Dress Code 

The Dress Code is also printed in the 2009-2010 Student-Parent Handbook.

Students are expected to abide by the dress code. In the case of a dress code violation, a faculty member will inform the student of his or her error. To help avoid future violations, the faculty member will speak to the student and notify the Division Head. The student will be asked to call a parent to obtain appropriate attire from home, if possible. All faculty and administrators are responsible for enforcing the dress code.

A faculty member will make a new student who fails to follow the dress code aware of his or her error. After repeated violations, the Division Head will inform the student’s parents of the violations and ask for their assistance. The ultimate authorities on matters of dress code are the Division Heads.

Lower School

Dress code for our youngest children is based on our concern for safety, independence, and modesty. The following guidelines are suggested for these students:

Prekindergarten

• Pull-up pants or shorts should be worn. Please no belts! This is to facilitate bathroom use.

•  Girls need to wear shorts or tights under dresses and skirts so they can play actively.

• Camouflaged clothing may not be worn.

• Tennis shoes are recommended. Students should not wear sandals, clogs, croc-style shoes, shoes with wheels, or flip flops. 

•  Socks should be worn and shoes should stay securely on feet during active play. 

•   Hanging straps on clothes should be removed.

In order for your PK child to participate in PE activities, he or she MUST wear exercise attire and athletic shoes on PE days.

Kindergarten

• Pull-up pants or shorts, rather than pants with belts should be worn, to facilitate bathroom use
• Denim of any color may be worn only on Fridays.
• Shorts or tights should be worn under dresses and skirts, so children can play actively.
• Camouflaged clothing may not be worn.
• Hanging straps on clothes should be removed.
• Tennis shoes are recommended. Students should not wear sandals, clogs, croc-style shoes, shoes with wheels, or flip flops. Socks should be worn and shoes should stay securely on feet during active play. Non-marking athletic sneakers are required for the Sports Center. A pair of non-marking athletic sneakers should be kept at school, brought in the backpack, or worn on gym days.

Grades 1-5

Students are always to have a neat, clean appearance and to observe the following guidelines.

• Clothing with logos is permitted provided the logo is appropriate for school.
• Bare midriffs and low necklines are not permitted.
• Crop, tank, or halter tops may not be worn.
• Form-fitting pants may not be worn unless an over-shirt covers the hips.
• Camouflaged clothing may not be worn.
• Open-toed footwear, Croc-style shoes, shoes with wheels, or clogs should not be worn, for reasons of safety. 
• Dresses, shorts, or skirts must be no shorter than mid-thigh.
• On physical education days, the students must wear shorts or sweat suits and non-marking sneakers. There will be no dressing out except for swimming.
• Fridays are denim days. Clothing made of denim may be worn on these days only. 

Fredericksburg Academy students are to have a neat, clean appearance at all times and should abide by the following overall guideline: Student dress and appearance are to be in good taste, neither distracting nor offensive to other students or members of the faculty, and appropriate for schoolwork.

General

• Denim of any color may be worn only on Fridays.
• Clothing that is frayed, excessively baggy, dirty, drags on the floor, or has hanging straps may not be worn.
• If a commercial logo appears on an article of clothing, it may not be bigger than a credit card and may appear only once.  Note: Middle School students may wear clothing with school-appropriate commercial logos larger than a credit card on Fridays.
• Very short, form fitting, midriff- or back-baring, or otherwise revealing clothing may not be worn.
• Athletic-style clothing may not be worn.  Note: On game days, team members, with the permission of the Athletic Department, may wear uniforms.
• Camouflage clothing of any kind may not be worn.
• Pants, shorts, and skirts must remain above the hip on their own or be held in place by a belt.

Shirts, Shorts, Skirts, Pants, and Dresses

• Students may wear a solid or patterned collared or un-collared shirt, a Fredericksburg Academy logo tee shirt, or a logo tee shirt of a college or university. 
• Graphic or slogan clothing may not be worn.
• Dress shirts designed to be tucked must be tucked in.
• Students may not wear un-tucked shirts below the hip.
• Whether students are standing or sitting, shirts must meet the top of pants, shorts, or skirts.
• Skirts, shorts, and dresses must be no shorter than mid-thigh when seated, even when worn with leggings.
• Spaghetti/halter strap shirts or dresses may not be worn. Sleeveless shirts or dresses are permitted provided the straps are 2 inches thick and undergarments are not visible.
• Slits on skirts, shorts, and dresses must not extend above mid-thigh.
• Fronts of shirts must cover cleavage.  
• Students are permitted to wear transparent tops provided an appropriate top is worn underneath

Accessories

• Chains may not be worn to attach wallets to pants or for any other reason.
• Hats may not be worn in the building at any time.
• If a student wears a hooded sweatshirt, the hood must remain down.
• Athletic sandals, foam flip-flops, Crocs, or shoes with wheels are not permitted.

Accessories Upper School Only

• Male students may wear leather flip-flops only if they wear a tucked-in, collared shirt and dressy shorts or pants. 
• Female students may wear leather flip-flops only if they wear dressy skirts, shorts, pants, or dresses.
• Flip-flops may not be worn with denim or athletic attire.

Field Trip Attire

The field trip sponsor or coach will indicate to students and parents which of the following is appropriate.

• Dressy: For males, solid colored dressy slacks, shirts, shoes, socks, sport coats, and tie. For females, dressy slacks, skirts, dresses, stockings or tights, and shoes.
• School dress: Normal school attire. All dress-code guidelines apply.
• Casual: As determined by the trip sponsor.
  

Dress Code Enforcement (Middle and Upper School)

Students are expected to abide by the dress code. A student found in violation of the dress code may be asked to call a parent to obtain appropriate attire from home, if possible. Parents will be informed and asked for their assistance in cases where a student continually violates the dress code. A student may lose the privilege of wearing denim on Fridays, serve a detention, or face additional disciplinary action for excessive dress code violations.