Student Dress Apparel Policy - FINAL APPROVED POLICY

 

The purpose for implementing this student dress code policy for all students in grades Kindergarten through 12 is to strengthen the learning environment for classroom instruction and academic performance; prevent disruption to the educational process; prevent distraction to students, staff and the educational process; facilitate learning; increase the atmosphere for school pride and personal appearance; and enhance the image of students and the school in the Sharon community.

This dress code policy shall be in effect during the regular school year.

T O P S

Permitted: Tops are permitted in the following solid colors: orange, black, white, and gray.

All tops must be worn with a collar (aside from Tiger Wear tops exceptions). Polo-style shirts with a collar, oxford shirts with a collar, dress shirts with a collar, turtlenecks, and mock turtlenecks are permitted. Sweaters including crew neck, v-neck, full length zipper, half-zipper pullover, boat neck, vest/sweater vest, and cardigan can be worn as part of a layered outfit with a collared, mock-turtleneck, or turtleneck shirt.

No more than the top two (2) buttons may be unbuttoned on any style of a collared shirt. All shirts must have sleeves including short sleeve, cap-sleeve, three-quarter length, and long sleeve.

A manufacturer's logo/emblem is permitted on tops as long as the logo/emblem is no bigger than a 2-inch by 2-inch square.

Undergarment shirts must not go below the mid-thigh area in length and must be worn in the approved solid colors (orange, black, white, gray).

Students are not required to “tuck-in” tops. All tops must not go below the mid-thigh area in length. Students must wear clothes that fit.

Prohibited: Hooded tops or “hoodies” are prohibited. Hooded tops or “hoodies” may be worn as outerwear but must be placed in lockers upon arrival to school. T-shirts and sweatshirts of any kind are not permitted (aside from Tiger Wear tops exceptions).

Outwear/outdoor clothing is not permitted once classes begin.

Wearing an oversize/draping shirt hanging at the knee area, touching the knee or below the knee is strictly prohibited.

Tops which expose the midriff, or waist/belly button/stomach area are strictly prohibited.

T I G E R W E A R T O P S

Although all other t-shirts and sweatshirts are prohibited, school-sponsoredcrewneck t-shirts (short sleeve, long sleeve and three-quarter length) and crewneck sweatshirts are permitted. These school-sponsoredcrewneck t-shirts and sweat shirts are considered as “Tiger Wear,” which is defined as a spirit wear shirt affiliated with Sharon Middle/High School and/or Sharon Elementary Schools. Examples of Tiger Wear shirts include the following: spirit wear tops affiliated with the school PTO, spirit wear tops affiliated with school-sponsored athletic programs, spirit wear tops affiliated with the instrumental band, orchestra, and vocal music school-sponsored programs, and spirit wear tops affiliated with school-sponsored clubs. In addition, spirit wear crewneck t-shirts and sweatshirts purchased from local stores or merchants that display an affiliation with Sharon Middle/High School and/or Sharon Elementary Schools are permitted.

All Tiger Wear tops must be in the following colors, including embroidery/silk screens/etc., orange, black, white, and gray. Tiger Wear tops in color combinations of orange, black, white, and gray are permitted.

The logo/emblem size restriction does not apply to Tiger Wear tops. However, Tiger Wear sweatshirts with hoods and/or pockets and sweatshirt “hoodie” jackets are still excluded.

B O T T O M S

Permitted: Bottoms are permitted in the following colors: black, ranging from light charcoal to dark charcoal as well as basic black, and khaki and must be solid in color. Pants can be pleated or straight with no more than four pockets. Corduroy pants, dress pants, and shorts which are not shorter than two inches from the top of the knee are permitted. In addition to these choices, capri pants, skirts, skorts, dresses and jumpers are also permitted, but limited in color to those outlined above. The hemline on skirts, skorts, dresses and jumpers must be no shorter than two inches from the top of the knee.

Leggings, tights, leotards, etc. are permitted but limited in color to solid black, white, and khaki and must be worn with an approved bottom.

Students are not required to wear a belt with bottoms. All bottoms must be worn at the waist. The waist is defined as the area between the bottom of the rib cage and top of the hip bone.

All bottoms including, skirts, skorts, shorts, jumpers, and dresses must have a finished hem.

Prohibited: Denim (jeans) of any type or color are prohibited. Cut-offs or holes of any kind are not permitted in bottoms. Students are not permitted to wear pajama bottoms, pajama bottom-style pants, athletic style pants and shorts, or sweat pants/jogging pants and sweat shorts, which includes fleece, cotton, nylon, spandex and velour. Additionally, bottoms of any style made with stretch knits, flannel, fleece, velour, or spandex are not permitted. Fishnet stockings are not permitted.

Wearing bottoms which expose skin or undergarments or wearing oversize/draping baggy style pants to create a “sag” look is strictly prohibited.

D R E S S E S A N D J U M P E R S

• All dresses must have a collar and sleeves or be worn with an approved top. All jumpers must be worn with an approved top.

• Dresses and jumpers must be no shorter than two (2) inches from the top of the knee.

• Dresses and jumpers must be one of the following solid colors: orange, black, white, gray, or khaki.

• Dress and jumpers must have a finished hem.

