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Student
Handbook

Discipline

Dress Code

May 13, 2024

At Presbyterian Day School, we believe in fostering a positive and inclusive learning environment where students feel comfortable and proud to represent our school community. As such, our dress code policy reflects our commitment to promoting school spirit while also allowing for individual expression. Parents are expected to be knowledgeable of the dress code and to cooperate with the school in seeing that the student meets the dress code standards. Personal appearance that is considered questionable is left to the discretion of the Presbyterian Day School administration. Administration reserves the right to waive any of the following policies for special occasions and circumstances.


Elementary Division

Elementary students follow the below dress code during the school day. All students must maintain a neat and clean appearance. PDS students are not allowed to wear t-shirts, sweatshirts, polos, or other spirit wear representing other elementary or secondary schools. Athletic clothes may not be worn during the regular school day.

Shirts

Only collared shirts are permitted, and shirttails for 1st- through 6th-grade students must be tucked in. Plain or printed tee shirts and football jerseys are not acceptable. Collared shirts with an approved PDS logo are allowable. Students may also wear collared shirts with a clothing brand logo that is smaller than the size of a standard credit card. PDS students are not allowed to wear shirts representing other elementary or secondary schools.

Shirts may be monogrammed as long as the monogram is smaller than the size of a standard credit card.

Pants and Shorts

Neat, clean, chino-type trousers in various colors may be worn. Blue jeans are not permitted. Overalls may not be worn; sweat pants or wind pants may not be worn in the Elementary Division.

Bermuda length shorts are permissible. Neither cut-off pants nor denim pants are permitted.

Belts must be worn with pants that have loops in the Elementary Division.

Footwear

Shoes with clearly visible socks must be worn at all times. Open-toe or open heeled shoes may not be worn. (Example: Crocs, Keens, or sandals) Rain boots and cowboy boots are not permissible.

Outerwear

Students are encouraged to show their school spirit by wearing outerwear that displays the Presbyterian Day School logo, mascot, or colors. In addition to school spirit outerwear, students may also wear plain outerwear. Plain outerwear is defined as free from wording, pictures, numerals, slogans, etc., with the exception of logos from the clothing brand. Clothing brand logos must be smaller than a standard credit card.

The following are acceptable outerwear choices:

  • Coats, sweaters, cardigans, quarter-zips, jackets, fleeces, windbreakers, and vests with no print (except official PDS spirit wear)
  • A regular or hooded PDS sweatshirt
  • A regular or hooded sweatshirt with no print (except official PDS spirit wear)

All other outerwear is not permitted in the school building during the school day. Official PDS Spirit Wear are items sold by the school through prior PDS Spirit sales or at the PDS Spirit Store.

During winter months, a student may wear a winter coat to school and while outside; however, only PDS or plain outerwear may be worn inside the buildings.

Hair

Any boy with excessively long or dyed hair or hair styled in such a way as to cause a significant distraction for other boys will not be permitted to attend class. Any boy in need of a haircut will be given a reasonable time to accomplish this. The hair must not be over the collar in the back or over the eyes in the front.

Misc

Tattoos, beads, bracelets, smart watches, necklaces, earrings, and headbands are not allowed.

Dress Down Days

On a dress down day, boys may wear athletic wear, jeans, and t-shirts. Boys may wear a jersey or t-shirt celebrating their favorite collegiate or professional sporting team. During dress down days, PDS students are not allowed to wear t-shirts, sweatshirts, polos, or other spirit wear representing other elementary or secondary schools. The footwear policy extends to dress down days.

 

Early Childhood Division

Early Childhood students follow the below dress code during the school day. All students must maintain a neat and clean appearance. PDS students are not allowed to wear t-shirts, sweatshirts, polos, or other spirit wear representing other elementary or secondary schools. Athletic clothes may not be worn during the regular school day.

Shirts

Shirts with regulation collars are required. Turtlenecks are acceptable. Collared shirts with an approved PDS logo are allowable. Students may also wear collared shirts with a clothing brand logo that is smaller than the size of a standard credit card. Plain or printed t-shirts and football jerseys are not acceptable. PDS students are not allowed to wear shirts representing other elementary or secondary schools.

Shirts and outerwear may be monogrammed. Early Childhood students may wear smocked shirts and appliqued or embroidered Peter Pan collared shirts.

Pants and Shorts

Elastic waistbands are required and sweatpants are acceptable, however one piece jon jons (shortalls and longalls) and overalls are not. Blue jeans may not be worn during the regular school day. YK and PK boys may not wear belts. Boys may not wear pants with buttons or zippers or drawstring ties. Shorts are permissible in Early Childhood.

Footwear

Athletic shoes and socks must be worn at all times. Velcro straps required. No shoes with laces. Open-toe or open heeled shoes may not be worn, example: Crocs, Keens, or sandals. Rain boots and cowboy boots are not permissible.

Outerwear

Students are encouraged to show their school spirit by wearing outerwear that displays the Presbyterian Day School logo, mascot, or colors. In addition to school spirit outerwear, students may also wear plain outerwear. Plain outerwear is defined as free from wording, pictures, numerals, slogans, etc., with the exception of logos from the clothing brand. Clothing brand logos must be smaller than a standard credit card. Early Childhood students may wear knit pullover sweaters with images.

The following are acceptable outerwear choices:

  • Coats, sweaters, cardigans, quarter-zips, jackets, fleeces, windbreakers, and vests with no print (except official PDS spirit wear)
  • A regular or hooded PDS sweatshirt
  • A regular or hooded sweatshirt with no print (except official PDS spirit wear)

All other outerwear is not permitted in the school building during the school day. Official PDS Spirit Wear are items sold by the school through prior PDS Spirit sales or at the PDS Spirit Store.

During winter months, a student may wear a winter coat to school and while outside; however, only PDS or plain outerwear may be worn inside the buildings.

Hair

Any boy with excessively long or dyed hair or hair styled in such a way as to cause a significant distraction for other boys will not be permitted to attend class. Any boy in need of a haircut will be given a reasonable time to accomplish this. The hair must not be over the collar in the back or over the eyes in the front.

Misc

Tattoos, beads, bracelets, smart watches, necklaces, earrings, and headbands are not allowed.

Dress Down Days

On a dress down day, boys may wear athletic wear, jeans, and t-shirts. Boys may wear a jersey or t-shirt celebrating their favorite collegiate or professional sporting team. During dress down days, PDS students are not allowed to wear t-shirts, sweatshirts, polos, or other spirit wear representing other elementary or secondary schools. The footwear policy extends to dress down days.