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Standardized Dress Will Be In Fashion At Park Elementary

By MARC VALERO | Highlands Today

Published: May 20, 2008

AVON PARK — There's dress for success and dress to impress, but next year at Park Elementary, it will be dress to behave your best, as the school introduces a standardized dress code.

Park Elementary Principal Brenda Longshore said Tuesday, "we are just hoping that it will help us create a better learning environment and that we will be able to reduce the discipline referrals and that it will create a positive school culture."

Last summer, several parents suggested a standardized dress code for students.

During a visit to a Polk County school this year, Park Elementary staff members inquired about the countywide dress code and were very impressed with it, Longshore said.

The dress code issue was discussed a recent parent/teacher organization and school advisory council meetings.

A survey of parents yielded only 22 responses against standardized dress, Longshore said.

With standardized dress being new this year at Woodlawn Elementary, Longshore asked Principal Kaye Bowers and Assistant Principal Laura Waldron about its impact at the Sebring school.

"They've seen a huge decrease in their discipline referrals," Longshore said.

The Park Elementary standardized dress code calls for the top to be a solid-color polo shirt with a collar or a T-shirt with or without the Park logo. The acceptable colors are: red, white, navy blue or black.

The bottoms are to be shorts, pants, skirts or capris that are khaki, blue jeans, navy blue or black.
No designs or advertisements or sleeveless shirts are allowed.

Longshore said the bottom portion will probably not be much different than what students are already wearing.

"It's our first step and I think it's going to be a really positive one. It seems to be well received by our family and our parents, she said. As they learn more about it, the students are getting on the bandwagon too.

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