Dress Code !

[djware]

Our middle school is going to a uniform-type dress code next year. It has many changes from the dress code the students have been following. Would appreciate any bulletin board ideas that we can do before the end of school -so they "get it" before they show up next year !

[busbus]

Our middle school is going to a uniform-type dress code next year. It has many changes from the dress code the students have been following. Would appreciate any bulletin board ideas that we can do before the end of school -so they "get it" before they show up next year !

What is the current dress code? How did the uniform type dress code come about?

I am in a school district that began a uniform dress code for students several years ago. Each school could decide on its colors. For the most part, almost every school elected to have khaki bottoms and black tie-up shoes or low-cut white sneakers. Top colors are different at every school. In some cases, a school might allow two different color tops.

Before the District made this policy, the Board held many joint meetings with parents, community members, student advocates, members of the school staffs and other stakeholders. Once the decision was made, the policy was announced via the local newspapers, on the television and on the radio. Schools sent letters home about the new policy for the upcoming school year. At individual schools, meetings were held with teachers, parents, community members and student representatives to decide on the colors of the uniform and the shoes that would be a part of the uniform. Once decided, letters were sent home to parents with this information.

Parents were constantly reminded by the District via local news. By the beginning of the new school year, students were wearing the designated uniform for his/her school.

I may have left pieces out; but, the major point is that beginning our uniform policy was a process that involved many stakeholders and notices.

[djware]

Thanks for your response. Our system has already taken all those steps and this new dress code has been approved. What I'm trying to do is a bulletin board in our main lobby so that the children and parents can be clear on what is acceptable. We are hanging "sample" clothing - but wanted to make a bulletin board very very simple and to the point so there will be no confusion as to what they can wear next year.

[upnorthteacher]

I would make a large picture of a child, then show the acceptable clothing items. It could look somewhat like a giant paper doll.

[jsfowler]

I was going to suggest what upnorthteacher said. Next to the bulletin board, I would post of list of stores/sites where these clothes could be purchased. I am very jealous - I wish we had a better dress code.

[busbus]

The bulletin board is a great idea. However, I was wondering if you could also produce small color posters - these can be done on the computer, to display on the counter in the office and in other areas of the school where parents are apt to go when they visit the school.

It could be that you run-off copies of the poster to place on each classroom door or wall area next to the classroom. I would use the same caption that is used on the bulletin board and colored pictures of the uniform.

Just a thought!

[MissTeach]

If possible, it would be beneficial to have pictures with some of your students dressed appropriately. You could enlarge the picture to poster size and display around the school as well as in the community where the clothes can be purchased.

[busbus]

If possible, it would be beneficial to have pictures with some of your students dressed appropriately. You could enlarge the picture to poster size and display around the school as well as in the community where the clothes can be purchased.

Perhaps using pictures of actual students of the school dressed in the appropriate uniform might, and I emphasize the word "might," work in the school; however, to display them outside of the school might be against school district policy. I know that in my school district, we need the parent written permission to do so. Even with permission, we cannot use the student's full name.

Using real students on the posters inside the school or outside of the school can be very dangerous for students. Pedophiles and child molesters will have likenesses of these children and they will know exactly where to look for them. If names are attached, then the creeps will be able to use the names of the students for their purposes.

Your idea is a good one; but, I would go with generic pictures of students dressed in the school's uniform.