connector. We have replacement ties and may
be able to quickly repair your pretied tie while you shop if
the store is not busy.
If the tie is a zipper tie we
probably cannot repair it and as a courtesy may replace, a
recently purchased tie, with a similar tie that is a pre-tied
hook tie. We will not replace a zipper tie with another zipper
tie since we have learned that a child who breaks one zipper
tie is much more likely to break additional zipper ties. As
this is a courtesy service, we will not send ties by insured
or by priority mail. If you are in Nevada or Idaho or Texas
please send the tie to the Utah store for repair or
replacement.
We have found that when girls pull the ties apart by the tails
rather than unsnapping them at the snap they are much more
likely to stretch the knit material and pop the snap off. If
your child repeatedly breaks his/her ties by pulling on the
ends, please show her how to unsnap them at the snap or
unclasp them at the back.
Q. My child's sweater/jumper has lost a button. What
should I do?
A. The ScholarWear stores have replacement buttons for the
skirts, jumpers and sweaters as well as for the oxford shirts
and collars for a small charge. We also have small sewing kits
for sale.
Q. My daughter's jumper is coming apart at the waistband. What
should I do?
A. The waistband of the jumpers is designed by the
manufacturers to be a growth feature. The intent is for the
bib top to be easily removable from the waistband so it can be
raised or lowered to fit girls with different torso lengths.
Unfortunately, this ends up being a weakness in the
construction especially when girls tend to put the jumpers on
and off without undoing the buttons. It is not considered a
manufacturing defect, so we will not replace the jumper but it
can easily be restitched across the waistband. If you do not
have access to a sewing machine, you may bring the jumper to a
ScholarWear store and we can reinforce that seam while you
shop if the staff is not too busy. Please keep in mind that
back to school season is very busy.
Personally, I have enjoyed using this growth feature and have
removed the jumper top and made the torso smaller to fit my
tiny daughter better. I have also removed the jumper top and
lengthened the torso and let down the hems when my daughter
grew taller so the same jumper could be worn for two years in
a row.
Challenger has expanded the types of skirts allowed for 5th to 8th grade to include the knife pleat skirt. For any of you who have girls who may still fit their jumpers in the waist, and have the proper Challenger knee length, you may wish to take the top portion off of the jumper and make it into a skirt.
My children's jumpers lasted
4 years through 2 girls. After my youngest girl finished 4th grade, I was
able to take the top off of the old jumpers which I converted into skirts for her in 5th grade.
They still look wonderful with
occasional pressing.
Q. Do you have any helpful information regarding the
care of the clothing? What temperature do I use? Can I use
bleach? Do they shrink?
Fabric Care Tips(see tags on the clothing)
Jumper/Skirts/Culottes (we have noticed no
significant shrinkage when measuring old donated ones against
new ones)
Turn inside out and wash in cold or warm water (gentle
setting for machine wash). Wash only with other 100%
polyester garments. Line dry (many parents hang jumpers
on hangers after each wash and pleats stay beautifully crisp)
or dry in dryer on tumble dry on low-medium
setting remove promptly. Use a warm iron only if
needed. Dry cleaning or professional pressing
recommended on pleated items two to three times a school year
to sharpen the pleats if you wish for a crisper look.
The biggest tip we can give you to keep your pleats crisp is:
DO NOT wash in hot water and please DO NOT dry items in a very
hot dryer. The pleats will fall out and you will need to
steam iron them back in or take the item to a dry cleaner for
pressing. The second biggest tip is: REMOVE
jumpers and skirts promptly from the washer and hang after
washing. If drying in a dryer, remove jumpers and skirts
promptly from the dryer and hang them up. The third
biggest tip is: make certain the jumpers are hung up on
hangers after wearing and the skirts are hung on a skirt
hanger after wearing. Jumpers and skirts left on the
floor or in the car under a pile of other items will not
retain their crisp pleats!
Ironing. We realize everyone cannot remove items
promptly from the dryer. We all have other things to do
besides wait for jumpers to finish drying. If you find
all your pleats have poofed out from a too hot dryer or you
find a crumpled skirt in the back seat of your car you may
need to press those pleats. If you do wish to refresh
the pleats at home set your iron on steam on the lowest steam
setting and use steam while setting the pleats. If
the iron is too hot it will stick on the fabric and melt the
fabric! Watch our PRESS THOSE PLEATS video if you are
unfamiliar with pressing pleats. Arrange the pleats
in their proper place, always keep the iron moving slowly so
the fabric does not melt. If you are not sure if your
iron is too hot, place a dishtowel, or other ironing cloth,
between the iron and the uniform. Wait for the pleats to cool
before moving to the next section of pleats and fold the
pleats into place. Iron next section and cool.
