Dress Code/Uniform

While we aren’t a uniform school, we do have a dress code that needs to be followed to ensure personal appearance doesn’t take away from student’s safety or their educational process.

Some common dress code violations include: hoods up inside, makeup, slides/flip flop style shoes or sandals, pajamas as clothes, hats inside, shorts that are too short (must be length of fingertip), spaghetti strap tops, and bare midriff shirts.

When a student doesn’t follow the dress code policy, violations will have the following consequences: 

-First Violation: The student will be given a warning and will be sent to the clinic to change clothes. The teacher will call parents to notify them.

-Second Violation:  The office will call parents to bring a change of clothes and the student will have lunch detention.

-Third (or more):  The office will call parents to pick up the student from school and a referral will be written, which could result in in-school suspension (ISS) or out-of-school suspension (OSS).

Please talk about these expectations with your student. We will also continue to do so here at school.  Together we will ensure all of our students have a safe and positive learning environment.


Dress Code Policy Overview

A dress code policy is designed to promote school unity, pride, ensure a distraction-free learning environment, and create a safe and positive climate. Students should come dressed for success each day. The School Board of Lee County defines the overall guidelines for the student dress code in Board Policy 5.24 and gives individual schools the authority to establish additional regulations. The responsibility for the personal appearance of the student rests with the parent/guardian and the student. Personal appearance shall not detract from the educational process. The following establishes the minimum acceptable standards for student dress to be interpreted and enforced by the administration and staff at Gateway Elementary School.

Apparel (Tops/Bottoms):

  • Apparel shall be adequate in both length and coverage to be considered appropriate for school. Shirts or blouses shall be appropriately fastened according to the design of the shirt or blouse. Shirt length must extend beyond the waist level.

  • Transparent or see-through tops, bare midriff, strapless, low-cut clothing, or tops and outfits that provide minimum coverage or are suggestive are prohibited. Halters, spaghetti straps, backless dresses or tops, tube tops, tank tops, muscle shirts, or any distracting clothing are prohibited.

  • Length of shorts and skirts must extend beyond the end of the fingertips with arms extended downward and must maintain this length when walking. Pants/bottoms with rips or holes are not permitted.

  • Apparel, emblems, insignias, badges, or symbols that promote the use of alcohol, drugs, tobacco, or any illegal activity are prohibited. Gang-related apparel or symbols may not be displayed.

  • Pants and skirts must fit at the natural waist. Shorts under skirts are recommended.

  • Clothing with slogans or advertising with double meanings is prohibited.

  • Hoods and hats must be removed when inside.

Shoes:

  • Shoes must be athletic type or dress shoes with closed toes and backs and must be properly fastened. For your child’s safety, no flip flops, slides, high heels, or skate shoes are permitted. Athletic shoes must be worn at PE. Crocs are only permitted in "sport mode" with the back strap across the heel.

Jewelry/Makeup:

  • Any articles of clothing or jewelry that could likely cause injury, such as dangling earrings, excessive jewelry, chokers, dog collars, spikes, chain wallets, are not permitted.

  • Prohibited adornments (piercings) include, but are not limited to, hoops or rings attached to the nose, eyebrow, cheeks, or lip. Gang-related tattoos or other tattoos that may cause a substantial disruption, as determined by the administration, are prohibited (whether temporary or permanent).

  • Makeup is not permitted.

Other:

  • No rolling backpacks.

  • Pajama attire of any kind is not permitted.

  • Long coats, including trench coats, are not permitted inside the building.

  • Blankets, pillows, gloves, and/or stuffed animals are not appropriate for school.

  • Any article of clothing, jewelry, or accessory that, in the judgment of school administration, is a distraction or hindrance to classroom learning and/or activities or poses a safety hazard, can be forbidden at the discretion of administration without prior warning.

The school administration shall have the right to appraise any current fashion or fad and determine whether it is appropriate for school.