F O O T W E A R

Permitted: Students are required to wear any style of “closed toe” footwear, made of canvas, plastic, rubber, leather, fake/faux leather or leather-like synthetic compound with either a rubber sole or leather sole, which includes: dress shoes, casual shoes, athletic shoes, closed toe Crocs, boots, and closed toe sandals. Footwear may have a back or be “backless” in nature. Boots may extend no higher than the bottom of the knee.

Prohibited: “Open toe” footwear is strictly prohibited. Slippers and flip flops of any kind (leather, transparent plastic, rubber, wood, etc.) are strictly prohibited. Flip flops are defined as flat and backless consisting of a flat sole held loosely on the foot by a Y-shaped or V-shaped strap, like a thin thong, that passes between the first (big) and second toes and around either side of the foot. Shower shoes are strictly prohibited. Shower shoes are defined as those meant to be used near pools, bathrooms, or other wet places, and are made of plastic or rubber.

Shoes with wheels (“heelies”) are strictly prohibited.

D R E S S C O D E E X C E P T I O N S

Exceptions to the dress code shall include the following:

1. Students participating in a nationally-recognized youth organization (such as Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts) may wear their uniforms on those days such organizations have a scheduled function.

2. Athletic team representation such as game day jerseys/uniforms (uniform skirts that do not meet the minimum length requirement are not permitted during the regular school day).

Other exceptions are made only upon the prior approval of the Building Principal. Such exception requests must be made in writing at least 24 hours in advance where practicable and must include a reason/explanation for the request.

R E L I G I O U S E X E M P T I O N S

Requests for exemptions from the dress code based upon one's religion or religious beliefs must be made at least 24 hours in advance where practicable in writing to the Principal including an explanation of why the religion/religious belief prevents compliance with the dress code.

G E N E R A L

All clothing is to be clean and neat.

Attire that is not in compliance with this dress code policy is not permitted. In addition to the clothing items expressly prohibited under this policy, Principals and District Administration have discretion to address any attire/body art that is degrading, vulgar, contrary to the educational mission of the school that disrupts the learning environment, or infringes upon the rights of others.

All clothing must be of appropriate size and fit neatly. Any clothing that is too tight, revealing/see-through, or saggy/baggy, including but not limited to low necklines, midriff tops, and form-fitting tops or bottoms, is not permitted.

H A I R

Hair is to be clean and neatly groomed.

Hair color, including highlights, must be within the spectrum of color that hair grows naturally, such as shades of blonde, black, auburn/red, and brunette.

Mohawks, long spikes, and other extreme hair styles which are disruptive/distracting to the educational process or pose a safety hazard are not permitted.

Hair must not be worn in a way which obstructs the natural vision from student or staff members.

J E W E L R Y A N D A C C E S S O R I E S

Jewelry or accessories that may be used as weapons are not to be worn to school. This includes, but is not limited to, jewelry such as spiked rings, spiked bracelets, spiked dog collars, chained wallets, two or three finger rings that are connected, and bulky chains worn around the neck or waist.

Chains and sharp objects such as spikes are not allowed on clothing or book bags.

No head coverings are permitted. This includes, but is not limited to, caps, hats, hoods, bandanas, wave caps, sweatbands, skull caps, sunglasses, headsets, or any other head covering. Combs, rakes, or picks should not be worn in the hair. Exception requests, including those based upon religious beliefs or medical reasons, must be made in writing to the school principal along with an explanation of how the religious belief/religion prevents compliance with the ban on head coverings at least 24 hours in advance where practicable.

Body piercing (other than permissible types of ear piercing) and displaying jewelry in areas such as the nose, eyebrows, lips and tongue are not permitted. Other than in the ears, no clear studs to maintain a piercing are permitted.

“Gauging” or stretching of the mouth/lips/and/or earlobe as well as the following types of earrings, ear/body jewelry, and ear/body piercing are not permitted: flesh tunnels, flesh plugs, ear/lip stretchers, ear/lip expanders (gauges), and similar ear/lip stretching devices or jewelry.

Students may not wear tinted glasses or sunglasses. Decorative contact lenses are not permitted.

Gold teeth or grills of any type are strictly prohibited.

G A N G – A F F I L I A T E D A T T I R E / A C C E S S O R I E S

A “gang” as defined in this policy means any organization, association, or group of three or more which has a unique name or identifiable signs, symbols, or marks, and whose members individually or collectively engage in criminal or violent behavior to persons or property, or who create an unreasonable and substantial disruption of a class, activity, program, or other function of a school.

Any gang attire, symbols, signs, tattoos, hairstyles, or other things which are evidence of membership in, or affiliation with, recruitment, or desire to be affiliated with, any gang are prohibited. Gang related attire/accessories include but are not limited to the following:

• Bandanas or any article of clothing bearing gang symbols, names, initials, insignias, or anything else that signals gang affiliation;

• Students rolling up one pant leg;

• Long bulky chains and necklaces, gang-styled belt buckles, or large oversized pendants on necklaces and chains; and

• Draping articles of clothing, towels, or other objects out of pant pockets or over the shoulder or neck area.

As gang styles and clothing continually evolve and change, additional styles and apparel may be considered gang-affiliated, as identified in consultation with School Officials and law enforcement authorities.