The last four years of high school are a time when students should be preparing themselves to enter the world of work.  Students should consider school as their job, and their grades and diploma as their pay check.  Therefore, students should dress for the “job”.  We expect students to come to school in clothes that are clean and neat and to exhibit basic cleanliness and grooming that will not be a health or safety threat to themselves or to other students or staff.  While we respect all students’ desire to express themselves in their clothing and grooming styles, we do not permit students to wear clothing with pictures, emblems, or writing that is lewd, offensive, vulgar, or obscene or that advertises or depicts tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, drugs or any other substance that students are prohibited from having or using at school.  The principal or his designee will make all final decisions about dress and grooming violations.  Following are more specific guidelines. 

 

 

The BHS administration believes there should be a line of reasonable expectation for dress and appearance at school. We are aware that everyone has an opinion as to where that line should be drawn. As the authority over the campus, the principal or designee will need to make final decisions about dress and grooming violations just as those in authority are expected to do in the home. This includes the specifics listed in this code as well as any other regulation pertaining to dress and/or attire. To avoid possible violations, please gain prior approval from administration concerning any item not specifically covered in this section.

 

We believe high school is a time when students should be preparing themselves to enter the world of work. Students should consider school as their job, and their grades and diploma as their pay check. Therefore, we expect students to come to school in clothes that are clean and neat, and we expect students to exhibit basic cleanliness and grooming that will not be a health or safety concern to themselves or to other students or staff.

 

 

In our efforts to acknowledge student responsibility in the 10-10 school year by meeting the requirements to wear shorts, we will be offering this privilege again in the 10-11 school year. We will be glad to continue the change as long as students honor the dress code.

 

As soon as they enter school property, students are expected to meet the following guidelines:

 

Required Dress:

 

While we respect students’ desire to express themselves in their clothing and grooming styles, we do not permit students to wear clothing with pictures, emblems, or writing that is lewd, offensive, vulgar, or obscene or that advertises or depicts tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, drugs, weapons, skulls, or any other substance or item that students are prohibited from having or using at school. (Including sayings with double meanings).

 

Full-length pants or jeans may be worn. Prohibited clothing includes, but is not limited to: jeans with excessive studs, rings or other decorations; oversized or baggy pants; pants with oversized pockets; pants with holes, tears, rips or fraying beyond natural occurrence around the ankle; pajamas or any night wear; warm-up pants (tear-away), and cotton sweat (athletic) pants.

 

Shorts/Capri’s may be worn but must meet the knee or lower when standing. Shorts must have a zipper or button front and not be “athletic” type and must be fitted around the waist. Please note that even if a student wears leggings, tights, etc., the outer garment must still come to the top of the knee.

Only crew-neck T-shirts, polo shirts and collared shirts may be worn. Crew-neck is defined at BHS as those which follow along the edge of the collar bone. V-necked, scooped neck or low cut are prohibited unless it is over a crew neck. Transparent clothing is unacceptable. The display of any cleavage indicates that the shirt is cut too low or not properly buttoned.

 

All shirts must have sleeves. There are no color restrictions on shirts. T-shirts may have writing, designs or symbols on them including those that positively support Bowie ISD, one of its recognized programs, and any recognized college/university such as Texas Tech, Texas, Texas A&M, etc. Legitimate manufacturer such as Izod, Polo, Nike, Adidas, etc. may be displayed on polo or T-shirts. Shirts do not have to be tucked in, but must be long enough to cover the torso when bending or stooping.

 

Hoodies are acceptable but students should not have the hood covering their head while inside the building.

 

 

All students are required to wear shoes. Closed toed shoes are preferred. Open toed shoes must have a manufactured back or back strap. Socks need be worn with appropriate footwear. Flip-flops, beach shoes, shower shoes and house shoes are prohibited except upon designated “spirit” days.

Belts are required for clothing that are not properly fitted and must be of a correct length and securely buckled at all times. Belts are not required in pants originally designed to be worn without a belt. Pants without belts, must be firmly secured at all times, either with a drawstring, or by proper sizing.

Proper undergarments are to be worn at all times by all students and should not be visible.

 

All chains, clothing or items that have gang related significance, or may be considered a weapon are prohibited. Please do not have chains of any kind on billfolds, checkbooks, belts, or pants.

 

Headgear: hats, hair curlers, hairnets, shower caps, bandanas, sweatbands, toboggans, hoods, etc. are not to be worn during the school day in the school building. For students not complying with this policy, teachers may take up any hat/cap/etc. and turn the item in to the Assistant Principal’s office. Headgear take-ups will not be returned until the end of each 6-week period. If not claimed within a week of that date, headgear take-ups may be discarded.

 

 

To avoid possible violations, please gain prior approval from administration concerning any item not specifically covered in this section.

Extremely unnatural hair coloring, hairstyles, and/or make-up are prohibited.

All hair is to be kept clean and well groomed at all times. Only a natural hair color is permitted, including accent streaks.

Any hairstyle considered by the administration to be a distraction is prohibited.

Boy’s hair shall be above the eyebrows, not be below the ear lobe and not past the base of the neck when properly groomed or styled. Please do not wear ponytails, dreadlocks, or Mohawks

Students must be clean shaven. (This is a change from the 09-10 policy because underclassmen had too many referrals)

Any body piercing, except for those in girls’ ears is strictly prohibited. Boys shall not wear ear jewelry or spacers at any time.

All tattoos must be covered.

Sunglasses may not be worn inside the school building, unless medically prescribed. Physician’s instructions must be cleared

through the campus administrator or designee.

Any items taken in violation of the dress or grooming code may remain in the custody of a school administrator until the last day of the school year.

The administration of each campus will provide proper notification to students prior to any change in dress and grooming standards.

The BHS discipline plan is used when students are found out of the dress or grooming code. Teachers are expected to direct students to correct any dress code violation as soon as it is noted and to document the correction to the assistant principal. The assistant principal will administer a step-discipline plan response for each dress code offense.