Dress Code

Dress Code

Appropriateness, cleanliness, moderation, modesty, neatness, and safety should serve as guidelines for choices regarding dress and appearance. The goal is to teach students how to make their own good decisions about clothes. The Head of Middle School has the final say on the appropriateness of attire. To simplify the task of monitoring and maintaining the dress code, we provide the following guidelines.

The following are not permitted on school campus or at school-sanctioned events:  tank tops; tops with spaghetti straps; shorts with tears, holes, or slashes; unhemmed jean shorts; sagging pants; exposed boxers. Clothing that promotes drugs, alcohol, tobacco, or violence, that is sexually suggestive, that displays inappropriate pictures or writing, or that in any way contradicts the mission and policies of the school is prohibited. Pajamas or clothing intended for sleeping are not allowed.  Pants or jeans with holes, tears, or slashes are permitted only if all of the openings are at or below the knee.

For P.E. classes, Middle School students must wear athletic shoes and appropriate P.E. attire (see below).

Sunglasses may only be worn in school buildings if medically necessary and with a doctor’s note or prescription.

The Middle School dress code may be updated or changed at any time. Exceptions to these dress code standards may be made for P.E. activities, field trips, or other school activities at the discretion of the Head of Middle School. For questions or further clarification, please confer with the Head of Middle School.

Dress Code Violations

The faculty have the primary responsibility of correcting students in violation of the dress code. This is one of their most challenging responsibilities in that it has the potential to create significant division in the relationship between teacher and student.  That is why it is so important for everyone—students, parents, and faculty and staff —to be committed to observing the dress code as written and that the Middle School staff make enforcing the dress code a priority.

An initial dress code infraction will involve primarily a conversation so that the student understands the specifics of the issue. The Head of Middle School keeps records of dress code violations, and subsequent infractions may result in a detention. If it is necessary to address the infraction immediately, the Head of Middle School will contact the parents and require them to bring appropriate clothes to school before a student is permitted to return to class or, if they are not available, the student in violation of the dress code may be required to wear clothes borrowed from the school. Repeated dress code violations become issues not just about one’s attire, but also about respect for the rules, for those who enforce them, and for the community itself.  Under these circumstances, the Head of Middle School will require a conference with the student and their parent or guardian to develop a plan to address these issues, including the possibility of additional disciplinary action.

P.E. Attire

Trinity’s Middle School students do not wear P.E. uniforms, Students will participate in the clothes they are wearing that day. We recommend that students wear clothing that will be comfortable for P.E. on the days that their P.E. class meets. Please remember that the dress code still applies on P.E. days.

Special Chapel Attire

All-school chapels are held five times a year (Opening Chapel, Thanksgiving Chapel, Christmas Lessons and Carols, Easter Chapel, and Closing Chapel), On these days, Middle School students are required to wear dressier clothes to show respect for parents, guests, faculty, and fellow classmates. The dress code for all-school chapel days is as follows: dresses, nice slacks, or skirts for girls; dress shirts, nice slacks, and ties for boys; no flip-flop shoes, shorts, or jeans for either gender. On all-school chapel days, students should arrive in and remain in these clothes all day, except during P.E.