Elementary School Dress Code
Pre-Kindergarten – 6th Grade
Philosophy of Grooming Standards

There are four components the school board considers when setting guidelines for grooming standards:

The issue of modesty.
The issue of safety in the school and on the campus.
Does the dress code reflect the mission of RCS to the community?
Is student attire conducive to a serious academic environment?

The purpose of a dress code in a Christian school setting is to exemplify standards of appearance that reflects human dignity as God’s image-bearers on earth. Our standards of dress and grooming are in keeping with the high Christian ideals we seek to establish in those who attend our school. We seek to set a moderate age-appropriate tone, avoiding the extremes of both legalism and liberalism.

The dress code should assist the students in displaying Christian character traits such as modesty, humility, esteeming others, and not attempting to draw undo attention to themselves.

It is a generally recognized principle in the world of work that dress is important.  Most all places of employment have standards of dress.  Businesses and educational institutions alike have discovered, as many studies show, that dress symbolizes professionalism, pride, unity, and the person’s attitude about themselves.

A differentiation should be made between a student’s play clothes and school clothes.  Getting an education is the “profession” of the student while he/she is in school.  It is his/her “job” so to speak.  A dress code contributes to the sense of the school being important business.

Appropriate grooming standards also serve to attract those who visit our school and gives them confidence in the dedication and professionalism of those who work there, students and staff alike.

We understand that few issues generate more debate and emotion than the dress code. Partly this is due to the fact that while the Bible does give us general principles to follow in dress it does not dictate specifics. There is no such thing as a “Christian dress code”.  Therefore, there will be certain aspects of the dress code that are the arbitrary decision of the school board and administration as they seek to apply the four principles listed above. Fads and fashions change rapidly and we are left making judgment calls on the appropriateness of certain attire. We ask that parents support us in these decisions. Your attitude will be directly reflected by your child.

It is the responsibility of the parents to be familiar with the dress code and monitor what your child is wearing before they leave the house. It is embarrassing for children to have to deal with this at school, and it is most unfair to put the burden on the teachers to have to police your children in this area. It is a waste of valuable time that can be used for educational purposes when a teacher and then the office staff has to stop and deal with dress code violations. Obviously it is also inconvenient for you to have to come to school with clothing replacements during the day for your child. 

Boys

  • Shirts must have collars or turtlenecks, except on Fridays when official RCS T-shirts may be worn.
  • Shirts must be tucked in while on school grounds
  • The only sweatshirts allowed in Pre-K through 4th are the jacket style with a zipper with no writing other than a small brand name logo (no larger than 2”) and the official RCS pull-over.  Fifth and sixth graders on the Hartnell campus may wear the pull over RCS official sweatshirts or solid colored ones with no printing.
  • No “over shirts” such as sports jerseys are allowed.
  • Jeans or cotton pants (no nylon type sport pants)
  • Pants must fit well, not oversized or baggy
  • No camouflage patterns
  • No necklaces or earrings, watches may be worn but not bracelets
  • No sandals
  • NO hats at school
  • Uniform shorts (see uniform information below) may be worn anytime with parent’s discretion, but they must be worn as a uniform with a collared or turtleneck shirt.  They may be worn on chapel days with the only exception being on the day of their class chapel presentation.  Collared shirts with long pants must be worn on that day. 
  • Boys may have no artificial coloring or spiked hair.
  • Hair should be neatly trimmed, above the collar in the back and not touching the eyebrows in the front.

Girls

  • Only dresses, skirts, uniform pants, and uniform shorts are acceptable school attire.
  • Dresses and skirts no shorter than 2 inches above the floor when kneeling.
  • Spaghetti strap dresses are not allowed without a shirt underneath
  • The only sweatshirts allowed in Pre-K through 4th are the jacket style with a zipper with no writing other than a small brand name logo (no larger than 2”) and the official RCS pull-over.  Fifth and sixth graders on the Hartnell campus may wear the pull over RCS official sweatshirts or solid colored ones with no printing.
  • Tops should reach the waist when arms are raised straight up (no tummies showing.)  Tops must be tucked in if they are longer than your wrist with your arm hanging straight at your side.  Please be sensitive to pictures and words when you purchase tops, not all messages are appropriate for a Christian school setting.
  • Tight or form fitting tops are not allowed
  • No camoflauge patternsl
  • Uniform shorts or pants (see uniform information below) may be worn anytime with parent’s discretion, but they must be worn as a uniform with a collared or turtleneck blouse or shirt.  They may be worn on chapel days with the only exception being on the day of their class chapel presentation.  Dresses or skirts must be worn on that day.
  • Official RCS T-shirts may be worn on Friday
  • Girls should wear shorts under their dresses if they are going to be playing on the play equipment.
  • No make-up.
  • Earrings limited to one set of post style (no dangling earrings).
  • Shoes must have closed toes, a strap across the back, and not be platform style.  On P.E. days girls must have tennis shoes.
  • Girls may not have artificial coloring in their hair. Hair should be clean and neat and styled so that it is kept away from the eyes.

Uniform Information
French Toast brand uniforms may be purchased at Target, K-Mart, and Mervyns. You may also order on line at www.frenchtoast.com.  Lee’s, Bugle Boy, Old Navy and Land’s End also have an acceptable uniform line, but they must be the ones designated as school uniforms.  Acceptable colors for pants or shorts, must be kaki, navy blue,

or green.

(Revised 09/8/2005)