Dress Standards.
One of the most valued objectives at Heritage Academy is to help scholars learn to make responsible choices and thereby be prepared to govern themselves. Our dress code is based on principles of maintaining modesty, cleanliness, and professionalism in your dress. Think of dressing for school as if you were applying for a job. Heritage Academy is not the place to experiment with fads. Due to the changing nature of dress and grooming which is particularly popular among youth, administrative decisions in matters not addressed in these guidelines are final.
In any school activity where the regular uniform is not worn (such as sports, Dollars for Duds Days, field trips and tours, drama productions, dances, etc.), all clothing, words, and pictures must be positive, uplifting, and encouraging. Clothing, words, and pictures which are degrading to others or which leave questions as to their meaning must be avoided. Our use of the word ¡§uniform¡¨ in this handbook is somewhat modified. While we require shirts to be purchased from the school, all other articles of clothing are to be obtained at other places. Families are responsible to make sure that these purchases strictly follow our dress code in order for their children to come to school. If scholars are not in dress code, they should not come to school.
When scholars are on campus during school days, they are to be in full uniform from 7:30am to 4:30pm. Uniform dress is required for all activities (except sports) held during or immediately following school hours. The only exception to being in full uniform is if the instructor requires it for class. Changes are to be made during class time. Scholars are not to change their clothes on campus to go somewhere else even if they claim to be just leaving. Any non-uniform winter wear is not to be seen or worn in the building, but kept in student’s lockers. Hats and dark glasses are not to be had in the building.
Boys are to be clean-shaven. Hair length should be above the collar and not touching the ears. Hair must be maintained so as not to reflect faddish styles and not to bring attention, such as the use of long spikes, unnatural colors, etc. Any side burns are to be no lower than the ear lobe.
Hair is to be controlled so as not to cover the face or any part of it.
Any ornamentation to the body, including jewelry and make-up, must be simple and considered merely an accessory. Over use of these items, which includes peculiar colors, faddish jewelry (such as the peace symbol, chains, spikes, large bracelets, etc.) which draws attention is inappropriate, is not in keeping with the dress code, and is therefore not to be worn. No more than one small bracelet may be worn. Only one necklace may be worn and then it is to be worn inside the shirt. Body piercing of any kind is unacceptable. Girls may have a small piercing in ear lobe for small earring. Gauges and plugs are not allowed.
No backpacks are to be carried into the building. Girls may have only small purses. In addition to these guidelines, each teacher has authority to say what will or will not be allowed in his or her classroom. No food or make-up is permitted in classrooms. Also, curlers, curling irons, hair dryers, etc., are not allowed at school.
- Skirts are to be navy or beige khaki and contain no denim, parachute or nylon-like or sheer material and must be no shorter than to the top of the knee when sitting or standing. (front or back) Plaid is not acceptable. Leggings are not a substitute for skirt length.
- Pants or shorts must be solid navy or beige khaki. If any question arises as to what is considered navy, it is the same as our navy shirts. No denim, parachute or nylon-like material. No baggy or jeans with holes, frayed, or cut-leg appearance will be allowed. Also, no pockets, loops, designs or other décor on the legs. Outside pockets with no design on front and rear are allowed. Shorts can be no shorter than 4 inches above the middle of the kneecap.
- Shirts must be the approved shirts with the Heritage logo purchased at the school. Shirts must be buttoned except for the top button. Shirts worn under winter wear must be Heritage shirts. When purchasing shirts, be sure to buy ones long enough (even after laundering) so that no skin shows when standing, sitting, moving, stretching, bending, etc. Scholars whose midriff shows will not be allowed in class. Any T-shirt worn, either under the Heritage shirt or in a sports class, must be solid red, white, or navy with no words or graphics and must have sleeves.
- Shoes may be open-toed and must have a back support. Shoelaces are to be tied at all times.
- Winter wear: Any plain navy blue, white, or red sweater or sweatshirt is acceptable. The material must be solid navy, red, or white inside and out. (Inside may be different than outside but must still be solid navy red, white, or a neutral color such as gray.) It may be button, zipper, or pullover but with no pictures or writing of any kind. Heritage logo is not required on sweater or sweatshirt. When winter wear is worn, collar of polo shirt must be visible showing that a correct uniform shirt is being worn. Please be sure your name is on the winter wear so it may be easily returned if misplaced.
- All scholars in sports classes will wear either the Heritage uniform shirt or a white T-shirt with sleeves and with no writing or graphics. Shorts must be loose fitting and no shorter than four inches above the middle of the knee cap.
- Any pictures or graphics, including those in magazines, scholar folders, and lockers must conform to Heritage standards of modesty.
- No scholar will be allowed in dances and other activities, including formal dances, who does not comply with our dress code (which includes sleeves in dresses, no low back or front, and no midriff exposed).
- Several times during the year, the Scholar Council will have a “Dollars for Duds” day. This is a time when scholars may pay a fee to wear regular clothes other than the school uniform. This is meant to be a fund-raiser for scholar activities. This is not a time to wear costumes, pajamas, etc. All clothes worn must still meet our standards of modesty with sleeves, no midriff showing, no torn, shabby or frayed material, etc.
SEE SCHOLAR HANDBOOK FOR MOST UP-TO DATE DRESS CODE POLICY
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