DRESS CODE

Mount Airy Christian Academy believes what students wear strongly influences their behavior. We want them to have an appearance that is a good testimony to the Lord. Additionally, we want to discourage competition in dress among the students. While on campus, students are to maintain the dress code.

The biblical principle of modesty is the standard. A student’s attire should manifest his/her respect for the school and others by displaying a serious and conscientious attitude about the school and his/her education. Wearing clothes that fall short of this standard tends to negatively influence discipline, manners, habits, and overall behavior. The desire is for our students to look neat and sharp.

The following guidelines should be noted:

1. Students are to arrive at school dressed (shirts tucked in and belts on) and stay properly dressed until 3:15 PM.

2. Color definitions are as follows: Navy is dark blue, not a royal or denim blue. White is a pure white, not an ivory or cream. Khaki is tan.

3. Neat mends are permitted. Patches with wording or pictures are not allowed.

4. Hats are not allowed. Hats may be permitted on certain party days.

5. Shirts must be tucked in at all times.

6. Unless otherwise instructed, the school dress code will be followed at all school functions.

7. We request that parents maintain the same standards of apparel as students at any school function.

8. The Administration reserves the right to determine what is considered a proper uniform and “faddish” in appearance by school standards.

9. See above for examples.

Standard Uniform

Pants:

Students (boys and girls) may wear khaki or navy uniform pants. Pants must be uniform pants purchased from French Toast, Lands’ End, or department stores with school uniforms. The back pockets of uniform pants have besom pockets that are cut into the pants rather than attached on the outside. There should be no pockets on the legs. Care must be taken that they fit as uniform pants fit and are not too loose, too tight, or faddish. Girls’ uniform pants may be low rise provided they do not fit too tightly and a shirt can be tucked in properly. Flare-style uniform pants are also acceptable. Examples of acceptable pants can be found above.

Jeans, denims, corduroys, and cargo pants are not permitted. Pants must be of appropriate length, hitting the front of the shoe. Pants that are too long should be hemmed. Elastic waist pants are permissible in elementary grades and may be worn without a belt.

Shorts:

Students (boys or girls) may wear khaki or navy uniform shorts from uniform companies such as French Toast or Lands’ End. The shorts must come to the top of the knee. Shorts may not be worn between November 1 and March 31.

Belts:

Belts must be worn at all times with looped pants or shorts and should be solid brown, black or navy.

Skirts:

Girls may wear khaki or navy skirts. Skirts are to be to the middle of the knee in length. When kneeling, skirts must be within an inch of the floor. Only one slit is allowed in the skirt, and the slit must not go more than two inches above the knee when sitting or standing.

Elementary girls may wear navy or khaki jumpers with the same length requirements. Skorts in navy or khaki are also permissible in elementary school. Skorts (look like skirt in front and shorts in back) must not be higher than two inches above the knee.

Shirts:

Students may wear solid-colored polos as follows:

K-8: navy, white, or light blue. They may be plain or with the MACA logo, short sleeve, or long sleeve.

9-12: navy, white, light blue, burgundy, pink, or black. High school polos must have the MACA logo and short sleeves.

Girls may wear blouses as follows:

Elementary girls may wear white uniform blouses with short or long sleeves. No sheer or see-through material is permitted. Girls in upper elementary grades should wear undergarments beneath their blouses and polo shirts to provide modesty.

Secondary girls may wear white or light blue blouses with short or long sleeves and buttons all the way down the front. No sheer or see-through material is permitted. Undergarments must be white or flesh colored.

Boys may wear white or light blue dress shirts with short or long sleeves.

Shirts must be tucked in and all but the top button must be buttoned. Shirts are not to be rolled up or bloused. Shirts that look like they are tucked, but are not, are unacceptable. A second shirt worn under the uniform shirt needs to be a white, short-sleeved shirt or a long-sleeved shirt in a matching color of the uniform shirt. The undershirt cannot have writing on it.

Turtlenecks are permitted in elementary classes in white or light blue.

Sweaters and Sweatshirts

All students may wear MACA sweatshirts and hoodies in class.

Elementary students may wear solid sweaters in burgundy, navy, or white. Secondary students may wear solid sweaters in burgundy, navy, white, light blue, or gray.

