PERSONAL APPEARANCE & DRESS
The school recognizes that grooming and mode of dress are personal attributes, and the responsibility for the individual’s personal appearance is largely the responsibility of the student and his/her parents. However, community standards of decency and good taste in personal appearance are most important, especially in group settings with a life altering purpose.
One’s dress and grooming tend to reflect one’s attitude and respect for self, as well as others. Experience has shown that student attire has an effect on conduct, as well as general attitude toward educational tasks. (For example, research shows that in schools where a school uniform has been required, disciplinary actions are reduced by up to 60 percent, and academic achievement has increased by as much as 30 percent in a single year.) Therefore, the school has a responsibility to determine guidelines for student dress and grooming in a manner creating an atmosphere conducive to maximum learning as well as to help prepare them for the world of work after graduation. In addition to being appropriate, the student’s clothing should be clean. The student should have clean hair, body, fingernails and footwear. Long hair must be controlled by a hair net or other acceptable means when around machines or other devices in which the hair could become entangled.
Styles and the names of articles of clothing change frequently. Therefore, it is impossible to list all inappropriate items. In cases where there is a question of appropriateness for school, the principal or assistants will make the final decision.
The following articles of clothing and/or accessories are examples of inappropriate wear for school:- Halter tops, tube tops, tank tops, spaghetti-strap tops, muscle shirts, net jerseys, or any type top which exposes an unusual amount of the upper torso (girls or boys).
- See-through clothing.
- Gym clothing, pajama pants or loungewear.
- Hats, bandanas, scarves and other head coverings (girls or boys). This includes the hood of a hooded shirt. Headbands may be worn to keep hair out of face/eyes.
- Clothing which is torn, ripped, cut up or defaced.
- Clothing with sexually suggestive or obscene words and/or pictures including double meaning; Any item promoting racial or ethnic disrespect; Items promoting violence, illegal acts or unethical behavior.
- Clothing that fits improperly (too large, too small, too tight).
- Shorts/skirts which do not equal the position of the fingertips with arms and fingers extended.
- Wallet chains or other heavy chains (necklaces) capable of use as weapons.
- Studded collars or wristbands, jewelry deemed dangerous.
- No costumes.