DRESS CODE

UA was established to involve the whole family and the whole community in the education and development of the whole child.  Because of this commitment, students, the UA Dress Code Committee, together with the Administration, has established and will maintain the UA Dress Code policy for the purpose of enhancing student learning and development.

The UA Dress Code Policy strives to:

• Promote character qualities such as respect, self-discipline, responsibility, and modesty as well as good grooming habits.
• Assist in building school pride, team spirit and unity.
• Eliminate obstacles to the learning process by minimizing competition between students and peer pressure to wear expensive, trendy clothes.
• Reduce the students’ overall clothing costs.
• Assure that students are safely and appropriately dressed for school.

The dress code is an important aspect of our Charter and is a daily requirement for all students.  The dress code has been established to help students demonstrate consideration and respect for themselves and others.  Students must be in uniform to attend classes. The uniform dress code in effect for all students, as well as specific information relating to grade levels, is listed below.  Keep in mind that extremes in dress or grooming will not be tolerated, regardless of whether they are specifically mentioned or not.

Dress Code Do’s:

• All clothing should be in good repair.

Tops

• All shirts are to be tucked in at all times.
• Polo shirts (must have buttons and a tail long enough to stay tucked), oxfords, peter pan blouses, and mock or regular turtlenecks in long, ¾, or short sleeves and in the colors and fabrics described below are the approved upper body garments.
• Polos or oxfords with approved club or UA insignia in colors and fabrics described below.
• Approved fabrics for shirts are knit, interlocking combed cotton, or a cotton/poly blend.  (No denim or chambray).
• Only t-shirts or polos in UA approved colors and without designs, logos, etc. are to be worn under approved uniform shirts and overwear (no camis).  It is not acceptable to use stickers or patches in an attempt to hide logos.

Bottoms

• Pants, capris, shorts, skorts, jumpers, and skirts in cotton twill, brushed cotton, poly/cotton blend, wool, corduroy in navy or khaki are the approved lower body garments.  Lower school girls only are allowed to wear polo dresses in navy.
• A belt must be worn with any lower garment that has belt loops.
• Pants are to be worn waist high and no more than two inches bigger than the size of the waist.  (Pants should fit.)
• Skirts, skorts, shorts, and jumpers must fall to the knee (in the front and in the back).

Overwear

• Approved over-wear garments include v-neck, crew neck, and button up cardigan sweaters or sweater vests, and plain crew neck or UA Spirit sweatshirts (See below for campus specifics).
• Approved fabrics for over-wear garments include cotton, poly/cotton blend and wool.  Vertical knit and cable patterns are acceptable.
• Only approved sweaters and sweat shirts are to be worn.
• Over-wear items must be waist length.
• Uniform shirts must be worn under sweaters and sweatshirts.
• Blazers are approved in colors as described below.
• High School letter jackets are permitted.

Other Apparel

• Only socks in solid uniform colors may be worn.
• Only athletic shoes to be worn at the Lower Campus.
• Shoes with laces or Velcro must be tied or secured at all times.
• Neckties in any color or pattern as long as there are no logos, distracting features, or advertising.

Dress Code Don’ts:

• No logos, decals, labels, words, or pictures of any kind are permitted on tops, bottoms, or outerwear.
• It is not acceptable to hide logos.
• No denim, jeans, stretch knits, or spandex.
• No undergarments or skin in the stomach or midriff area should be visible at all.
• No carpenter pants, cargo pants, low rise, or bell bottoms.
• No drawstrings at legs on pants, capris, or skirts.
• No hoods, drawstrings, fleece or pouch pockets on over-wear except for sweatshirts sold by UA.
• No lights, flashers, or other electronic devices on shoes are permitted.
• No gel bracelets, sweat bands, or wrist bands.
• No neckbands or bracelets may be worn if they have spikes protruding from them.
• No caps, bandanas, scarves or hair picks.
• No unnatural hair coloring- permanent or temporary.
• No facial or body piercing- girls with pierced ears are okay.
• No earrings on males.
• No wheels in shoes.
• No slip on shoes allowed at the Lower Campus.

Dress Down Day and Field Trip (where uniforms aren’t required) Clarifications

• No lower garment shorter than knee length (front and back).
• No spaghetti straps, tube tops, halter tops, or tank tops.
• No deep plunging shirts.
• No undergarments or skin in the stomach or midriff area should be visible at any time.
• No gel bracelets sweat bands, or wrist bands.
• No neckbands or bracelets may be worn if they have spikes protruding from them.
• No caps, bandanas, head scarves wider than two inches, or hair picks.
• No facial or body piercing- girls with pierced ears are okay.
• No earrings on males.
• No inappropriate displays of actions, language, or events on clothing.
• No pants and shorts worn below the hips (pants should fit).
• No holes above the knee-whether or not they are patched.
• No open toed or open heeled shoes for lower school students.

Color and Style Clarifications for Grade Levels

Clothing Description	Elementary School	Middle School	High School
Upper Body	White, light blue, and navy	White, light blue, navy, and red	Any solid color
Lower Body	Navy or Khaki (UA plaid ok for jumpers and skirts)	Navy or Khaki (UA plaid ok for jumpers and skirts)	Navy or Khaki (UA plaid ok for jumpers and skirts)
Over-Wear	Navy or White	Navy, white, or red and middle school hoodie purchased through UA	Any solid color and UA Letter Jacket
Clothing Description	Elementary School	Middle School	High School
Belts	Solid navy, black, brown, or khaki smooth finish, braided leather, or fabric (No embellishments or logos of any kind)	Solid navy, black, brown, or khaki smooth finish, braided leather, or fabric (No embellishments or logos of any kind)	Solid navy, black, brown, or khaki smooth finish, braided leather, or fabric (No embellishments or logos of any kind)
Shoes	Athletic shoes only with laces or Velcro straps.  No slip on shoes.	Closed toe and closed heel only.  No flip flops,  athletic sandals, bedroom shoes, or bedroom slippers at any time	No flip flops,  athletic sandals, bedroom shoes, or bedroom slippers at any time

Important:  Just because you purchase an item of clothing from a uniform store does not mean that it complies with our code.

Consequences:

The consequences for dress code violations are campus specific. At the lower campus, parents will be asked to bring appropriate clothing when a child is in violation of the dress code.  At the upper school, parents will be contacted and students will remain in the ISS room until the student is in uniform.

ELECTRONIC DEVICES

While the school acknowledges that many parents provide their children with cell phones and beepers as safety measures and facilitators of communication, these devices are disruptive to the academic routine and may not be visible or audible on campus.  If seen or heard between 8:00 AM and 3:00 PM, they will be confiscated.  The parent/guardian may contact administration to retrieve them from Division Heads.  A second violation will result in confiscation until the end of the school year.  A telephone is provided for student use at the reception area.  Pointers and personal audio video equipment are prohibited and will be confiscated.  All communications during the school day must go through the school office. 

EMERGENCY AFTER SCHOOL CARE

All students must be picked up by 3:30pm each day.  The Teen Connection (Upper Campus) and Kids Incorporated (Lower Campus) After School program is here to provide an after school care service for a fee.  Students not picked up by 3:30pm (12:30pm on early dismissal days) will be taken to the Teen Connection at the Upper Campus or to the Kidz Incorporated area at the Lower Campus and charged a late fee of $1.00 per minute until the student is picked up.  As with all public schools, Union Academy will contact the proper authorities if fees are not paid and if repeated violations occur.  The emergency after school care can not be used more than three times during the school year without prior approval from the Teen Connection Director.  All participating students in any UA sponsored activity such as enrichment, intramural sports, after school clubs or activities must be picked up by the designated time each day.