Shoes

Students must wear brown, black, tan, or navy school shoes, such as loafers, oxfords, etc. with matching laces. They must be closed toe and heel. Heels must be no higher than one and one-half inches, measured from the base of the shoe. Laced shoes must be kept tied. Tennis shoes may be worn with pants or shorts. Tennis shoes must be black, but may have a small symbol or label in gray or white. The soles and laces must be black.

Socks

Socks may be white, khaki, navy, gray, or black and must be visible above the shoe. White, khaki, or navy tights may be worn. No leggings are permitted.

Accessories

Elementary girls may wear one ring per hand, one necklace, and a wristwatch. One pair of earrings of any style may be worn, but they must not be larger than a dime. Nails may be painted light or pastel colors. Neon colors or black nail polish are not permitted. Students may wear bracelets, but they should not be excessive in number. If a student wears too many, or if they become a distraction, the student will be asked to remove them.

Elementary boys may wear a tie tack or tie bar with a tie, one necklace that must be under the shirt, and a wristwatch. Students may wear bracelets, but they should not be excessive in number. If a student wears too many, or they become a distraction, the student will be asked to remove them. No other jewelry is permitted for the boys.

Secondary girls may wear one ring per hand and a wristwatch. One pair of earrings of any style may be worn, but they must not be larger than a quarter nor hang lower than one and one quarter inch. Girls may not wear more than two earrings in each ear. It can be two earrings in the earlobe or one stud in the ear cartilage and one earring in the ear lobe. They may wear one necklace under the shirt collar. No unusual materials or unusual styles. Nail polish in any color except black is permitted. No unusual styles.

High school girls may wear makeup; however, it must not be unusual or overdone. Makeup that is deemed to be too much will need to be removed. No body piercings or visible tattoos are allowed. Students may wear bracelets, but they should not be excessive in number. If a student wears too many, or if they become a distraction, the student will be asked to remove them.

No spike jewelry is allowed. The Administration reserves the right to ban any type of jewelry or accessory.

Secondary boys may wear a wristwatch, one ring, and one necklace under the shirt. No other jewelry, body piercings, or visible tattoos are permitted for boys. Students may wear bracelets, but they should not be excessive in number. If a student wears too many, or if they are becoming a distraction, the student will be asked to remove them.

Hair

Girls should have no unusual hair colors, styles, or accessories. A student whose hair is dyed an unusual color will be required to have the procedure reversed. This includes stripes or accents. Hair may not hang in the student’s eyes.

Boys’ hair must be trimmed above the ears and shirt collar and may not hang down over the eyebrows. No hair accessories may be worn. No facial hair is permitted. Boys’ hair must remain its natural color and should not be dyed, bleached, or highlighted. Any student’s hair that is altered during the summer must be to school code by the first day of athletic practice for athletes or by the first day of school, whichever comes first.

The Administration reserves the right to follow disciplinary procedures for haircuts, hair colors, or hairstyles deemed faddish by school standards. Parents are expected to comply with any such matter.

Chapel Uniform

Thursdays are Chapel days at MACA, and all students should come dressed in Chapel uniform. On special occasions, Chapel might be moved to a different day of the week to accommodate a holiday schedule, at which time parents will be notified regarding the need for Chapel uniform. The Chapel uniform might also be required for special programs, field trips, fine arts performances, etc. The Chapel uniform is as follows:

Girls are to wear a blouse or oxford shirt with buttons all the way down the front, a matching plain undershirt, and either a khaki or navy skirt. Elementary girls must wear a white blouse/shirt; secondary girls may wear a white or light blue blouse/shirt.

Boys are to wear a dress shirt, tie, and pants. Elementary boys must wear a white shirt, navy pants, and a matching tie. Secondary boys may wear a white or light blue shirt, navy or khaki pants, and a matching tie. Ties must be worn properly for the entire day.

Standard uniform guidelines should be followed for belts, shoes, and socks. However, tennis shoes may not be worn on Chapel day. Also, no sweatshirts, hoodies, athletic jackets, or zipper sweaters may be worn on Chapel days.

Physical Education Uniform

Any student taking Physical Education (PE) classes will be required to dress in the MACA PE uniform. Elementary students will wear their PE uniform to school on the day they have class; secondary students will change into their PE uniform prior to PE class. Secondary students will receive a zero for the class if they are out of dress code but will be required to participate.