Dress code
Dress Code Additional information can be found in the Student / Parent Handbooks.Preschool
Preschool students should wear comfortable, washable play clothes to school. Outdoor play is included in the daily schedule, except in extreme weather conditions. Therefore, appropriate outer wear should be sent with the children each day. In winter, students will need a warm coat, hat or hood, and gloves or mittens. When snow covers the ground, boots will also be needed. Sweaters, gloves, hats, boots, (anything your child may take off) must be marked with the child's name. Children should wear shoes that are suitable for running and other types of active play. This is especially important on scheduled gym days.
Lower School
Children may wear any of the clothing found in the Land's End School Catalogue or clothing indistinguishable from these articles. Please note that items listed for gym class may not be worn to school as primary clothing. Girls may wear the bike pants found on these pages under their skirts for recess and gym if they choose. Shoes do not need to come from the catalogue but should be low heeled and worn with socks or tights. Flip-flop type sandals are not permitted. Jewelry should be modest and not become a distraction in school. Parents concerned about durability of knees in the chino pants may purchase the Canvas Open-Bottom Climber in "desert khaki" or "light stone" found in the Land's End Kids catalogue. Parents should mark their children's clothing with name labels, as clothing will be identical in many situations. Lost items that are found will be kept in a box in the hall outside of the gym office. If you notice missing clothing, please check there first.
Middle School
Students wear any of the clothing found in the Land's End School Catalogue, or clothing indistinguishable from these articles. Copies of the catalogue are mailed to Y.C.D.S. families in July. If you would like to request a new copy please contact the school or Land's End directly. Please note that items listed for gym class may not be worn to school as primary clothing. Shoes do not need to come from the catalogue but must have a back of some kind. Flip-flop type sandals are not permitted.
Upper School
The appearance of our Upper School students contributes to our school's image in the community. Therefore, students are expected to follow the dress code whenever they are on school grounds, from the time of their arrival at school until 4:30 p.m. on school days.
The Dress Code Committee strove to create a dress code based on both the spirit and letter of what we as a private college preparatory school represent. We want to stress that the spirit of the dress code is perhaps more essential than the letter, which we created to draw a clear outline of expectations and answer any specific questions you may have.
Shirts, sweaters and upper body apparel
For both girls and guys, long sleeved shirts are acceptable. They may contain a graphic no larger than the palm of your hand. Short-sleeved tee shirts with a crew neck are NOT allowed (see Friday exceptions below). Shirts, for girls or guys, do not have to be tucked in, but do take note that in some cases it is in better taste to do so. Guy's shirts should be collared if short-sleeved. College sweatshirts are acceptable as are plain sweatshirts with no logo. Every Friday is a 'T-shirt' day. The tee shirts that students are allowed to wear are college tee shirts or those promoting a YCDS team or organization. These shirts do not need to follow the 'palm rule'. For girls (and guys) spaghetti strap-style tops are not allowed and any bra straps and cleavage should not be visible. All tops must have straps at least three fingers wide.
Pants and skirts
Jeans, cargo pants, skirts and shorts are all allowed. When standing normally, your stomach and back should not be showing. Pants must sit on the hip or higher when standing, and underwear must not be visible. Pants or shorts with holes or frayed bottoms, as well as athletic pants or loungewear will not be acceptable. Jean shorts are permitted for both girls and guys. Skirts and shorts must be at least finger-tip length.
Additional Items:
Footwear—Shoes should not contain noticeable holes, and athletic sandals or sandals with plastic straps are not allowed. Piercings—Should be restricted to the ear. Any other piercings should not be visible. Tattoos&mmash;Should not be visible. Hair and hats—No exceedingly unnatural hair colors or styles are acceptable. Hats are not allowed except on dress down days or Student Council "Hat Days". Free Dress Days—Several times a quarter, the Upper School Head will announce a dress down day for students and faculty.
Consequences for Dress Code Offenders
The Dress Code Committee will keep a list with the name of each student in the Upper School. It will be up to the Dress Code Committee members as well as the Upper School Staff to kindly recognize any violators and write one check mark, as well as the date beside the name of the "offender". A student who receives three check marks during one marking period will receive a detention, or students with privileges may choose to lose privileges for one week as their punishment. If a student receives more than three check marks within one marking period, he/she will accrue detentions, or losses of privileges for each successive offense.
The faculty and administration reserve the right to intervene immediately in the case of extreme violations of either the letter or the spirit of the dress code. In such a situation, the student may be required to return home to change, or have parents bring acceptable clothing to school prior to being admitted to lass. Any missed classes would be treated as unexcused absences.