Standard Dress Update

Patrick Henry Academy strives to provide its students with an environment conducive to the learning process. Experience has shown that students who are required to maintain a neat appearance are more likely to carry over these habits to the performance of their schoolwork. It is a method of cultivating a climate of discipline and responsibility. Accordingly, students are required to appropriately dress and groom themselves neatly and cleanly for the school setting while on campus.

The Board of Directors of Patrick Henry Academy has unanimously passed a Standard Dress Code for the school year beginning in August 2003. The Board has chosen Buckhead Uniforms of Atlanta, Georgia, and the newest supplier is The Uniform Source, in Bluffton, South Carolina. The Uniform Source is located in the first Tanger Outlet in Bluffton and their phone number is 1-843-836-3388.

PHA does not require the parents to purchase everything on the list. The student and his/her parents or guardian may select only those items they choose. We will not require certain dress be worn certain days. Any item on the list may be worn on any day.

All articles of standard dress are to be worn properly. All shirts are to be tucked. The slacks and shorts that have belt loops must be worn with a solid leather belt. All belts will have a plain or standard buckle. No ornamental, oversized, or unusual buckle will be allowed.

The only items which may be worn untucked are sweaters and the fleece jackets and vests. Layering of shirts is acceptable if all shirts are approved standard dress. The sleeves must be worn at full length and both shirts must be tucked. All shirts and blouses must be buttoned completely, except for the top button. Shorts, skirts, or skorts must not more than 4" above the knee.

Socks, tights, knee socks and crew socks may be purchased elsewhere. However, we will limit colors and style. they are to be solid color, either khaki, navy, burgundy or white. Young girls (K4-Grade 4) may wear navy bikers shorts under their skorts, skirts or jumpers. These may be purchased elsewhere. During winter months or severe cold, outer jackets and heavy coats of their choosing may be worn to school. However, those outer garments not on the approved list will be put in lockers or hung on coat racks and cannot be worn during school. The only exception to this rule is for children in K4-Grade 4 who go outside to the playground on a daily basis. They may continue to wear heavy coats or jackets. We do, however, have heavy outer wear for them, if they wish to purchase it.

There is certain outerwear purchased at PHA and the school store which has been approved. Those items are PHA letter jackets purchased by athletes and fleece jackets with the PHA logo purchased from the school store in past years. These are the only items grand fathered into the standard dress.

Shoes are to be closed-toe and solid in color, colors may include black, brown, or navy. Dress sandals may be worn during warm months. All sandals will have leather straps that cross the top of the foot horizontally and a back strap. No stacked soles will be allowed. The heels cannot exceed 1 1/2 inches and the sole cannot exceed one inch. Athletic shoes or tennis shoes shall be predominately white, black, brown, or navy. NO CLEATS.

The Headmaster will be the final judge if there is a question. If it becomes a problem, the Headmaster may remove sandals from the approved list completely.

The Headmaster may place limits on those items that become issues of standard dress violations.

The football team may wear their jerseys over a t-shirt and cheerleaders may wear their uniforms only on the day of their game.

Athletic teams and cheerleaders may wear their uniforms to events where no dressing facilities are available for them to change. When team travel does not require the athlete to be already dressed in his or her uniform, Standard Dress is required. At basketball games (home or away), the Standard Dress will be worn to and from those games.