Dress Code
Each of the three divisions has their own developmentally responsive guidelines for dress. Mounds Park Academy maintains a dress code and/or uniform in alignment with the school’s mission that creates an environment conducive to learning and collaboration. The policy is intended to minimize distractions, teach students to present a positive and respectful image of themselves, and reflect school pride. Please refer to each division specific addendum for more information about the dress code.
Lower School Uniform Policy
At Mounds Park Academy, we feel our Lower School students benefit from wearing uniforms. We believe that uniforms contribute to a positive school climate and keep students in a 'student' mindset. Uniforms bring consistency and cohesion to clothing and cut down on competition. We invite parents to join us in this effort.
Obtaining Uniforms:
MPA Used Uniform Sale
August and January
Donald’s Uniform
972 Payne Avenue
St. Paul, MN
651-776-2723
Land’s End School Uniforms
1-800-963-4816
White | Light yellow | Light blue | Navy blue | Dark Green | |
Slacks: chino or corduroy (no sweatpants or leggings) Leggings may be worn under a skirt or jumper. Capris. | X | ||||
Shorts: Navy blue or navy watch plaid. No short shorts, camp shorts, gym shorts, tennis shorts or cut-offs. | X | ||||
Jumpers/Skirts/Skorts: Jumper, chino skirt or skorts. Navy blue or navy watch plaid with white background. No lace or trim on jumpers, skirts, or skorts. | X | ||||
Dresses: Navy blue polo dress (Land’s End) | X | ||||
Shirts: Oxford cloth dress shirts, or Perma press shirts, long or short sleeve | X | X | X | X | |
No shawls or ponchos | |||||
Turtlenecks or mock turtlenecks | X | X | X | ||
Knit shirts with collar and placket, long or short sleeve | X | X | X | X | |
Sweaters/Pullovers/Cardigans (solid colors only) |
X | X | X | X | |
V-neck pullovers (solid colors only) |
X | X | X | X | |
Sweater vests (solid colors only) |
X | X | X | X | |
Crew neck pullovers (solid colors only) |
X | X | X | X | |
Navy Blue Fleece with an MPA logo (sold through MPA) | X | ||||
Navy Blue crew sweatshirts with MPA logo (no hoods) (sold through MPA) | X | ||||
Socks/Tights Solid colors only | X | X | X | X | |
No ribbed or cable knits | |||||
Shoes: any dress or athletic shoe is acceptable | |||||
No flip-flops, clogs, roller shoes, flashing lights or sounds | |||||
No Uggs or boots (These may be worn at outdoor recess) | |||||
No necklaces and/or bracelets |
Middle School Dress Code
The Mounds Park Academy Middle School maintains a dress code in alignment with the school’s mission that creates an environment conducive to learning and collaboration. The policy is intended to minimize distractions, teach students to present a positive and respectful image of themselves, and reflect school pride. The dress code serves as a transitional step between Lower School uniforms and Upper School dress expectations.
Guidelines
- Modesty: Students may not expose their stomachs, backs, bottoms, or chests. Skirts, dresses and shorts must be an appropriate length for school (mid-thigh or below). Undergarments must be covered. No spaghetti straps or tube tops.
- Neatness and Cleanliness: Clothing should be clean, and may not have tears, holes, or ragged edges.
- Appropriateness: No inappropriate or offensive slogans or designs are permitted. Clothing should be appropriate for school (no pajamas, slippers, etc.).
- No hats or jackets (except fleeces) may be worn during the school day.
- The Middle School faculty and administration reserve the right to determine what is modest, neat, and appropriate.
Consequences
Students and parents/guardians who have questions about the policy are encouraged to speak to the Middle School Director. The goal is for students to understand why the dress code is in place, and why it is important for them to follow it. Students who do not abide by the guidelines will talk with the Middle School Director about why what he/she is wearing is inappropriate for school. Continued disregard of the policy may result in detention, the student being asked to change clothing, parent involvement, or suspension for chronic offenders.
Physical Education Uniforms
Grades 5 - 8
- Short-sleeved t-shirt (no sleeveless shirts of any sort for either boys or girls). T-shirts must be standard length (fall below the belt-line when arms are raised) and be free of tears or holes. Any graphics or text must be school appropriate and is up to the discretion of the individual teacher.
- Athletic style shorts (inseam 4” or longer). No docker or cargo style shorts.
- Appropriate and clean tennis shoes with laces, i.e. running, cross trainers, or indoor court shoes. (No slip-ons, clogs or raised soles, skateboarding or hiking style shoes). These shoes must have non-marking soles.
- Sweatshirt or jacket (as needed for cooler weather).
- Sweatpants or nylon wind pants (as needed for cooler weather).
- All student clothing and equipment should be clearly marked with the student’s name.
Upper School Dress Code
Philosophy
The Mounds Park Academy Upper School student dress code supports equitable educational access and is written in a manner that does not reinforce stereotypes. To ensure effective and equitable enforcement of this dress code, school faculty and staff shall enforce the dress code consistently and in a manner that does not reinforce or increase marginalization or oppression of any group based on race, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, cultural observance, household income or body type/size.
Our values are:
- All students should be able to dress comfortably for school and engage in the educational environment without fear of or actual unnecessary discipline or body shaming.
- Teachers should focus on teaching without the additional responsibility of dress code enforcement.
