Dress Code
The St. Thomas dress code is designed to provide a standard of personal care and pride in appearance. It is the belief of this school that students should be conscious that the quality of their appearance is an important life-skill. All students are required to know and follow the dress code and to dress accordingly for school each day. Dress must be modest, conservative, neat and clean. Each morning students will be checked in advisor period for dress code. Tardy students must arrive in dress code and ready for class. Students who violate the dress code will be issued a detention, demerit, or may be sent home after parents are contacted. Parents will be contacted concerning multiple detentions and for serious dress code violations. Repeated or extreme violations will result in suspension. The Dean of Students will make the final determination on dress code violations.After advisory period and throughout the day, students who depart from dress code expectations may receive a detention or may receive written warning in the form of a yellow dress code demerit. These demerits are cumulative and any student receiving three demerits will be issued a school detention.
Students, who represent the school during any extra-curricular activity, including athletics, must adhere to the dress code unless specifically directed otherwise by the Activity Moderator or Coach. This is particularly important when traveling to events away from school including field trips.
All clothing must be purchased to fit each student properly. Students and parents who are having difficulty finding dress code clothing should consider visiting the Donnelly’s website. This site provides an easy means of purchasing approved clothing at reasonable cost. All shirts must have sleeves. Pants and skirts should be properly worn at the waist and to an appropriate length. Undersized or oversized clothing or clothing that is not neat (e.g. frayed, dirty, excessively worn, torn, etc.) in appearance is not allowed. Denim, flannel and stretch materials are not a part of the dress code. Students should always appear neat and well groomed. Clothing must follow these guidelines:
| Shirts (m/f) | Oxford/dress style only; the shirt must be long enough to be tucked in at all times. Shirts must button completely from the collar to the waist. Only females may have the top collar button undone. Turtleneck shirts are an acceptable option provided they are properly fitted and tucked at the waist. A shirt over a shirt is not acceptable. The school polo shirt is the only acceptable polo shirt; long and short sleeves are allowed in the provided colors. These shirts may be worn in lieu of the dress shirt. |
| Pants (m/f) | Solid color only; conventional chino or “Dockers” style. Pants should have belt loops and/or a waistband. Pockets must be at the waist/hip only and only internal pockets are permitted. An appropriate, unadorned belt must be worn. Pants must be fitted at the waist and hemmed to the top of the shoe. |
| skirts (f) | Skirts must be hemmed no shorter than the top of the knee. Skirts must have straight or scalloped, finished hems, must be appropriately fitted at the waist, and have no slits in side seams or front. Pockets must be at the waist/hip only and only internal pockets are permitted. Long skirts must be hemmed at the ankle. |
| ties (m) | Must be worn with a dress shirt; ties must be properly tied to the neck; top
button of the shirt must be buttoned.
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| dresses (f) | Dresses are not permitted for the normal class day. However, females may elect to wear a jumper over a dress code shirt. |
| sweaters (m/f) | Waist length or longer, conventional sweater styles may be worn (not draped or tied) in combination with dress shirts and turtleneck shirts. Sweater-weight turtleneck sweaters are an acceptable option in lieu of a shirt. A second shirt (layering) is not acceptable. |
| footwear (m/f) | Leather shoes that cover the foot are the rule. Athletic shoes, skateboarding shoes (Heelies), clogs, sandals or open toe shoes may not be worn. Boots of any kind are unacceptable. Shoes designed for outdoor wear are not acceptable. Exceptions due to a medical condition must be approved by the Dean of Students. |
| socks/hosiery (m/f) | Socks (or stockings or tights for females) must be worn at all times. Solid color knee-high stockings are allowed for females. |
| others (m/f) | Coats or sweatshirts may not be worn indoors. Fleece jackets or vests are allowed during winter months. Extreme hair styles may not be worn; unnatural hair colors are not acceptable. Hair should be clean and combed or brushed. Male students are required to be clean-shaven at all times; sideburns must be trimmed horizontally above the earlobes. Men’s hair must not be touching the collar. Body piercing (other than earrings for females) is not allowed. Visible tattoos are not acceptable |
Dress Down Days
Dress code is the norm for most school days. Occasionally students will be allowed to “dress down” on certain days. All dress down clothing must be modest and in good taste. Tank top garments, “short-shorts”, mini-skirts, T-shirts with unacceptable logos or messages, or other inappropriate clothing are not allowed. Hair styles (including facial hair) must always remain “in code”.