JRCS Dress Code
Juniper Ridge Community School recognizes that all students have an intrinsic worth based upon who they are and not what they wear. Whether we intend to or not, clothing is used both as an external expression of our own individuality, as well as an expression of the groups we align ourselves with. The school expects students to maintain a neat and well-groomed appearance and to dress in the spirit of the code outlined in our Family Handbook. Styles must not interfere with the educational process nor present a safety hazard as determined by the faculty.
KINDERGARTEN AND GRADES 1-5
The standards of dress are as follows. This applies to all clothing and personal items such as hats, purses, bags, backpacks, and lunch boxes.
- Any items containing logos, emblems or graphics that are larger than 2″ x 3″ (size of a credit card) are not allowed. The exceptions to this are JRCS t-shirts and JRCS event related clothing. Items made from printed fabric (i.e. striped shirt, floral dress, etc) are allowed as long as the print does not contain commercialized characters, products or logos.
- Designs or styles judged by their teachers to be vulgar, offensive, or suggestive are not allowed, nor is anything that promotes tobacco, alcohol, drugs, firearms, media, or gang affiliation.
- No clothing displaying a message that the class teacher determines to be distracting (e.g., “I’d rather be playing video games”).
- Midriffs must be covered. No spaghetti straps. Tank tops must have a two finger width.
- All clothing must have a hemmed or finished edge (no cutoffs, or frayed edges.) Children may not wear intentionally torn clothing to school. Underwear may not be visible.
- Shorts, dresses, and skirts may not be shorter than student’s finger tips when arms are extended and placed down at their side.
- All clothing must be of the appropriate size, fitting and covering appropriately, no see- through shirts, nothing baggy or sagging (e.g. the crotch at the knee look) or excessively tight fitting.
- Appropriate shoes for walking, running, jumping and playing must be worn for all games classes, gardening and recesses. Children who come in open-toed sandals will need to keep a second pair of shoes at school for outdoor activities. Shoes for outdoor wear must have a closed toe and heel support, be the correct size and fit appropriately.
- Acceptable styles are tennis shoes with tied laces or zippers/Velcro or closed toed sandals (e.g. keens or similar styles).
- Laces/Velcro must be tied/secured and stay fastened.
- No flip-flops, platforms, crocs, rubber clogs, or high-heeled shoes are to be worn as outdoor shoes. No shoes with lights or rollers/wheels, even if wheels are removed.
- Clothing should be suitable for both classroom and outdoor play, including games, woodworking, and gardening. Clothing should be suitable to the weather. In the winter, dress children in layers to allow for the cold mornings and warmer afternoons.
- Items intended to be worn outdoors, such as sunglasses, hats, caps, heavy sweatshirts, gloves, etc., are not to be worn indoors.
- Hats are intended to protect the child from the elements, not as an expression of style. No head coverings (i.e. bandannas, scarves, etc.) may be worn in classes. (Religious exceptions allowed).
- Hair must be a natural hair color. Hair should be clean, neat, and out of the face. No extreme haircuts, head-shaving, partial head-shaving, hair carving, mohawks, faux-hawks, or the like. Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis upon consultation and approval of the administration.
- For safety reasons we discourage the wearing of jewelry. Piercing is allowed on the ears only, dangling earrings may not be worn by students at any time. (please enforce this too) We request that students in second grade and under do not wear watches to school.
- No apple watches, smart watches, fitbits, etc.
- Tattoos are prohibited. If a temporary tattoo has been applied, it must be washed off prior to coming to school.
GRADES 6-8
Different classes and activities require certain types of clothing. Please know that if you are participating in these classes or activities, there will be an expectation that these dress codes will be followed.
Dress for the Activity
Games: Tennis shoes or shoes that you can run in. No dangling earrings. Clothing that allows you to move freely.
Field Trips: You are representing JRCS as a whole entity. Your behavior and how you look reflects on the entire school as you go out into the community. Be proud and represent JRCS well.
Concerts: Anytime you perform in a concert, please wear concert black. This means a black dress, slacks or a skirt. Black button-up shirt. If you need help getting these items of clothing, please see your teacher.
Assemblies: If you are performing or emceeing at an assembly, you are in front of the entire school, (and some parents). dress appropriately for our younger students.
If staff members feel that you are not dressed appropriately, they have the right to remove you from the activities.
Appropriate jewelry for concerts, performances, and physical activities
No long nails in a pottery class
Crop tops (Belly button level. Private areas need to be covered, even when you reach up. No gymnastics in crop tops because you are unable to tuck shirts in)
Closed-toed shoes in Woodwork, Games, Garden, and possibly Handwork classes depending on the project
No tank tops with the sides cut out
No drugs, sexual content, inappropriate language, weapons, or gore on apparel
Graphics can be bigger than a credit card, as long as they are an appropriate graphic
Dyed hair is acceptable
Ripped jeans are allowed (but front pockets can not be seen)
Shirts with spaghetti straps are allowed
The length of shorts and skirts needs to be three inches or longer below the butt cheeks. (Private areas need to be covered, especially when you bend over. With skirts, it is recommended that shorts are worn underneath)
Hoods can be worn inside (but if a student is not focusing or participating in class, the teacher has the right to ask for it to not be worn.
If you have any questions regarding the JRCS Dress Code Policy, please call the office at 970-986-8219
Juniper Ridge Community School
615 Community Lane
Grand Junction, CO 81506
(970) 986-8219
Juniper Ridge Community School is a proud member of the Alliance for Public Waldorf Education.