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The purpose of the Sterling Christian School dress code is to assist students in developing modesty, cleanliness, a Christian testimony, and attitudes of respect for themselves and others. As each student demonstrates concern for his/her appearance, the entire student body will benefit and the testimony of the school will be a positive one in the community. The following Scriptures establish the principles, which should govern our approach to the dress of SCS.

• I Timothy 2:9 tells women to dress modestly.
• Deuteronomy 22:5 gives us the principle of distinction in clothing in men and women.
• Romans 14:2 admonishes us not to allow our behavior to cause others to sin.
• I Corinthians 10:31 encourages us to glorify the Lord in all things.
• I Corinthians 14:26 encourages us to be edifying. The word edify means the act of building up. It is our biblical responsibility to conduct ourselves in word and deed (including dress) in a manner that glorifies God.
• Romans 12:2 tells us we should not be conformed to the world.

We at Sterling Christian School affirm that we are all created in the Image of God. Our creator in His grand design, made us and we are crowned with glory, honor, dignity, humility, compassion, and mercy. We are royalty and as such we wear the crown of God's image. In our actions, words, and attitudes we have the capacity to radiate that royalty or to deny our royal nature by taking off our crowns. We desire to radiate the royalty of being made in God's image by dressing in a way that befits sons and daughters of the King.

We also embrace humility and modesty in our dress. We desire to dress appropriately for all situations, whether it is in the classroom, playing field, at a banquet, in a performance or practice, in extra curricular events, in public, or in private.

We recognize that as we love the Lord Jesus more and more our desires are to become holy.

We will not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but instead we will desire to be holy. We do not follow our culture's shifting standards of fashion. Our world is a fallen place and the marks of sin are apparent everywhere including the fashion industry. Our own insecurities makes us desire for acceptance at all costs. Rather than follow the trends of society, we will be agents of change and reconciliation. We will try to set ourselves apart in a way that will continue to bring honor and glory to the Lord Jesus Christ. We recognize that our dress is merely a reflection of a much deeper heart matter. As we grown in our faith and mature in our walk with the Lord, our dress will simply reflect that heart commitment.

We at Sterling Christian School, students of Sterling Christian School, and as sons and daughters of the King, commit ourselves to loving the Lord our God with all our heart, with all of our soul, and with all of our might. Students will be asked to sign an agreement form of this above stated statement.

Hair

Hair should be clean and neatly brushed. Students are not permitted to wear their hair dyed to an unnatural color. Tastefully done highlights in natural hair color is acceptable. Students are not permitted to have hair tails or styles that are excessively distracting. No extreme or faddish hairstyles will be allowed. Boys haircuts may be no longer than the top of their colors. Facial hair is not permissible on students unless a doctor's excuse is provided.

Jewelry

Boys are not permitted to wear earrings. No jewelry with studs is allowed. No body piercing jewelry or magnetic jewelry designed to look like body-piercing is allowed. Girls may have no more than two earrings in each year.

Other

No tattoos are allowed.
No undergarments are allowed to be showing.
Hats, sunglasses, and coats must be kept in the locker and can not be worn in the building at any time.

Shoes and Socks

Students are required to wear shoes at all times for health and safety reasons. Shoes are to be kept on at all times in the classroom. Shoes must be worn outside as well.

Socks must be worn at all times with the exception of when sandals are worn. Flip flops or thong type shoes are not allowed.

Boys: Dress shoes, sandals, or tennis shoes are acceptable.
Girls: Dress shoes, sandals, or tennis shoes are acceptable. No spiked style heels are allowed.

Shorts

Boys: Dress shorts or jean shorts are allowed only during the months of August, September, April, and May. However, shorts may NEVER be worn on Chapel Days. No frayed cut-off shorts or sport style or athletic shorts are allowed. All shorts must be designed to be worn at the waistline and not be drooping.

Girls: Girls may not wear shorts. Capris and clamdiggers that follow the tightness guidelines of pants may be worn year round. Capris or clamdiggers may not be frayed or cut off. Clamdiggers are a style that come to the very top of the knee or to the middle of the knee. Nothing shorter may be worn.

Speech and Conversation

Students and faculty of SCS should seek to glorify God and build each other up through our words and conversations. Therefore, profane, slanderous, sacrilegious, obscene, and or suggestive language is inappropriate and unacceptable. These will receive a violation.

This guideline is also applicable to the clothing worn. Unacceptable wording especially but is not limited to rock bands, alcohol, tobacco, drugs, profane wording, or undesirable characters.

Authority

It is the parent's responsibility to see that their student is dressed properly for school before leaving home for the day. We advice the parents to be monitoring their child/children's clothing throughout the year to remain within dress code. If at any time you have a question about an item of clothing, please, bring it to the school PRIOR to wearing it to see if it fits our dress code.

Chapel Day Dress Code

Dress clothes are expected to be worn. Shirts are to be buttoned up for boys. NO shorts on Chapel Days. Black jeans may be worn. Preschool through 6th grade are allowed to wear jeans that are clean and are not excessively faded, frayed, or torn. We would ask that students look especially well groomed and neat on Chapel Days.

