ANC Secondary Schools - Dress Code

Student Life

Dress Code | Girls School Dress Code

ANC Girls School students should dress in a school approved uniform daily. The Girls School uniform provides students with a number of options throughout the academic year, and may be worn in a number of combinations. | Where to Purchase Uniforms

Personal appearance influences the sphere and educational environment of the Girls School. Our clothing tends to reflect our feelings and influences our behavior. We believe that our dress policy, combined with school philosophy and programs, promotes an atmosphere where the students can comfortably focus on learning and positive growth. Girls School students are expected to dress in a manner that is respectful to themselves, fellow students, faculty, administrators, and the community.

Students are to be properly attired in their uniform before entering the classroom buildings and until the end of the educational day; in other words, from 7:55 am until 3:05 pm. After the last class bell rings, if a student remains in the classroom buildings, their attire should conform to the guidelines for "School-Sponsored Events" (see below).

Students should be dressed in an exemplary and appropriate manner when representing ANC on a team, a trip, for social activities, or for special events. The Girls School Principal, coaches, teachers, and advisors will set the standard. The Principal reserves the right to adjust specific items of the dress code and special standards as necessary and warranted to maintain order, the sphere and environment conducive to education and the principles of ANC. Repeated clothing violations will result in disciplinary consequences.

Official Girls School Uniform

All girls are required to have an official Girls School uniform, comprised of:

A black plaid kilt or 4-pleated skirt
An official ANC white, Oxford-cloth, button-down shirt (short-sleeved or long-sleeved)
An official, crested, red ANC sweater (cardigan or pull-over)
A pair of solid-colored black or dark brown low-heeled fully-enclosed shoes
A pair of black knee-high socks

Girls School students wear this uniform for the Charter Day procession, graduation ceremony, and other special events.

Year-Round Wear

These items may be worn all year, but only those listed above are required.

Black plaid kilt or four-pleated skirt (available from Flynn & O’Hara).
Black spandex shorts that must be worn under kilts and four-pleat skirts, but must not be visible (available from the ANC Bookroom).
Khaki kilt or four-pleated skirt (available from Flynn & O’Hara.)
Khaki skirt (28" long available from Flynn & O’Hara).
Khaki slacks from approved vendors (available from Flynn & O’Hara or Land’s End).
Khaki corduroys (available from Land’s End only).
Monogrammed white oxford cloth shirt (short, mid-length, or long sleeved). Must be worn tucked in.
Monogrammed polo shirts—red, white, navy, or black (white and navy are available from Flynn & O’Hara in both short and long-sleeve; all colors are available from the ANC Bookroom).
Red or Black crested sweater (red is available as cardigan or pull-over; black is pull-over only. All styles are available from Flynn & O’Hara; both styles of red only in cotton available from Land’s End).
Red or Black crested sweater vests (available from Flynn & O’Hara).
Honor Society Vests.
Red or Black ANC Fleece (available from the ANC Bookroom; black also available from Land's End).
Navy crew neck and Red, Black, or Grey ANC hooded sweatshirts, and grey ½-zip monogrammed sweatshirt, which may be worn on Fridays only (available from the ANC Bookroom).
Black “letter-style” sweater (available from the ANC Bookroom).
All vests, sweaters, sweatshirts, and fleeces must be worn over an approved uniform shirt.
White, navy, black, red, or dark green opaque knee socks or footed tights (in colors that match the black plaid uniform skirt). Must be worn during winter term.
Skin-toned tights or nylons. These should be plain and devoid of pattern.

Approved Shoes:

Shoes (for year round): fully enclosed in a solid or bi-colored black, brown, grey or tan.
Crocs: in black or brown. Must be worn with the heel strap behind the ankle.
No metallic shoes or shoes with more than two colors. No flip-flops, shower shoes, or beachwear. No slippers, house shoes, or moccasins. No shoes with sequins, beads, or excessive ornamentation.
Athletic-style shoes (including lace-up Keds or Converse) may be worn with pants only. Must be solid color or bi-color in black, brown, or white. Must be fully enclosed.

NOTE: If a student is in a science lab, fully enclosed shoes are required. They must cover the top of the foot, and must be worn with socks that at least cover the ankles. If the lab shoes are Sneakers/Athletic shoes, they may be worn (with a skirt) for the lab period only.

