Maintaining a neat and well-groomed appearance is an integral part of the educational environment at MPS. This guide outlines the Mps Uniform policy, ensuring every student understands the expectations for daily attire and special dress occasions. Adherence to these guidelines helps foster a respectful and focused learning atmosphere.
Regular Uniform Requirements
The standard MPS uniform is required every regular school day and consists of specific items designed for comfort, uniformity, and school pride.
Bottoms: Slacks or Skirts/Skorts
Students must wear grey slacks or skorts/skirts of modest length, exclusively available from Schoolbelles.
- Length: Skirts and skorts must be no shorter than 4 inches above the knee, ensuring modesty and appropriateness.
- Slacks: Slacks should be properly hemmed to avoid dragging on the floor and must not have split seams, maintaining a polished look.
- Belts: A plain black or brown belt is required with slacks that have belt loops, adding a finishing touch to the uniform.
Alt: MPS students wearing grey uniform slacks and skirts, adhering to the school dress code.
Shirts: Oxford, Polo, and Layering
Students have several options for shirts to complement their MPS uniform, ensuring flexibility while maintaining a consistent look.
- White Oxford Shirt: An ironed white oxford cloth shirt with white buttons and a button-down collar is a classic choice. It can be long-sleeved or short-sleeved and is available from Schoolbelles and other retailers. This shirt must always be pressed and tucked in for a sharp appearance.
- Polo Shirt: A white knit or green polo shirt featuring the MPS logo is another acceptable option, available exclusively from Schoolbelles. Like the oxford shirt, it can be long-sleeved or short-sleeved.
- Underlayers: On colder days, a plain white turtleneck or tee shirt can be worn underneath either the oxford or polo shirt for added warmth. It’s important to note that long-sleeved turtlenecks or tees should not be worn under short-sleeved polos or oxfords to maintain a neat appearance.
- Mandatory Wear: It’s crucial to remember that one of these approved shirts MUST be worn every regular uniform day, even when wearing a uniform sweatshirt or fleece, ensuring the core uniform is always visible.
Alt: MPS students in white and green polo shirts with the school logo, part of the MPS uniform shirt options.
Socks or Tights: Ensuring Coverage
Proper socks or tights are essential to complete the MPS uniform, with specific requirements for girls and boys and seasonal adjustments.
- Girls’ Requirements:
- From October 15 to April 1, girls wearing skirts are required to wear solid grey or black opaque footed tights. Patterns, holes, or runs in tights are not permitted. Ankle-cropped tights or leggings are also not allowed.
- During the warmer months, girls may wear white, grey, or black solid color knee, crew, quarter crew, or ankle socks.
- Boys’ Requirements: Boys are required to wear white, grey, or black solid color crew, quarter crew, or ankle socks year-round.
- Navy Socks: Navy socks are permitted only when wearing uniform shorts.
- Ankle Coverage: Regardless of style or color, socks must always cover the anklebone, maintaining a consistent and modest look.
Shoes: Closed-Toe and Solid Colors
Footwear for the MPS uniform must be solid color, closed-toe, and closed-back shoes in black, brown, navy, gray, or white. Examples of acceptable styles include Sperry and HeyDudes.
- Prohibited Shoes: Certain types of shoes are strictly prohibited as part of the MPS uniform. These include Crocs, Birkenstocks, UGGs, clogs, sandals, flip-flops, slides, lace-up sneakers, slippers, fur-lined shoes, and boots of any kind. This ensures a professional and safe environment.
Dress Uniform: Formal Occasions
For specific occasions designated as dress uniform days, students are required to wear an enhanced version of the MPS uniform, signifying the importance of the event.
- Tie: A plaid or green MPS tie, available from Schoolbelles or the MPS Spirit Store, is mandatory for the dress uniform.
- Oxford Shirt: The dress uniform requires the same ironed white oxford cloth shirt with white buttons and button-down collar as the regular uniform. It must be long-sleeved or short-sleeved, pressed, and tucked in. Layering with a plain white turtleneck or tee shirt underneath is permitted, but long sleeves are not allowed under short-sleeved shirts.
- Bottoms: Grey slacks or skorts/skirts of modest length (no shorter than 4 inches above the knee), purchased from Schoolbelles, are required. Slacks must be hemmed appropriately and worn with a plain black or brown belt if they have belt loops.
- Socks or Tights: The sock and tight requirements for the dress uniform are identical to the regular uniform, ensuring consistency.
- Shoes: Shoes must adhere to the same guidelines as the regular uniform: solid color, closed-toe/back in black, brown, navy, gray, or white, with the same list of prohibited styles.
Optional Uniform Items: Adding Layers and Spirit
Several optional items can be added to the MPS uniform for warmth, personal style, or to show school spirit, while still adhering to the overall dress code.