Tops:

• Tops that do not reveal skin when arms are elevated. When arms are fully extended above the head, no skin will be allowed to show.
• Long camisoles or long t-shirts may be worn under shirts to be assured that the torso is covered.
• Sweatshirts without or with hoods may be worn. If the sweatshirt has a zipper, a top must be worn underneath. Spandex fabric or athletic style jackets that zip down the front may NOT be worn in the school. It is acceptable to wear them to school as an outer jacket.
• Undergarments must not be seen through the tops worn. There can not be undergarments seen under the armhole.
• Sheer or lacy tops may be worn over an acceptable top.
• Loose fitting tops that follow the 3 finger rule are acceptable.
• Tightly fitted dress shirts are not allowed.
• Tight fitting knit tops are not allowed.
• Cap sleeves are allowed. If a cap sleeve is worn, the shoulder must be covered completely and there can be no undergarments seen under the armhole.
• We desire for our girls to wear modest clothes. Thus when purchasing your tops please do not choose low cut or scooped necklines. A good guideline for parents and students to follow is that the neckline should not come more than 3 finger widths below the collarbone.
• Tops may not be backless or have straps.
• A general guideline for parents and students to follow is that the top worn (whether worn alone or in the layer look) must be loose fitting or in other words must not cup or mold the bustline.
• Spaghetti straps are not allowed (these are also not allowed on graduation dresses)

Pants, Capris, Clamdiggers, and Skirts

• Skirts, dress pants, and jeans must cover the abdomen. NO hip huggers or low rise pants are allowed. Absolutely NO skin can be showing.
• If there are belt loops, a belt must be worn.
• All must be worn loose but not baggy.
• We understand that the style is to wear pants tight. We do not want to conform to the world so we would advise you to use the following guidelines. Please, do not allow your pants, capris, clamdiggers, or skirts to mold the buttocks. You should be able to pinch a half inch of material on each side of the pants, skirt, or dress. This would be with or without the shirt tucked in. This is not a strict measurement but a guideline to use throughout the school year.
• White pants or skirts are not allowed. Pants or skirts must not have frayed bottoms or holes.
• Wind pants and athletic pants are not allowed.

Dresses and Skirts

• Girls may wear dresses - the length of the dress is measured from the floor when kneeling. The hem can be no more than 2 inches from the floor.
• The same guidelines that apply to looseness of tops and pants apply to dresses and skirts.
• No low rise or hip hugger skirts or mini skirts are allowed.
• Skirts follow the same measurements as described above. In addition, if a long skirt is worn, a slit is allowed in the garment. This slit must be no more than two inches from the floor when kneeling. Undergarments must not be seen when wearing a slit.

Not Acceptable for Girls

• Shorts.
• Tank tops, shirts with slits, tops or dresses with oversized arm holes, sleeveless tops, spaghetti strap tops or dresses, backless tops or dresses, see through blouses or blouses that reveal the midriff.
• Sheer material, see through material, or lacy material tops must b worn with an appropriate t-shirt underneath that is tucked in. Absolutely NO short cropped shirts or bare midriffs are allowed. The girls torso must be covered at all times (with or without arms fully raised).
• Tight fitting tops. No stretch nylon, spandex, or velour material may be worn in pants, skirts, tops, or dresses.
• No hip huggers, mini skirts, no sport style shorts, jogging suits, sweat pants (excluding Pre-K to 2nd grade), bib overalls (excluding Pre-K to 2nd grade).
• All coats, jackets, hat, and sunglasses are to be kept in the student's locker.
• No white pants, white capris, white clamdiggers, or white skirts.

Acceptable for Boys

• Clean dress slacks, docker- style pants, and jeans that fit neatly without holes. No fraying is allowed.
• T-shirts or sweatshirts are acceptable provided they are worn right-side out and are in good taste.
• Sweatshirts with hoods may be worn. If the sweatshirt has a zipper, a top must be worn underneath. Spandex fabric or athletic style jackets that zip down the front may not be worn in the school. It is acceptable to wear them to school as an outer jacket.
• Shirts must be tucked in unless designed to be worn on the outside of pants. Logos or pictures are acceptable when reflecting good taste and does not dishonor God.
• If shirts have buttons, they must be buttoned. No loose or flopping shirts.
• Belts must be worn when belt loops are present.

Unacceptable for Boys

• Shorts in any month other than August, September, April, or May.
• No athletic shorts.
• Tank tops, undershirts, sleeveless shirts, jogging or sweat pants (Pre-K to 2nd grade may wear sweatpants) or any tight fitting attire.
• When arms are fully extended above the head no skin or undergarments can be showing.
• All coats, jackets, hats, and sunglasses must be kept in the student's locker.
• Wind pants and athletic pants are not allowed.

Exception for Pre-Kindergarten through Second Grade Students

• These students may wear sweat pants and bibs to class except on Chapel Day.

Special Event Dress Code (Prom, Homecoming, etc.)

Young ladies: one-piece dresses are acceptable if properly worn. Dresses that have plunging necklines or waistlines, see-through material, deep slits from the hem, or bra-tops are not acceptable. Dresses should be selected with attention to good taste and modesty as well as fashion.

Young men: young men are to wear formal dress clothes and shoes. No sandals are allowed. No shorts or sagging pants are allowed.

All other dress code items apply also.

Authority

Questions about the appropriateness of a student's attire will be dealt with on an individual basis, according to grade level by the teacher. Students may be referred to the principal for determination or the Board member in charge of Spiritual Concerns.

Students are expected to comply with requests for a change in dress immediately.

Dress Code Discipline

Each teacher and homeroom teacher will determine any dress code violations in the first class period.

If a student is found to be in violation of the dress code rules, the student will wear a choir robe for the day. Students may not call home to have their parents bring them a change of clothes and they may not change their clothes if there are others at school.