The tone and learning atmosphere of a school are dramatically improved when students and staff maintain high standards of appearance. Students should come to school in attire that is appropriate and conducive to a safe and supportive learning environment. To safeguard students' and staff's constitutional right to be safe and secure in their persons at school and during school activities, the following guidelines shall apply to all school activities:
· Appropriate shoes must be worn at all times. In addition, flip-flops, sandals, raised heel shoes, slippers, or shoes without a heel strap should not be worn while participating in physical education classes/activities.
· Shoes with wheels (Heelies) are not permitted footwear. Taps and heel plates which may damage school property may not be worn.
· Students should not dress inappropriately for school activities as it detracts from the learning environment. Inappropriate clothing such as: Strapless or short blouses/shirts showing the stomach and midriff; see- through clothing; any low-cut tops that show cleavage: back on tops must cover the back shoulder blades: pajamas; and sagging pants/trousers/shorts. Undergarments must not be worn over outer clothing and undergarments are not to be visible. The buttocks must be covered completely.
· The Board of Education has determined that certain gangs (also known as criminal gangs or street gangs) are operating in and around Union City. In light of this fact, the governing board has also determined that the wearing of gang-related clothing on school premises or during school-sponsored activities threatens the health and safety of the students and impairs the school environment accordingly. Students may not wear, possess, use, distribute, or display any clothing, color, jewelry, emblem, badge, symbol, colored bandana, or sash which represents or evidences membership or affiliation with any gang or promotes gang-related activity. Clothing which has been deemed through collaboration between New Haven Unified School District and local law enforcement or other experts to be gang-related is prohibited, specifically the items of clothing which are prohibited are: red, white or blue cloth belts; red or blue shoe laces; University of Nebraska jerseys and related sports apparel; red New York Yankees jerseys or hats; mostly shaved head with hair only at top (Norteño) or bottom (Sureño); eye brows notched indicating 14 or 13; clothing with any of the following gang symbols or initials including, but not limited to: N, V, SUR (Sureño), ABT (All Brothers Together), SPL (Sureno Pocos Locos), BNG (Barrio Norte Gangsters), FOB (Fresh off the Boat), UCV (Union City Vietnamese), XIV, Norteño, $ (Sureño), LDG (Little Decoto Gangsters), Oakland, CRIP, HB (Horny Crip Boys), ESO (East Side Oakland), EPA (East Palo Alto), XIII, X4, X3, Decoto, VGD (Varrio Grande Decoto), Old Alva, BOA (Barrio Old Alva), Norte, area codes (510, 415, etc.), Sureño, Hayward, WSU (West Side Une); hair nets, bandanas, doo-rags, or shower caps; gang-associated jackets and clothing; including t-shirts with creased sleeves, or creased down the center; and split pant cuffs. (Red shoes, red Cincinnati Reds baseball hats and jerseys and clothing with the numbers 4 and 7 indicating “DG” are discouraged, and cloth and/or woven jewelry in red, black, white and blue should be worn inside clothing.)
· Students may not wear any clothing, jewelry, emblem, badge, symbol, or other insignia that advocates or encourages the use or abuse of drugs, tobacco, or alcohol; expresses vulgarity or advocates prejudice or discrimination against people based on race, ethnicity, gender, religion, national origin, or sexual orientation; or advocates or encourages violence, profanity, sexual or illegal activity.
· Sunglasses may only be worn outdoors (indoors only with a doctor's written medical permission).
· Wearing perfumed personal care products may cause an allergic reaction in students or staff. Therefore, wearing perfumed personal care products is discouraged.
· Potentially dangerous objects may not be worn on school sites (E.C. 48900(b)).
Other inappropriate clothing accessories or body markings, determined by the school administration to be deterrent to safety or to detract from the educational process may be prohibited.