Administrative​ ​Procedure​ ​407

PROFESSIONAL​ ​APPEARANCE​ ​OF​ ​SCHOOL-BASED​ ​EMPLOYEES Background The​ ​district​ ​is​ ​committed​ ​to​ ​providing​ ​its​ ​students​ ​with​ ​an​ ​optimal​ ​learning​ ​environment.​ ​The professional​ ​appearance​ ​of​ ​school-based​ ​employees​ ​contributes​ ​significantly​ ​to​ ​students’ learning​ ​environment.​ ​It​ ​is​ ​such​ ​an​ ​environment​ ​that​ ​helps​ ​to​ ​inspire​ ​the​ ​confidence​ ​of​ ​our students,​ ​parents/legal​ ​guardians,​ ​staff​ ​and​ ​the​ ​general​ ​public.​ ​This​ ​confidence​ ​not​ ​only contributes​ ​to​ ​student​ ​success,​ ​it​ ​also​ ​sets​ ​a​ ​professional​ ​tone​ ​that​ ​impacts​ ​both​ ​student appearance​ ​and​ ​deportment.​ ​It​ ​is​ ​this​ ​tone​ ​that​ ​creates​ ​and​ ​enhances​ ​the​ ​reputation​ ​of​ ​the school​ ​and​ ​the​ ​district. A​ ​professional​ ​appearance​ ​that​ ​supports​ ​an​ ​effective​ ​teaching​ ​and​ ​learning​ ​environment​ ​and inspires​ ​confidence,​ ​also​ ​provides​ ​valuable​ ​role​ ​models​ ​for​ ​young​ ​people​ ​who​ ​are​ ​expected​ ​to follow​ ​their​ ​own​ ​student​ ​dress​ ​code.​ ​It​ ​is​ ​important,​ ​therefore,​ ​that​ ​all​ ​school-based​ ​employees exercise​ ​good​ ​judgment​ ​in​ ​their​ ​choices​ ​related​ ​to​ ​professional​ ​appearance.​ ​School-based employees,​ ​because​ ​of​ ​their​ ​particular​ ​relationship​ ​with​ ​students,​ ​have​ ​a​ ​special​ ​responsibility​ ​to model​ ​an​ ​appropriate​ ​professional​ ​appearance. Procedures 1. The​ ​personal​ ​appearance​ ​of​ ​all​ ​school-based​ ​employees​ ​is​ ​to​ ​be​ ​of​ ​a​ ​high​ ​standard​ ​–​ ​one that​ ​is​ ​consistent​ ​with​ ​their​ ​particular​ ​roles​ ​and​ ​responsibilities,​ ​and​ ​in​ ​the​ ​context​ ​of​ ​a​ ​work environment​ ​that​ ​involves​ ​professional​ ​interactions​ ​with​ ​students,​ ​parents/legal​ ​guardians, colleagues​ ​and​ ​the​ ​general​ ​public.​ ​School-based​ ​employees’​ ​appearances​ ​are​ ​to​ ​be appropriate​ ​and​ ​not​ ​cause​ ​distraction,​ ​disruption​ ​or​ ​a​ ​safety​ ​concern​ ​that​ ​might​ ​adversely affect​ ​students,​ ​the​ ​teaching​ ​and​ ​learning​ ​environment,​ ​or​ ​the​ ​operation​ ​of​ ​the​ ​school. 2. A​ ​professional​ ​appearance​ ​excludes​ ​casual​ ​wear​ ​such​ ​as​ ​footwear​ ​in​ ​poor​ ​repair,​ ​blue jeans,​ ​sweat​ ​pants,​ ​casual​ ​shorts​ ​(i.e.​ ​cargo,​ ​athletic,​ ​etc.)​ ​and​ ​t-shirts.​ ​Physical​ ​education may​ ​require​ ​an​ ​individual​ ​to​ ​wear​ ​a​ ​tracksuit​ ​or​ ​long​ ​length​ ​athletic​ ​shorts.​ ​In​ ​this​ ​situation, they​ ​are​ ​only​ ​to​ ​be​ ​worn​ ​for​ ​the​ ​particular​ ​activity​ ​and​ ​for​ ​the​ ​duration​ ​of​ ​the​ ​activity​ ​for​ ​which they​ ​are​ ​required​ ​and​ ​are​ ​to​ ​be​ ​in​ ​good​ ​condition.​ ​There​ ​may​ ​be​ ​situations,​ ​such​ ​as​ ​time constraints,​ ​that​ ​require​ ​exceptions.​​ ​Other​ ​special​ ​circumstances​ ​may​ ​include​ ​field​ ​trips, teacher​ ​organization​ ​days​ ​and​ ​school-based​ ​professional​ ​development​ ​days.​ ​Blue​ ​jeans​ ​or casual​ ​attire​ ​are​ ​not​ ​to​ ​be​ ​worn​ ​to​ ​district​ ​activities​ ​such​ ​as​ ​opening​ ​mass,​ ​faith​ ​day,​ ​Board meetings​ ​when​ ​presenting,​ ​committee​ ​meetings​ ​or​ ​events​ ​when​ ​representing​ ​the​ ​district. 3. In​ ​all​ ​instances,​ ​school-based​ ​employees​ ​must​ ​exercise​ ​good​ ​judgment​ ​in​ ​choosing appropriate​ ​dress​ ​to​ ​suit​ ​the​ ​particular​ ​activity​ ​in​ ​which​ ​they​ ​are​ ​involved.​ ​When​ ​in​ ​doubt, they​ ​are​ ​to​ ​consult​ ​with​ ​the​ ​principal.​ ​In​ ​addition,​ ​school​ ​based​ ​employees​ ​must​ ​adhere​ ​to the​ ​school​ ​dress​ ​code.

