"Once they hit Grade 6 they stop wearing the snow pants because of fashion reasons," said Gord Breen, principal of William McDonald school.

"Generally the teenagers and middle school years are not dressing for the weather."

That being the case they don't seem to be arriving at school with severe frostbite either.

"Somehow they are working it out," Breen said.

Most schools have a point -- usually in the -30 C range -- where they will stop sending students outside for recess.

Breen said at the middle school level that point is a little warmer because of the students' clothing.

If there are circumstances where children are chronically and severely under-dressed, the parent is contacted, the principal said.

"You have to make a judgment call, if you think it's the family or the child," said Breen.

"Generally it's the child. People in Yellowknife, regardless of income, usually have the right clothing."

Most schools have policies in place where cases of abuse or neglect are reported to social services. Students dressed inadequately for walking to school in very cold weather would fall in that category.

Mildred Hall principal Adrian Amirault said they haven't had to resort to that.

"It's not a big problem. Most parents are quite aware that we live in North and they need to bundle up," he said.

Most schools in town have emergency winter wear in case children forget or lose hats, mitts or scarves.

"I can't speak enough about the support we've had from people to make sure our kids do have proper clothing," said Merrill Dean, principal at Weledeh Catholic school.

The school did a hat and mitt drive before Christmas and received donations of store-bought and handmade hats and mitts.

Range Lake North also has boxes of warm clothing in case children aren't dressed properly. In every case that a child is not properly dressed, each school's principal said they try to resolve the matter with the parent first.

"If it is chronic, we would give a call to the parents. Sometimes the kid may just not like the hat. We always give the parent the benefit of the doubt," said Range Lake North principal Mike McDonald.