Dress For Success
Purpose
The HS Dress for Success Guidance aims to provide advice to students making personal choices in their apparel selections when coming to the school campus. The advice allows for personal expression and gender-neutral rules designed to avoid discrimination. The guidelines acknowledge the diverse community that forms ICS, while also respecting the diverse host culture of Ethiopia.
Goals
The ICS Dress for Success Guidelines aim to accomplish the following goals:
Afford self expression in personal apparel selection that contributes to students feeling safe and comfortable.
Promote equitable treatment of all students regardless of gender/gender identification, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, body type/size, religion, and personal style.
Maintain a safe learning environment in classes where protective or supportive/clothing is needed, such as chemistry/biology (ie. eye or body protection) or PE (athletic attire/shoes).
Promote inclusivity by not wearing clothing with offensive/inapropriate images or language, including profanity, hate speech, alcohol use, drug use, violence and pornography.
Specific Guidelines
1. Basic apparel worn to campus includes:
Dress or other one-piece covering
OR
Top and bottom
AND
Shoes or sandals.
2. Clarification on particular items:
Students can wear:
Hats, including religious headwear
Sleeveless shirts; if a tank top, the straps should be the width of three fingers
Fitted pants, including leggings, yoga pants, and “skinny jeans” are acceptable.
Bottoms extend to the mid-thigh.
Students cannot wear:
Apparel that contains violent language or images
Images or language depicting drugs or alcohol (or any illegal item or activity)
Images or languages with hate speech, profanity, or pornography
Tube tops/strapless tops, or crop tops that show belly-buttons
Material that is designed to be see-through so that undergarments are visible.
Bathing suits
Secondary courses that include attire as part of the curriculum (for example, theater, Model UN, PE) may include specific dress requirements for certain assignments.
Not Dressed for Success?
A reflective conversation will be had between the student and faculty member to discuss what choice can be made in the future to ensure the guidelines are observed (this can take place with a teacher, Grade Level Leader, Counselor, Deputy Principal, Principal or Director). Upon the third discussion, a notification to parents will be made.
Review of Apparel Guidelines
The High School Dress for Success can be reviewed at the end of the term of the Student Council with the High School Leadership Team. The final decision for amendments rests with the High School Leadership Team.
Input to the Dress for Success Guidelines has been obtained from the American International School of Lusaka, Zambia.