Jaidyn Palladini
Students enter the school during morning security checks. Teachers are positioned by the auditorium in the B building to enforce dress code.
The 2024-25 school year has brought multiple new policy changes, including the dress code. The code of conduct outlines all guidelines that students must follow when coming to school.
Although most of the guidelines remain the same as last year, the enforcement of the rules has changed a bit to help classroom teachers and to be consistent with all students.
“As an administrative team we got together to come up with ideas to help out the teaching staff to address the issue,” principal Keri Harrington said.
Some of the guidelines that have captured students’ attention this year have been no pajama pants, no holes in pants above where the fingertip lies and no bare midriff.
“I feel we have bigger things to focus our time on: what students wear, not being number one. I think the dress code should accommodate the latest fashion trends and understand that showing a small amount of midriff or a shoulder is not meant to be distracting or disrespectful,” freshman Lydia Schimansky said.
Administration hopes students understand the importance of these changes.
“I understand why these changes were made. It is honestly better that the dress code is checked first thing in the morning so that people aren’t getting in trouble throughout the day,” senior Abigail Rudy said.
At both the A and B building entrance, teachers have been assigned to check each student for dress code violations going through security. If a student is found to be not compliant with the rules, they will be pulled aside.
“Teachers are now identifying dress code issues during arrivals in the morning, and now principals can deal with these issues first thing in the morning,” Harrington said.
With students being identified first thing in the morning, it may help the school day run smoother.
“If someone’s dress code issue is addressed first thing when they walk in the school doors, teachers don’t have to interrupt class to dress code a student,” Rudy said.
Students may be punished if they refuse to change or do not have an appropriate option to change into.
“The teachers pulled me aside from getting my bag checked at morning security and told me what my offense was. They gave me a Saturday detention and let me go on the rest of my day with the same outfit on,” Schimansky said.
Other rules which have been in place include no bags or backpacks that are not clear, no exposed shoulders and no clothing item which depicts anything violent or sexual. Hats and hoods are also not permitted.
“We made these changes in order to make it easier to enforce the dress code, as a lot of infractions went unaddressed last year,” Harrington said.