Process takes less than ten minutes and pleats look
lovely. A quick ironing of the pleats is great for
refreshing crisp pleats for full dress days, picture days, school programs and
award assemblies or special function days.
Shirts/Blouses
Sailor Blouse (we have
noticed no significant shrinkage when measuring old donated
Take off the Sailor Tie. Turn blouse inside out and wash
in warm or cold water. Tumble dry on low or medium
setting; remove promptly. Use a warm iron if
necessary. Use non-chlorine bleach only if needed.
Oxford Shirt (yes these do shrink)
Turn shirt inside out and machine wash in warm water.
Tumble dry on medium setting; remove promptly. Use warm
iron if necessary, by placing a thin cloth over the Crest
while pressing to remove any puckers on the Crest. Use
non-chlorine bleach only if needed. Do not use liquid
fabric softeners. For ring around the collar and cuffs,
pre-treat areas with appropriate pre-treatment products.
The best tip we can give you is to hang the shirt on a hanger
promptly. Button the top or second button and straighten
the collar. We would suggest pre-washing a few times
before wearing for the first time to give the shirt a softer
feel. These shirts can be scratchy at first
due to the stiff interfacing used in the collars and
plackets. This interfacing helps to keep the collars
from rolling and bumping. The shirts are made to be
wrinkle resistant and made from high density weave cloth so
they don’t get transparent under the arms before the
year is over. Durable fabrics are not always the
softest. We found through comparison testing that these
shirts last longer and stay looking nicer than the other
brands tested by Challenger students.
Pique or Interlock Knit Polo(yes these do shrink)
For best result make a knit only load. Separate white
from dark colors. Turn inside out and machine wash in
cold water. Line dry or tumble dry on low setting.
Use non-chlorine bleach for whites and light colors ONLY
– do not use on dark colors. Do not use liquid
fabric softeners.
Pilling on polo shirts can be removed with a fabric comb that
can be brushed across the shirt. Usually pilling is
found on the tummy area from rubbing up against items that
snag the shirts. You can use the fabric comb while the
shirt is on the child. Pull the shirt tight over the
tummy and rub the fabric comb over the shirt where it is
nubby. Fabric combs can be found at fabric stores or at
the ScholarWear stores or on the website:
www.ScholarWear.com .
Sweaters(we have noticed no significant
shrinkage when measuring old donated ones against new ones)
Turn inside out and wash in warm water. Wash only with
other sweaters.. Tumble dry on low setting; remove
promptly. Wash dark colors separately. Do Not
Bleach.
Pants and Shorts (we have noticed no
significant shrinkage when measuring old donated ones against
new ones)
Turn inside out and machine wash in cold water. Tumble
dry on low setting; remove promptly. Do Not Bleach.
Again the best tip we can give is to fold the pants with the
crease and hang by the bottoms of the pants on a pant hanger
after wearing or drying. The creases are durable but
they will not hold up well to being left on the floor under
piles of items.
Fleece Jackets
Turn inside out and machine wash in cold water with like
colors. Wash only with other fleece items. Use
powdered detergent only. Tumble dry on low setting or
lay flat to dry. Do not bleach. Do not use liquid
fabric softeners. This will ruin the fleece.
Tip for lint and fuzz: do not wash fleece jackets with
white socks or other items that will leave pieces of lint on
the jacket. Use a fabric comb or lint remover to remove fuzz
and hair from the jackets. Don't leave jackets on carpet and
floors where animals roam.
Tips for Best Results
Use a quality detergent. Additives can cause pilling and
fading.
Wash in small loads.
Turn everything inside out.
Sort loads by similar weight fabric and colors.
Be sure to pre-treat any stains on items before washing.
(Machine washing and drying without pre-treating may set
stains permanently)
Use non-chlorine bleach.
Use dryer sheets instead of liquid fabric softener.
Zippers, snaps and buttons should be fastened before washing
to prevent snags.