- Conflicting and inconsistent and/or inequitable discipline should be minimized whenever possible.
- The student dress code is designed to accomplish several goals:
- Maintain a safe learning environment in classes where protective or supportive clothing is needed, such as lab science classes, drama, or PE (athletic attire/shoes).
- Allow students to wear clothing of their choice.
- Allow students to wear clothing that expresses themselves and their gender in a way that makes them confident.
- Allow students to wear religious attire without fear of discipline or discrimination.
- Prevent students from wearing clothing or accessories with offensive images or language, including profanity, hate speech, and pornography.
- Prevent students from wearing clothing or accessories that denote, suggest, display or reference alcohol, drugs or related paraphernalia or other illegal conduct or activities.
- Prevent students from wearing clothing or accessories that reasonably can be construed as being or including content that is racist, lewd, vulgar, or obscene, or that reasonably can be construed as containing fighting words, speech that incites others to imminent lawless action, defamatory speech, or threats to others.
- Ensure that all students are treated equitably regardless of race, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, cultural observance, household income, or body type/size.
Dress Code
Mounds Park Academy Upper School expects that all students will dress for the school day or for any school sponsored event. Student dress choices should respect the school’s intent to sustain a community that is inclusive of a diverse range of identities. The primary responsibility for a student’s attire resides with the student and their family. The School is responsible for seeing that student attire does not interfere with the health or safety of any student (aprons or smocks may be provided in some cases), that student attire does not contribute to a hostile or intimidating atmosphere for any student, and that dress code enforcement does not reinforce or increase marginalization or oppression of any group based on race, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, cultural observance, household income, or body type/size. Any restrictions to the way a student dresses must be necessary to support the overall educational goals of the school and must be explained within this dress code.
- Basic Principle: Certain body parts must be covered for all students at all times.
Clothes must be worn in a way such that genitals, buttocks, breasts, and nipples are fully covered with opaque fabric. Cleavage should not have coverage requirements. All items listed in the “must wear” and “may wear” categories below must meet this basic principle. - Students Must Wear:
- A top (shirt, tank top, sweatshirt, etc.)
- Bottom (pants, jeans, shorts, a skirt, sweatpants, leggings, etc.)
- Shoes
- Students May Wear:
- Hats
- Hats must allow the face to be visible
- Religious headwear
- Hoodie sweatshirts
- Wearing the hood overhead is allowed, but the face must be visible
- Pajamas
- Midriff baring shirts
- Ripped jeans,
- Underwear and buttocks may not be exposed
- Tank tops,
- May include spaghetti straps and halter tops
- Athletic attire
- Hats
- Students May Not Wear:
- Items with violent language or images
- Items with images or language depicting drugs or alcohol (or any illegal item or activity)
- Items with hate speech, profanity, and/or pornography.
- Items with images or language that creates a hostile or intimidating environment based on any protected class or consistently marginalized groups.
- Any clothing that reveals visible undergarments
- Visible waistbands or straps on undergarments worn under other clothing is allowed
- Dress Code Enforcement
To ensure effective and equitable enforcement of this dress code, Mounds Park Academy faculty and staff shall enforce the dress code consistently using the requirements below. School faculty and staff shall not have discretion to vary the requirements in ways that lead to discriminatory enforcement.- Students will only be removed from spaces, hallways, or classrooms as a result of a dress code violation as outlined in section 4 above. Students in violation of Section 4 will be provided two (2) options to be dressed more to code during the school day:
- Students will be asked to put on their own (or a friend’s) alternative clothing, if already available at school, to be dressed more to code for the remainder of the day.
- If necessary, students’ parents may be called during the school day to bring alternative clothing for the student to wear for the remainder of the day.
- No student should be affected by dress code enforcement because of racial identity, sex assigned at birth, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, ethnicity, cultural or religious identity, household income, body size/type, or body maturity.
- Students should not be shamed or required to display their body in front of others in school. “Shaming” includes, but is not limited to:
- kneeling or bending over to check attire fit,
- measuring straps or clothing length,
- asking students to account for their attire in the classroom or in hallways in front of others,
- calling out students in spaces, in hallways, or in classrooms about perceived dress code violations in front of others (faculty or staff will request a private conversation with a student),
- accusing students of “distracting” other community members with their clothing.
- Students will only be removed from spaces, hallways, or classrooms as a result of a dress code violation as outlined in section 4 above. Students in violation of Section 4 will be provided two (2) options to be dressed more to code during the school day:
The Mounds Park Academy dress code guidelines shall apply to regular school days, and any school related events and activities.
Students who feel they have been subject to discriminatory enforcement of the dress code should contact the Upper School Director, the Upper School Counselor, or the Director of Equity and Belonging.
Inspired in part by Oregon NOW Model Dress Code.
Physical Education
- Appropriate and clean tennis shoes with laces, i.e. running, cross trainers, or indoor court shoes. These shoes must have non-marking soles.
- Shorts—preferable athletic styles, but anything which does not restrict activity—no boxers.
- No sleeveless shirts of any sort for either boys or girls. T-shirts—no tears, holes, etc.—standard length, fall below the belt-line when arms are raised.
- Sweat pants, wind pants and sweatshirt or jacket.
- If hats are worn, they must be baseball-style only.
Last Updated: August 22, 2019