Dressing For Success at MVMS
Dressing for Success applies to all school activities including field trips and dances.
Introduction
Mesa Verde expects students to wear clothing that is suitable for the school activities in which they participate. Students shall not wear clothing that presents a health or safety hazard or causes a substantial interference to the educational program.
Mesa Verde is committed to a culture of community and inclusion where everyone feels affirmed and welcome. We recognize that each student’s mode of dress is a reflection of personal style and individual preference and a dress code is not intended to address the perception of others.
The dress code shall be enforced consistently and in a positive manner that does not shame or reinforce marginalization or oppression by a student’s racial identity, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, ethnicity, cultural or religious identity, household income, or body size/type. School staff will approach dress code enforcement from a place of coaching and student learning opportunity.
The responsibility for the dress and grooming of a student rests primarily with the student and their parents/guardians. Our expectation is that parents/guardians will encourage their children to come to school attired in ways that are consistent with the family’s culture and values, as well as safe and comfortable for participation in educational activities.
Steps to address dress code infractions*
- 1st intervention: Student coaching conversation with administrator; call parent/guardian.
- 2nd intervention: Student conference with administrator; call parent/guardian; assigned a relevant consequence.
- 3rd intervention: Student conference with parent/guardian and administrator.
* When practical, students shall not be directed to correct a dress code violation during instructional time
or in front of other students.
Dress Code Guidelines
- Clothing and shoes must be suitable for all scheduled classroom activities including physical education, science labs, and other activities where unique hazards exist.
- Clothing, shoes, and accessories must not pose a threat to the safety of any student or staff.
- Hats, hoodies, and other headwear must allow the face and ears to be visible and not interfere with the line of sight to any student or staff (religious headwear excluded). Hats and hoodies are subject to individual teacher classroom rules.
- Clothing/jewelry/accessories that contain pictures and/or writing referring to alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, sexual references, profanity, illegal drugs, or racist epithets may not be worn.
- Clothing/jewelry/accessories that contain pictures and/or writing with messages of hostility toward race, ethnicity, culture, religion, physical/mental ability, gender identity or expression may not be worn.
- Students must wear shoes. Students must wear a top/shirt with pants/shorts/skirt, or a dress.
- Clothing must cover undergarments (visible waistbands and visible straps excluded).
Additional Specifications to Help Students and Parents in Choosing Clothing
- Shirt/top may have any width strap.
- Shirt/top hem meets the waistband of pants/shorts/skirt when standing.
- See-through or mesh clothing may not be worn unless there is coverage that meets guidelines.
- The length of shorts/skirts must completely cover undergarments and buttocks at all times.
- Clothing items with holes/tears must meet the guidelines.