BCA Student Uniform and Dress Code Policy

Overview

1. Uniforms prevent the application of subjective standards of dress in the classroom. Parents, students, and teachers know that the uniform meets the school’s standards of modesty. It eliminates any confusion about what is acceptable, modest and appropriate by the school’s standards. Uniforms allow our staff to focus on academic concerns.
2. Uniforms are a positive influence in the school. Bethel Classical Academy places particular value on a disciplined learning environment. A child learns that when he is wearing a BCA uniform, he will be engaging in the studious activity. This environment makes it easier for BCA to complete its primary task – the education of children.
3. Uniforms encourage a community spirit, where individuality is sacrificed for the good of the group. This removes the potential distraction of what clothing other students are wearing. This also sets our group of students apart from other schools, encouraging each
   student to operate as a part of a body, much like an athletic or military group identified by common dress.
4. Uniforms usually decrease the cost of clothing. To make purchasing easier each family will receive a uniform guide in their family packet at the beginning of each school year.
   There you will find the dress requirements. Parents can typically purchase two to three sets of uniforms to last throughout the school year and often these items can be handed down to other children.

General Rationale for a Dress Code

1. Being overly concerned with clothing and outward appearances is contrary to God’s will for us as revealed in Scripture (1 Sam. 16:7; Matt. 6:19-21; James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-17).
2. Pressures felt by children to compete in areas of dress are destructive to the unity of the school and the body of Christ.
3. Everything in our lives, including our clothing, should reflect the order of the Godhead and the order He has created in the world (1 Corinthians 14:40).
4. Clothing should be modest and not draw attention to the individual (1 Timothy 2:9) and should reflect differences in the sexes (Deuteronomy 22:5).
5. Our children are serving as witnesses and ambassadors both for the Lord Jesus Christ and the school. Student appearance is a reflection of both.

Purchasing Guidelines

Lands’ End

Order from Lands’ End http://www.landsend.com
School Code: 900195694

Other Uniform Supplies

1. The following vendors are popular for “any vendor” items such as pants:
   • Target
   • Children’s Place
   • Amazon Essentials
   Note: if you plan to purchase certain items from a different source than Lands’ End, please make sure they adhere to our school’s uniform and dress code policy. They should be of same styles, colors, and fit.

Uniform Guidelines for All Grammar School Students

General Dress Code for All Students

1. Shirts are to be tucked in at all times.
2. Clothing should be appropriately sized. Clothes should not have tears or holes. Pants must be properly fitted. Excessively baggy and sagging pants are not permitted (No cargo pants). Leggings are to be worn under skirts only – they may not be worn alone.
3. Distracting, excessive, or outlandish clothing, jewelry, makeup, hairstyles, or other appearance are not in keeping with the school dress code and will not be permitted.
4. All students must keep their hair neatly groomed and conservatively styled. Unnaturally colored/dyed hair, mohawks or “over” spiking is not allowed.
5. Student apparel (i.e., any non-uniform clothing worn to school or at official school events) and school gear (i.e., backpacks, lunchboxes, notebooks, and the like) shall not display any commercial slogans, product promotions, celebrity representations, or pictures/cartoons of commercial characters,) except in the case of a small manufacturer’s
   label) that are inconsistent with the values held by BCA (i.e., no pop culture characters).

Standard Daily Uniform

P.E. Uniform (PE uniforms may be worn on days when students have PE)

1. Shirts, Blouses, Oxfords & Polo Shirts
   Short or long-sleeved polo shirt (white, navy, heather gray), blouses and oxfords (white) must have BCA logo embroidered on them. T-shirts (white, navy, heather gray with school logos may only be worn on PE days). All tops must be tucked in.
2. Pants and Shorts
   Khaki or navy-blue pants or shorts. Pants must be properly fitted. Excessively baggy/sagging pants, or pants that are too tight/form fitting, leggings and jeggings are not permitted. If a belt is
   going to be worn, belts must be solid black, navy or brown. No decorative belt buckles are allowed. Cargo pants and pants with drawstrings are not allowed. Pants or shorts are to be worn
   at the waist level.
3. Skirts, Skorts, Dresses and Jumpers
   Skirts and jumpers (khaki, navy, or BCA checkered plaid) must be no more than 2” above the kneecap or Below-the-Knee length. Skirts must be worn at the waist level. All dresses and jumpers must have the embroidered BCA logo. Tights or Leggings (navy, white or black) or modesty shorts (bike shorts) must be worn underneath skirts and jumpers that do not have them built in.
4. Socks and Tights
   Socks or tights must be worn with shoes. Students have the choice of white, navy, grey or black socks or tights. No embellishments on socks or tights are allowed (no extra colored borders, colors, patterns, characters, logos, etc.) except for small manufacturer’s logo.
5. Shoes
   Shoes need to be closed toed and closed healed and in neutral colors (i.e., loafers, Mary Janes, flats). Athletic shoes should be solid in color – primarily white, dark navy, black, grey or brown.
   They may have a small amount of other colors. No words, patterns, designs or pictures are allowed.
6. Sweaters, Coats, Jackets, and Outerwear
   One to two-color “non-BCA” jackets are permitted to be worn to and from school, and during recess/lunch, but may not have any kind of lettering, characters, pattern, design or advertising,
   except in the case of a small manufacturers label or the BCA logo. No outer coats or jackets of any kind may be worn in the classroom during the school day. Approved sweaters, sweatshirts and fleece-wear are permitted in the classroom.
7. Backpacks, Lunch boxes, and Accessories
   All backpacks and lunch boxes must be plain, solid colors or patterns. These items may not be branded with cartoon characters, celebrity images, or large commercial brands (i.e., superheroes,
   Mickey Mouse). Normal small brand logos are permitted.
   One social dynamic common in school is the “haves” and “have-nots” dynamic. Among Christians, this entails more of an “allows” and “allows-not” dynamic, depending on the cultural
   values of a particular family. We generally make no judgment regarding particular cultural icons. However, cliques might begin to form based on how “cool” different students are which
   often ties to how much pop culture the student brings to school. When this happens, one small group begins to snub the others and class unity is disrupted. BCA does not wish to foster an environment where this sort of attitude can prosper.
8. PE Uniform
   On PE days, students are permitted to wear a navy sweatshirt with the embroidered BCA logo, navy sweatpants, or navy athletic shorts. (these items can be found at Lands’ End). A t-shirt (navy blue, heather grey, or white) with a BCA logo must be worn underneath the sweatshirt if student chooses not to wear a polo shirt.

Uniform Exclusions
Items that are not permitted

Embroidery (other than BCA logo)
• Sandals
• Denim
• Cargo pants/shorts
• Drawstrings
• Leggings/tights (worn alone)
• Caps/hats (not permitted to be worn in classroom)

Enforcement of Dress Code

The school staff, faculty and administration will enforce the Uniform and Dress Code Policy.
Interpretation and application of the Uniform and Dress Code standards will be responsibility of the principal.
Each student will be given two Dress Code Violation Slip reminders. Their third violation will result in spending recess time in the office and a notification sent home. Each violation of the dress code after that, the parents will be called to bring proper uniform attire to school.
Cheerful, consistent compliance is expected. Students who violate the Uniform and Dress Code Policy, either by action or by challenging and rebellious attitudes, will be subject to disciplinary
actions.
Parents, please remember we are a school of truth, goodness, and beauty, and we appreciate your cooperation with BCA’s guidelines.

Frequently Asked Questions