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Dear Parents:
As we enter the second semester we wanted to remind our students and our parents of basic rules that we have in place to ensure our students have the most productive learning environment. Please discuss the below items with your children and stress how important it is to abide by school rules.
DRESS CODE: We are noticing a particular increase in the shortness of skirts worn by many of our female students. We would like to clarify that wearing leggings does not negate the shortness of the skirts. Please use the “finger tip rule” as a guideline for deciding if a skirt is appropriate. Skirts must be as long as the end of the middle finger when a student’s arm is completely extended at their side. We have also noticed an increase in baggy pants worn by our male students. These boys tend to wear large sized pants without belts causing their pants to fall below their buttocks. Boys must wear pants that securely fit at their waist. Students will be given one warning of a dress code violation and then will be asked to call a parent to bring a change of clothes. A regular course of progressive discipline will occur after that. Below is a reminder of what students should not wear to school and what is considered a violation of the Fairfax County Public Schools Dress Code:
Hats, headbands, sunglasses and bandanas
Halter tops, backless tops or short tops that expose midriffs
Tops with thin straps that expose bra straps
Low cut shirts that expose cleavage
See-through/mesh tops
Tank tops, tops with low cut arm holes
T-Shirts advertising alcohol or products prohibited in schools
T-Shirts with sexually explicit or suggestive art or language
Boxers worn as outer garments
Shorts/Skirts which are too short/revealing
Baggy, low-hanging pants revealing boxers, shorts or under-garments
Pajamas
Any clothing or manner of grooming which causes excessive distractions
Slippers, stiletto heels, stacked heels or rollerblades
CELL PHONES, GAME SYSTEMS, IPODS: A second violation that has been causing a number of classroom disruptions is students in possession of cell phones or electronic devices. The county policy on student possession and use of cell phones or electronic devices on school property is that students may not have these devices turned on or have either on their person during school hours (they must be in their lockers). We have had far too many students not only in possession of cell phones during classes but answering calls and messages while class is being conducted. As a result, any student found in possession of a cell phone during school hours will have their cell phone confiscated and must be picked up by a parent or guardian if the phone is to be returned.
BACKPACKS AND LARGE TOTE BAGS: Students may bring book bags to school but those bags must be placed in the student lockers at the beginning of the day. Students may not use these bags to carry items during the day. These bags include: backpacks, nylon sports packs, large bags used to carry notebooks. Female students may carry small purses for personal items but must still put cell phones and other electronic devices in their lockers.
Students are given the opportunity to visit their lockers before and after school and before and after lunch. They have also been assigned textbooks to leave at home. Each teacher has a set of books in their classrooms. Therefore, the only items a student needs to bring to class is their notebook, pens, and pencils.
Again, we appreciate the cooperation of our parents in reinforcing our school rules. We find the best was to create a successful learning environment for our students is to have a solid partnership between school and home. We look forward to providing a quality education for your children for the remainder of the school year.
Thank you:
Kenneth A. Gaudreault
Principal, Stone Middle School |