Calgary​ ​Roman​ ​Catholic​ ​Separate​ ​School​ ​District​ ​No.​ ​1 Administrative​ ​Procedures​ ​Manual

April​ ​2016 Page​ ​1​ ​of​ ​2

4. Additional​ ​impacts​ ​to​ ​professional​ ​appearance​ ​include,​ ​but​ ​are​ ​not​ ​limited​ ​to,​ ​clothing, footwear,​ ​hair,​ ​hygiene,​ ​tattoos,​ ​piercings​ ​and​ ​fragrances. 5. School-based​ ​employees’​ ​choice​ ​of​ ​dress​ ​or​ ​body​ ​adornment​ ​needs​ ​to​ ​maintain​ ​the​ ​safety of​ ​the​ ​school​ ​environment.​ ​For​ ​example,​ ​inappropriate​ ​footwear​ ​may​ ​hamper​ ​an​ ​employee from​ ​moving​ ​quickly​ ​if​ ​necessary,​ ​and​ ​therefore,​ ​cause​ ​a​ ​risk​ ​to​ ​safety​ ​(beach​ ​flip​ ​flop​ ​type footwear​ ​is​ ​not​ ​acceptable).​ ​Employees​ ​need​ ​to​ ​be​​ ​sensitive​ ​to​ ​the​ ​fact​ ​that​ ​strong fragrances​ ​may​ ​adversely​ ​impact​ ​the​ ​teaching​ ​and​ ​learning​ ​environment​ ​and​ ​affect​ ​the health​ ​or​ ​comfort​ ​of​ ​others. 6. Since​ ​a​ ​school-based​ ​employee’s​ ​physical​ ​appearance​ ​is​ ​to​ ​reflect​ ​a​ ​high​ ​level​ ​of professionalism​ ​and​ ​not​ ​cause​ ​a​ ​distraction​ ​in​ ​the​ ​learning​ ​environment,​ ​jewelry​ ​and​ ​body adornments​ ​are​ ​to​ ​be​ ​tasteful​ ​and​ ​appropriate.​ ​Visible​ ​piercing​ ​is​ ​to​ ​be​ ​limited​ ​to​ ​ears​ ​or​ ​is​ ​to otherwise​ ​be​ ​inconspicuous. 7. Each​ ​instructional​ ​day​ ​is​ ​an​ ​important​ ​opportunity​ ​for​ ​the​ ​serious​ ​work​ ​of​ ​teaching​ ​and learning.​ ​Because​ ​the​ ​professional​ ​appearance​ ​of​ ​school-based​ ​employees​ ​enhances​ ​the learning​ ​environment,​ ​there​ ​are​ ​to​ ​be​ ​no​ ​“dress​ ​down”​ ​or​ ​casual​ ​days.​ ​Schools,​ ​however, may​ ​occasionally​ ​organize​ ​a​ ​special​ ​theme​ ​day​ ​that​ ​is​ ​designed​ ​to​ ​help​ ​promote​ ​school spirit.​ ​Schools​ ​may​ ​also​ ​incorporate​ ​school​ ​wear​ ​to​ ​strengthen​ ​the​ ​climate​ ​and​ ​culture​ ​of​ ​the school​ ​environment. 8. Principals​ ​have​ ​the​ ​authority​ ​and​ ​the​ ​responsibility​ ​to​ ​direct​ ​school​ ​personnel​ ​to​ ​maintain​ ​a standard​ ​of​ ​dress​ ​that​ ​is​ ​consistent​ ​with​ ​the​ ​intent​ ​of​ ​this​ ​administrative​ ​procedure. Approval​ ​Date:

April​ ​12,​ ​2016

Reference:

School​ ​Act​,​ ​Section​ ​18,​ ​20,​ ​39,​ ​60,​ ​61,​ ​97,​ ​113 Teaching​ ​Profession​ ​Act Ministerial​ ​Order​ ​001/2013​ ​–​ ​Student​ ​Learning  Ministerial​ ​Order​ ​016/97​ ​–​ ​Teaching​ ​Quality​ ​Standard Guide​ ​to​ ​Education​ ​–​ ​ECS​ ​to​ ​Grade​ ​12 Collective​ ​Agreement CUPE,​ ​Local​ ​520 Unifor,​ ​Local​ ​Union​ ​No.​ ​1990 The​ ​Alberta​ ​Teachers'​ ​Association,​ ​Local​ ​55

 

Calgary​ ​Roman​ ​Catholic​ ​Separate​ ​School​ ​District​ ​No.​ ​1 Administrative​ ​Procedures​ ​Manual

April​ ​2016 Page​ ​2​ ​of​ ​2