The times have certainly changed since school uniforms consisted of starched "to the max'' skirts and big ties.

Over 20 years ago it was the height of your Afro which seemed to compliment your look. And you wore those cute little bloomers and white T-shirts for gym.

Today, the look of school uniforms has been brought up to date. And that is evident in what the new CedarBridge Academy students will be wearing along with the rest of the middle school students.

When deciding what the new mega middle school students would wear a lot of thought had to go into style, comfort and having everyone look like they were in uniform no matter what pieces they chose to wear.

Deputy chairman of the board of CedarBridge and chairman of the uniform committee Sandra Bain said they were faced with a one-month deadline for designing and ordering the uniforms.

She said: "First we had to develop a uniform concept for CedarBridge then turn it to the manufactures for them to dye and cut the fabrics, so we had to look at fabric options etc. as we needed to be able to have the same items in stock for several years.

"We wanted colours that no other school on the Island had so we chose cedarberry blue and cranberry red. We are developing an identity that is unique and we didn't want some students coming in identifying with colours while others couldn't. We wanted kids to come in and identify with CedarBridge colours.'' Mrs. Bain also said they had to look at the cost to parents, durability and variety and "we recognised that students today wanted versatility and options -- a chance to personalise the uniform. To that end we made sure that whatever pieces we chose were appropriate uniform pieces.

"We chose a fabric that was washable and durable and chose grey for the colour which we had all our bottoms made out of it -- skirts, pants, shorts -- they were all cut from the same fabric so there would be continuity.

"We deciding what the school colours would be -- we then had to take into consideration how kids were dressing today,'' Mrs. Bain said.

She added: "We recognised that kids wanted to wear long so we brought in the knee length gym shorts and basketball tops. We also did a mini survey and everyone was in agreement that a crested polo shirt was great for the summer.

"When we looked at the colours we decided that for the winter a blue shirt would be more appropriate as opposed to the white because they would be wearing ties and it would look richer for that season.'' The winter gym uniform will consist of a cotton-knit top that is reversible with both school colours and a long cotton draw string short. "We also have a track suit and it is very warm -- 11 ounce fleece so they can be warm.'' Mrs. Bain said they have also offered girls the option of wearing a scarf instead of a tie.

And for religious reasons some girls must cover their heads so this way they can use the school scarfs and still be in uniform.

"We did away with the blazers and instead we have a school sweater in cedarberry blue with the crest and a sleeveless vest in cranberry red.

"We also got the children a fleece-lined hooded parka in blue with the crest on the pocket with either a zip up front or half zip pullover.'' She also said students will wear grey socks and black shoes because "we thought it looked smarter for the kids and black is black. Brown has too many shades. We also have school scrunchies for the girls hair so they always look smart.'' Commenting on picking uniforms that had some style Mrs. Bain said: "Since the school was reflective of the future then the uniform needed to reflect the future as well. We wanted to move away from the starched formula approach to a more relaxed and crisp look.

"What we would like to do in a year is get student feedback on what they are comfortable with in their uniforms and what they don't like, and what they would like to see.'' Reflecting on the changes in uniform style, former teacher Dame Marjorie Bean said: "In the 1920's students did not wear uniforms but when they did the girls wore navy skirts and a white middy blouse -- like a sailor's top.

"Berkeley Preparatory school was the first black school that went into uniforms and shortly after that schools adopted them because it was practical.

Schools then developed their own colours.'' Dame Marjorie added that children today look lovely in their own particular uniform colours and they are neater. Uniforms also remove the aspect of rivalry with dress.

"In the 1940's there were no long trousers for girls and the boys would wear shorts.'' And what's going on with uniform changes in other middle schools? Whitney Institute Middle School headmaster Gail Graham said because the school introduced polo shirts and shorts and trousers for the girls two years ago there was no need for a change in the uniforms now that it has become a middle school. "The Whitney green will still be there,'' she added.

At The Middle School at Sandys, Melvyn Bassett said: "We have given students a choice these days.

"The girls have a greater choice in that they will be able to wear a crested polo shirt with either a skirt or shorts with a hip length vest for summer.

"In the winter it will be similar they can wear the skirt, shorts or long pants. colours are still the same maroon and grey.

"Boys will have grey shorts and maroon socks with a regular dress shirt with the school tie and the girls along with the boys can either wear a maroon sweater or vest.'' Students at Spice Valley Middle School will be in very basic uniform with a white crested polo top for the summer with navy pants, skirts and shorts.

And at Dellwood Middle School students will wear white polo shirts with crest with navy blue shorts for the boys and long pants for winter. For the girls there are navy culottes for the summer and pants for the winter.

OLD SCHOOL -- Students from Whitney Institute 1975 pose for a picture taken by Gene Ray. As you can see, Afros, big ties, big belt loop pants, and stiff short A-line skirts were the in-thing that year.

NEW SCHOOL -- Cedarbridge Academy students will look unique, stylish and uniformed in their cranberry red and cedar berry blue uniform pieces.