NOTE: For Winter Term only, boots may be worn. See "Other Items and Considerations" below.

Fall and Spring Wear (first and third trimesters only)

These items are strictly optional.

Blue cord kilt or four-pleated skirt.

Socks:

With skirt: white, black, red, dark green, or navy blue no-rise, low-rise, or knee socks or footed tights (in shades that match the skirt colors); must be opaque and void of extreme patterns. (Subtle patterns that are opaque – like cable knit – are acceptable). Hose in skin-tone colors are also legal.
With pants: socks should cover ankles and be in one of the requisite colors above.
Socks are recommended but not required with fully enclosed shoes.
Socks must be worn in labs.

Approved Shoes (in addition to the year round above):

Sandals: solid colored or two-toned in black, brown, tan, grey, blue or white. All sandals must have a strap around the back (see "Approved Shoes" below).
Shoes that are neither fully enclosed, nor sandals. These must have a back strap.
Shoes must be solid or bi-colored black, dark brown, tan, grey, blue, or white.
Crocs: in blue, black, brown, tan, or white. Must be worn with the heel strap behind the ankle.
No boots of any kind. (Boots are permitted for Winter term only.)

Other Items and Considerations

Leggings may be worn as an extra layer; they need to be the same color as the socks worn over top of them and must meet the socks worn. The leggings need to be form-fitting like tights, not loose and baggy like sweat pants.

Tights and socks need to solid colored. Patterns are acceptable, but should subtle rather than extreme. If tights or socks are of a color other than skin tone, they must be opaque. If socks are worn over the tights, they must be the same color as the tights worn.

Acceptable colors for socks (only the colors listed) and tights (other than skin tone) are: White, black, red, dark green or navy blue. (Socks and tights can be purchased from Flynn and O'Hara or the ANC Bookroom.)

Approved Shoes and Boots:

Shoes should be solid-colored and non-distracting. They should not be overly ornamented nor too high in the heel. They should be appropriate for wearing in the adult working world or out in public. Hence no flip-flops, shower shoes, beachwear, or slippers. Shoes may be two-toned, as long as both colors are within the approved color choices of black, brown, tan, grey, white, or blue (for spring and fall). During the winter term, we revert to black, brown, grey and tan only, but will accept white soles or simple trim.

Boots, which may be worn only during winter term, include:

Ugg boots (or similar style), fully enclosed in black, tan, grey, or brown. They may be any height (ankle to knee and in between).
Boots that are sensible, low-heeled, solid single color in black, brown, tan or grey. They may lace up the front, zip, or pull on. Cowboy boots are also permitted.
Snow/Rain Boots may not be worn in school. The student needs to bring a different pair of approved shoes or boots to wear for the school day.

Notes

It is highly recommended that you put your name in all uniform items.
Students will most likely require two or more of the black skirts and four or more tops.
Kilts and skirts must be no shorter than the top of the knee-cap (must touch the top of the patella) when standing erect. You may have to buy a larger size kilt and move the buttons to get the required length. Note: the four-pleated skirt has a zipper closure, meaning there is no way to adjust it if it becomes too snug.
Only plain, white shirts are allowed under uniform shirts for layering. They may be tank, t-shirt, or turtleneck styles. Underlayers should not show below the bottom of the uniform shirt (i.e. at the waist) so should be worn tucked in.
Shirts may be layered but no long-sleeved shirt may be worn under a short-sleeved shirt.
DO NOT PURCHASE any piece of clothing that is TOO SNUG or TOO SHORT. You will have to replace it. Form-fitting clothes are NOT acceptable at school nor at school sponsored events, including sports and dance. Dress code violations will result.
Students who receive three or more dress code violations will receive detention. Warnings will be given after the second violation when possible to alert the student to the potential for detention.
Exceptions: any exception to or departure from the uniform for a specific reason may be requested. Permission must be requested from the dress code manager AT LEAST 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE. This includes team, club, or play shirts, college or other sweatshirts, and any other specialized attire.

Please contact the Principal for possible options if you have sensitivity to synthetic or blended fabrics.

Unacceptable Attire

The following items of clothing may not be worn during the class day from 7:55 am until 3:05 pm (or 2:00 pm on Friday). This includes during breaks, lunch, and sixth period when not in a class.

