AAW community members,
Over the last 8 months or so, I have worked with many members of our community to revise our code of conduct, specifically in regards to the appropriateness of our dress code, our policy on personal electronic devices (cell phones, MP3 players, iPads, netbooks, etc.), and our attendance policy. As our students enter a changing world, it is important that we provide appropriate guidance to our students and leadership to our community. Specifically, I wanted to emphasize that the purpose of a code of conduct is to provide to students the best possible learning environment. I also wanted to eliminate from the code of conduct rules that restricted the privileges of students without providing a benefit to their learning environment.
In the fall of 2010, we convened a group of AAW stakeholders to give feedback on proposed changes to the Code of Conduct, and the proposed changes have undergone many revisions. Although the official Code of Conduct will not be approved by the Board until the end of March, the Board has informally reviewed this section, and I feel comfortable now announcing these changes to the Code of Conduct. Please follow these guidelines beginning immediately.
The following rules now allow hats, shoulder straps less than 1” wide, and flannel pants such as yoga pants or sweat pants. For the accommodation of current fashion, we recognize that women often wear leggings under long shirts that can be confused with short skirts. We have made the determination that leggings must be fully opaque, and no skin tone may be visible through the leggings. This is not a change to procedure.
At the same time that we are leaders, our students need also to be leaders. Students are at AAW to learn, to achieve in their art and academics, and to contribute to their community. If our students use a relaxed dress code or relaxed policy on personal electronic devices as an excuse to lose focus on their primary goal of learning, I will not hesitate to recommend a return to previous rules.
IV. Dress Code
While fashion changes, the reasons for being in school do not. Students are in school to learn. Any fashion (dress, accessory, or hairstyle) that disrupts the educational process or presents a safety risk will not be permitted. Personal expression is permitted within these general guidelines.
If a student has selected a manner of appearance that is beyond mere freedom of expression and disrupts the educational process or presents risk to him/her self or others, he/she may be removed from the educational setting and asked to change clothes or be sent home. This is at the discretion of the principal and/or his/her designee.
Personal Grooming
1) All students attending Arts Academy in the Woods shall be clean, neat, and well groomed.
2) Personal grooming shall be completed prior to entering the classroom.
Clothing
1) Attire that poses potential harm to wearer or school property shall not be worn.
2) All clothing shall be neat and clean.
3) Slogans and designs shall be in good taste.
4) Clothing will be considered to be in poor taste if it:
a) is obscene, libelous, indecent, or vulgar;
b) advertises any product or service not permitted to minors by law;
c) has the potential to be insulting or harassing;
d) does incite fighting or presents a likelihood of disrupting school or a school event;
5) The following attire is NOT TO BE WORN IN SCHOOL:
a) Midriffs
b) pants worn below hips
c) see-through blouses or low cut blouses
d) strapless tops or tops worn off the shoulder
e) Low-cut tank tops, such as those with low-cut necklines or low-cut armholes, are not allowed.
f) halter-tops
g) sunglasses (non-prescription) (Students must have a doctor’s note to be allowed to wear sunglasses inside the school.)
h) slippers or house shoes
6) Coats may only be worn at the discretion of the teacher and/or an administrator.
7) Skirts or shorts may not be higher than 3 inches above the wearer’s knees or be distracting to the learning environment.
8) Students officially representing the Arts Academy in the Woods in outside activities or events shall always dress according to the standards set by this dress code, and may be held to a higher standard than articulated in this dress code.
9) Violators may be reported by any student, teacher, administrator or the principal.
10) To cover other situations, if not covered by the above guidelines, the following policy will be used: Attire that has the potential to distract from the teaching and/or learning situation of the student(s) shall not be allowed.
Any student found in violation of the dress code statement will be required to change clothing. If no change of clothes is available, parents will be called and a request made for suitable clothing. More than one violation of this code may result in detention and/or possible suspension from school.
3. Personal Technology Devices
The use of personal technology devices in our society is robust and expanding. When enforcing policies for the use of personal technology devices, Arts Academy in the Woods must first consider the effect of these devices on student learning. Additionally, AAW must teach proper use of personal technology devices as career readiness training. Finally, AAW must support students and families who use personal technology devices to facilitate efficient communication between family members. Arts Academy in the Woods will enforce the following restrictions on personal technology devices.
- Use of personal technology devices during instructional hours will be allowed only at the discretion of the classroom teacher.
- Student use of personal technology devices shall be allowed during a limited window of non-instructional time to be determined by the AAW administration.
- Student use of personal technology devices shall not be allowed if it hinders student learning.
- Student use of personal technology devices shall not be allowed if it provides an unfair academic or artistic advantage to one student, or if it assists in academic dishonesty.
The current limited windows of appropriate Personal Technology Device use are
- Passing time between 2nd and 3rd hours (Cell phone calls and texts only, no media players)
- Passing time between 6th and 7th hours (Cell phone calls and texts only, no media players)
- Lunch (Media players only, no texts or phone calls. Media should not disturbe your neighbors.)
These windows are subject to revision.
Maxwell Spayde
Principal
Arts Academy in the Woods
A Fine and Performing Arts Public High School Serving Southeast Michigan
t: 586-294-0391
f: 586-294-0617
The highest reward for a person’s toil is not what they get for it, but what they become by it. — John Ruskin