- Sweaters: A green cardigan or V-neck sweater with the MPS crest, available only from Schoolbelles, can be worn with both the regular and dress uniforms, providing an extra layer of warmth and school pride.
- Sweatshirts and Fleeces: Designated green quarter-zip, crew neck sweatshirts, and full-zip fleeces are permitted. These must feature a small logo representing the school, an MPS team, or an MPS activity, available at the MPS Spirit Store. Importantly, sweatshirts must not have a hood or pouch and must be in good condition (not ripped or torn). Sweatshirts and fleeces are NOT permitted with the dress uniform, maintaining the formality of dress uniform occasions.
Alt: Student in an MPS uniform green sweatshirt with school logo, an optional item for warmth and spirit.
- Boys’ Shorts: Boys may wear navy blue shorts before October 15 and after April 1, available only from Schoolbelles. Solid navy blue socks are permitted only with shorts.
Prohibited Items: Maintaining Uniform Standards
To maintain the integrity of the MPS uniform and a focused school environment, certain items are not approved as part of the uniform.
- Non-Uniform Items: This includes a partial list of items such as non-uniform sweatshirts, printed or colored tee shirts, hats, non-uniform pants, cropped leggings, scarves, and around-the-neck keychains. These items detract from the uniform appearance and are not permitted unless specifically authorized.
- Outerwear: Students are not allowed to wear coats during the school day. All coats, hats, and boots must be stored in student lockers before the first period and retrieved only after the final bell, ensuring classrooms remain uncluttered and focused.
- Confiscation: Non-uniform items like ball caps and non-uniform sweatshirts may be confiscated and returned at the discretion of school staff.
Hair, Piercings, and Tattoos: Personal Appearance Guidelines
In addition to the MPS uniform, guidelines extend to hair, piercings, and tattoos to ensure a respectful and appropriate school environment.
- Hair: Hair colors must be within the range of naturally occurring hair colors. Students may be asked to change their hair color if it is deemed unnatural by school administration.
- Piercings: Visible facial piercings (nose, lip, eyebrows) are not allowed, including on dress down days. Students must remove such piercings during the school day. Ear piercings are permitted.
- Tattoos: No tattoos should be visible during the school day, including dress down days. Sleeves or pants must cover any tattoos at all times.
Uniform Violations and Temporary Excuses
Minor MPS uniform violations may result in a verbal warning, while repeated or more serious violations can lead to detentions and the requirement to change clothes.
Temporary uniform excuses may be granted by the homeroom teacher upon written request from a parent or guardian. However, interviews and appointments are not considered valid excuses for being out of uniform. Students are expected to be in complete uniform at all times, including internships.
Special Dress Days: Dress Up and Dress Down Guidelines
Occasionally, students are permitted to wear clothing outside of the standard MPS uniform on special dress days, which are announced in advance.
Dress Up Days: Professional Attire
Dress up days call for non-uniform outfits that are neat, professional, and appropriate for an office or workplace setting.
- Appropriate Attire: Slacks (not jeans), skirts of uniform length, dresses (sleeveless is acceptable, but not bare-shouldered), blouses, sweaters, polo shirts, sport shirts, and golf shirts with collars, and dress shoes.
- Inappropriate Attire: Jeans, athletic wear, shorts and cut-offs, tank tops, low-cut tops, yoga pants/leggings, spaghetti strap shirts and dresses, crop tops, halter tops, t-shirts, sweat suits, hiking boots, sneakers, and sport sandals are not permitted on dress up days.
Dress Down Days: Casual but Appropriate
Dress down days allow for more casual attire but still require students to dress appropriately for a school setting. If students choose to wear uniform components, they must wear the entire MPS uniform correctly. A $3 ticket purchase is required to participate in dress down days, with proceeds benefiting student activities and clubs.
Alt: MPS students in casual dress down day attire, showcasing appropriate casual wear within school guidelines.
- Appropriate Attire: Jeans, athletic pants (sweatpants and joggers), dress or cargo shorts of uniform length, t-shirts, sweatshirts, blouses, and sweaters are acceptable.
- Inappropriate Attire: Yoga pants/leggings, pajama pants, significantly ripped jeans, short shorts/skirts, cut-offs, crop tops, spaghetti straps, low-cut tops, bare shoulders, open backs, or clothes with slogans or art related to sex, drugs, alcohol, or violence are not allowed. Hats are also prohibited on dress down days.
Birthdays: Dress Code Privilege
On their birthday or half-birthday, students may choose to have either a dress down day or a dress up day. If a birthday falls on a dress uniform day or a pre-scheduled dress down day, the birthday privilege can be taken on the next school day.
By adhering to these MPS uniform guidelines, students contribute to a positive and respectful school environment, promoting focus and unity within the MPS community.
