Middle School students see minor changes to dress code

Reporter

tdunn@gcnewsgazette.com

With the start of the school year Grayson County Middle School students will find a new dress code in effect.

The GCMS Site Based Decision Making Council adopted some new policies in the old dress code and those changes will take effect beginning August 2007.

“We worked real hard on getting the new dress code published before the school year began,” said Principal Jim Blain. “There are not many changes but the ones we changed cleaned up the old policies.

“We just made the dress code more consistent,” added Blain.

According to the middle school's dress code, schools are educational institutions and all students are expected to dress and groom themselves neatly in clothes that are suitable for school activities.

There will be no extreme forms of personal appearance will to interfere with the educational process.

The Council is giving school officials the authority to limit or prohibit any extreme type of student dress, which, in the judgment of school officials is deemed to create a disruption of school discipline and learning or compromise for school safety.

Clear or mesh backpacks are recommended.

Items that are not acceptable include:

1. Any clothing that displays a bare stomach or back.

2. Spaghetti straps, cutout sleeves, tank tops, muscle shirts or fishnet/revealing clothing, suggestive clothing.

3. Jeans that have holes or slits above the knee.

4. Skirts, shorts and dresses shorter than the top of the knee.

5. No baggy or sagging pants, biker shorts, trench coats, or pajamas.

6. Clothing that has alcohol or tobacco advertising or symbols.

7. Clothing with any type of profanity or sexual remarks, scenes/slogans that are suggestive (Big Johnson, Co-ed Naked, Hooters, Wrestling, South Park, Marylin Manson).

8. Any article of clothing that suggests discrimination in any form.

9. Wallet or dog chains. leather (dog) collars, any jewelry deemed by the administration that could be used as a weapon ie. safety pins, studded or spiked bracelets, necklaces ect.

10. Hats, bandanas, sunglasses and gloves worn during the school day.

11. Clothing, apparel, jewelry, etc., that would promote any activity, gang or group that is not approved by the administration.

12. Extra-curricular uniforms must be approved by the principal.

13. Unless approved by administration, only natural permanent hair color.

School officials want to make sure the students understand it is important that they abide by this dress code.

When there is an infraction in the dress code parents will be notified and they must bring the student proper clothing or he/she will be sent home.

The final decision as to the appropriateness of the attire will be at the discretion of the administration.