Dress Code

As I've said before, I go to Bishop Kelly Catholic High School. Somehow, though, I've failed to mention a certain dress code that binds all students of Bishop Kelly. A dress code that I usually abide by, but recently slipped and got a violation. Apparently if you get two violations in the whole school year, you have to serve a detention. The third and fourth violations are equal to in-school suspensions.

Well that's just bull if you ask me. For punishment, we sit in this little room with a one-sided mirror and copy down, word-for-word, the dress code policy. Now I am no fast writer. I can text. I can type. But write? You'd have to give me some time. And here is what I (and plenty others before me) had to write down, out of the student handbook:

DRESS CODE POLICY Philosophy: The purpose of the dress code policy is to contribute to the academic atmosphere of the school, to give students a sense of equality, and to lend dignity to both the individual and the school, while providing a sense of school unity and identity. The intent of this policy is to provide general guidelines for students, parents, and faculty so that expectations are clear. General Dress Code: All clothing articles should be well-kept, clean, neat and should fit appropriately. Pants - Dress slacks, business casual, khaki style, or cargo pants are acceptable and must be worn at the waist. No denim, camouflage, or athletic pants may be worn. Belts - Belts must be worn with pants that have belt loops. Shorts - Walking or cargo shorts may be worn and must extend past mid-thigh. Athletic, mesh, denim, frayed or cut-off shorts are not allowed. Skirts/Skorts – Skirts/Skorts may be worn by female students and must extend to the top of the knee when standing up straight. No denim is allowed. Shirts – All shirts must have collars and sleeves. Mock and full turtlenecks are acceptable collars. Shirts may be worn untucked if the hem is straight and does not extend past the belt line. All other shirts need to be completely tucked in. Shirts must be buttoned and worn appropriately to not show excessive neckline. Sweatshirts/Fleece/Crewneck Sweaters – Bishop Kelly, college/university, or unadorned/plain sweatshirts or crewneck sweaters may be worn with or without a collared shirt beneath it. No other sweatshirts or crewneck sweaters are allowed. Jackets/Sweaters – V-neck, button up, and zip-up sweaters, jackets and hoodies may be worn as an addition to the above stated “shirts” policy. Jewelry – Jewelry should be worn in moderation and in good taste. Excessive jewelry and ornamentation is not acceptable. Body Piercing/Tattoos – With the exception of earrings for female students, no other body piercing or tattooing is allowed to be visible. Hats/ Head Coverings – Head coverings of any kind are considered inappropriate for the school environment. No hats, visors, hoods, stocking caps, beanies, or bandanas are to be worn in the building. Shoes – Shoes must be safe and appropriate for school. Bedroom slippers are never allowed. Hair Requirements – Hair should be kept neat, clean, trimmed appropriately and properly styled. No unnatural hair colors are allowed. Hair styles should not become a distraction to the learning environment for the individual or for others. The expectation for male students is that hair should be out of the eyes when hanging naturally, off of the collar when hanging naturally, and cut above the earlobes. If a student’s hair is not appropriate, the student will be given 3 days to comply with a request from the administration and after that time the student will be placed in “In-School Suspension” until the hair is appropriate. Facial Hair is not permitted. Mass Dress: The Mass Day dress code is designed to reflect dignity and respect. Boys must wear collared shirts (No Polo Shirts) with a tied necktie and long slacks or khaki pants all day. Girls must wear dresses or skirts and collared blouses, or dress slacks and collared blouses all day. No flip-flops or sweatshirts are to be worn on Mass Days. Spirit/Team Dress: On designated spirit days, all students will be allowed to wear Bishop Kelly tee shirts. On game/competition days not designated as a school-wide Spirit Day, team members may dress alike in the spirit of team unity and school pride. Team dress includes appropriate clothing outlined in the Bishop Kelly Dress Code, Bishop Kelly tee shirts, and/or jerseys with sleeves. Consequences: The dress code is in effect from the beginning of the school day until the end, which will be signified by the first and last bell. Students will not be permitted in class if they are out of dress code. Any class time missed due to being out of dress code will be considered as an unexcused absence, and credit for any class work missed shall not be granted. Students not in dress code will need to: 1. correct the problem immediately 2. call parents for a change of clothing if the problem cannot be corrected, or 3. remain in In-School Suspension until the problem is corrected or until the school day ends. Dress Code Violations are cumulative through the academic year. The first violation will be a written reprimand/warning; a second violation will be an After-School Detention; any subsequent violations will result in a one-day, In-School Suspension.





I doubt you'll look through all of this, but personally, I think it's ridiculous. Because there's something that comes up long before the dress code policy, right there at the beginning of the student handbook.

OUR BELIEFS
† JESUS CHRIST is our ultimate teacher and role model.
† Learning is our priority.
† Moral development and service to others is central to learning.
† All students strive for excellence consistent with ability.
† All students are valued for their unique spiritual, intellectual, moral, physical, social, creative and emotional gifts and needs.
† Our Christian learning environment is the responsibility of students, parents, teachers, staff, coaches, alumni, and administrators.
† Continuous improvement is imperative to developing lifelong learners.


Notice the first statement of beliefs. Jesus Christ... would he enforce a dress code as strictly as Bishop Kelly does? Where three dress code violations throughout the entire school year result in an in-school suspension? This argument probably doesn't hold up, but I wish that we didn't have to put up with such ridiculous restrictions from a place that constantly preaches tolerance and kindness. Well that's my spin on things anyway.