Sweatshirts and sweatpants except during physical education classes. Exception: ANC-lettered hooded or crew neck sweatshirts on Fridays throughout the year
Sandals in science labs.
Skirts over pants.
Jackets, coats, vests, scarves, hats or caps inside school buildings. Please hang them in your locker when you come to school.
Clothing deemed too snug or too revealing.
Worn, dirty, ripped, torn, wrinkled or frayed clothing.
No sheer knee socks; all socks/knee highs should be opaque.

Piercings

In the interests of health and safety, piercing must be limited to the ears. No facial or body piercing; no visible piercing (other than the ears); no audible piercing. If a piercing is seen (or heard, in the case of tongue piercing) in a location other than the ears, the student will be asked to remove it. Further consequences may result in the case of repeated infractions or defiance at the Principal's discretion.

Hair Styles

Hair must be a (single) naturally found color.

No distracting hairstyles may be worn.

Head scarves and bonnets may be worn throughout the school year. They must be solid-colored. They may be black, white, red, dark green, light or navy blue—in shades that match the uniform. Please keep them simple: if they are too ornate or distracting, you will receive a dress-code violation and be asked not to wear that particular item again. Note: Hats are still not permitted. If in doubt, ask.

The Principal reserves the right to adjust specific items of the dress code and special standards as necessary and warranted to maintain order, the sphere and environment conducive to education and the principles of the Academy. Repeated clothing violations will result in disciplinary consequences.

Dress Code for School Sponsored Events

Please note that these include sporting events (even as a fan), events organized by the Social Committee, all club events, awards and arts presentations, and any event that is sponsored by the school or a school group.

No skimpy, spaghetti strap, strapless, or halter-style tank tops. Tank top straps must be at least 1.5” wide. Tank tops must completely cover a bra, including the straps.
No see-through clothing. No underwear should be visible at any time, including bra straps.
All shirts must cover the midriff completely, even when one's arms are extended overhead.
All pants should conceal underwear. If a student chooses to wear a low cut style, it must be worn with a shirt that is long enough to be (and stay) tucked in.
All jeans, shirts, and tops should be modest and should not be form-fitting.
Shorts may be worn, but should be long enough to ensure full coverage. Ideally, the shorts should be longer than the fingertips when standing erect.
No ripped, torn, or unclean clothing is to be worn at any time.
If a skirt or dress is worn, the hem should not come above the knee when standing. Slits should not extend above the knee when standing. As with the uniform and dress code for dances, the skirt must touch the top of the patella. Wearing leggings under a dress does not circumvent this rule.
No clothing with inappropriate slogans, sayings, or pictures may be worn at any time.
Shoes must be worn at all times when inside any school building. (Health Code regulations require shoes in all public buildings.)

Dress Code for Dances

The following guidelines are intended to preserve and promote a sphere of respectful and appropriate social interaction.

Dance dresses should reflect good taste and modesty.
Dresses must be knee-length or longer. An opaque layer must at least reach the top of the patella; tulle is not an opaque layer.
Slits may not extend above the knee.
Strapless and backless dresses are not permitted.
All dresses must cover the back up to the bottom of the shoulder blades. No lace-up backs or criss-cross straps over bare skin below shoulder blades. No lame nor sheer fabrics; the back must be opaque up to the shoulder blades.
The dress may not show cleavage in the front.
Halter dresses and single-strap dresses may be worn provided they fulfill all other specifications. Even a halter dress must have at least one strap attaching the halter to the top of the back of the dress to prevent the back from slipping down. Straps must be an integral part of the original dress (and appear to be original) even if a post-purchase modification.
The dress must cover all undergarments and the midriff.

To ensure modesty:

A dress should cover every aspect of undergarments—including bra straps. Be mindful of undergarment color choice to ensure concealment.
A slip is needed when the dress is not lined or when the lining is so sheer as to reveal undergarments.
A dress should not be so snug as to reveal undergarment lines nor should it be too form-fitting.
Shoes must be worn at all times. This is a state law. (We strongly suggest that this requirement govern your choice of shoes worn to an event; be sure you select something you can keep on for the duration, or bring an alternate pair of shoes to change into.)

Dance dresses that pass all of the above must also continue to do so during all normal activities at a dance, including dancing (even with arms raised over your head) or sitting out a song on the sidelines.