Uniforms

Preschool Uniform Expectations

All preschool students are required to wear TCA issued tops that can be purchased online or in the school store. Sweatpants can also be purchased from the school store if preferred. Parents may purchase bottoms from a store of their choosing (skirts, skorts, shorts, pants, jeans, leggings, or sweatpants).

Preschool students are required to attend outside recess during the entire year as long as the real-feel temperature is 20 degrees or above. Parents are responsible to have their student sent to school with proper outerwear to keep them warm during the cold months.

Special Dress / Dress Down Days

• No low-cut shirts.
• No tank-tops, sleeveless shirts or spaghetti straps.
• Shorts must be no shorter than two inches above the knee.
• Skirts must be no shorter than two inches above the knee (even if leggings are worn underneath them).
• Leggings may be worn with a loose fitting shirt/top that fully covers the front and back.
• Cutouts in pants/shorts can be no higher than two inches above the knee.
• No hats are permitted.
• No earrings, nail polish, or makeup, for boys, no facial piercings for girls or boys.
• Clothes will have no messages, slogans, or pictures that are inappropriate, divisive, or racially/politically motivated as determined by the Head of School or his/her designee.
• No secular musical groups/artists.

Elementary School Uniform Expectations

• All students in grades K – 5th must wear a TCA gym uniform for physical education classes. Failure to "dress" for class will result in the student not being able to participate in gym class and the student will receive a zero for the day.
• Elementary students are required to wear TCA gym shirts for physical education class. They may wear either TCA gym sweatpants or TCA gym shorts for physical education classes purchased from the school store. TCA sweatshirts are available to be worn in the classroom over their TCA gym shirt but may not be worn to physical education class.
• Athletic footwear is required for physical education. Footwear must either be tied or Velcro; no rubber-soled slip-on footwear or boots will be permitted.

Special Dress / Dress Down Days

• No low-cut shirts.
• No tank-tops, sleeveless shirts or spaghetti straps.
• Shorts must be no shorter than two inches above the knee.
• Skirts must be no shorter than two inches above the knee (even if leggings are worn underneath them).
• Leggings may be worn with a loose fitting shirt/top that fully covers the front and back.
• Cutouts in pants/shorts can be no higher than two inches above the knee.
• No hats are permitted.
• No earrings, nail polish, or makeup, for boys, no facial piercings for girls or boys.
• Clothes will have no messages, slogans, or pictures that are inappropriate, divisive, or racially/politically motivated as determined by the Head of School or his/her designee.
• No secular musical groups/artists.

Middle and High School Uniform Expectations

All 6th – 12th grade students are required to wear TCA issued tops that can be purchased online or in the school store. Parents may purchase bottoms from a store of their choosing (skirts, skorts, shorts, and pants).

• There is to be no physical adornments (clothing, jewelry, writing on hands, etc.), screensavers, stickers, notebooks, personal items, etc. that have messages, slogans, or pictures that are inappropriate, divisive, or racially/politically motivated. No secular musical groups/artists. A violation of this policy may result in a stricter consequence than a typical dress code violation.
• If there is a question as to the appropriateness of apparel, students will be sent to the school office to be checked by a staff member. If apparel does not align with the uniform code, parents may be contacted to bring clothing that aligns with TCA’s uniform code and/or clean, acceptable options will be given to the student by the school nurse (e.g., a clean uniform shirt in the student’s size). Please wash and return any borrowed items to the school office.
• Students’ conformity to the dress code is their responsibility.
• It must be recognized that a dress code cannot address every area. For that reason, the administration reserves the privilege of interpreting the principles and specifics of the dress code.

Female Dress Code

Skirts/Shorts/Skorts

• While seated, skirts/skorts/shorts are to be no shorter than two inches above the knee and must be solid, in navy, tan or black.
• Leggings in solid colors may be worn underneath regulation length, loose fitting, full coverage (front and back) uniform compliant skirts and skorts.
• Cotton, khaki, and corduroy, loose fitting, slacks/shorts may be worn and must sit at the natural waist or close to it (no low rise) in solid, navy, tan or black; denim or cargo pockets.

Shoes

Regular school shoes or athletic footwear.
Sandals are permitted for 9th-12th grade only.

Hair and Piercings

• Hair must be kept neat and clean.
• No extreme hairstyles or unnatural hair colors.
• Headbands may be worn; scarves and bandanas are not permitted when used as a head covering.
• Bandanas are not permitted as head coverings.
• Other than earrings, no visible piercings or gauges are permissible.

Outerwear

• No long sleeve shirts or hoodies may be worn under TCA uniform shirts.
• TCA branded outerwear may be worn by 6th – 12th grade students.
• No blankets are to be worn.
• No coats or jackets, except TCA branded jackets from the school store, are to be worn inside the building.
• No hats or gloves are to be worn inside the building.

Male Dress Code

Shorts/Slacks

• Cotton, khaki and corduroy, loose fitting, slacks may be worn and must sit at the natural waist or close to it (no low rise) in solid, navy, tan or black; no denim, cargo pockets, and/or sagging is permitted.
• Cotton or khaki shorts, no shorter than two inches above the knee, may be worn and must sit at the natural waist or close to it (no low rise) in solid, navy, tan or black; no denim, cargo pockets, and/or sagging is permitted.

Shoes

• Regular school shoes or athletic footwear.
• Sandals are allowable for 9th-12th grade only.

Hair, Nails, Makeup, and Piercings

• Hair must be kept neat and clean.
• Hair must be cut/styled so that it does not cover the eyebrows, completely cover the ear, and must be kept off the shoulder.
• Hair may only be tied up in a black band.
• No extreme hairstyles or unnatural colors.
• Facial hair is permitted but must be well trimmed and nicely groomed.
• No nail polish and/or makeup.
• Bandanas are not permitted as head coverings.
• No visible piercings are permissible including gauges.

Outerwear

• No long sleeve shirts or hoodies may be worn under TCA uniform shirts.
• No blankets are to be worn.
• No coats or jackets, except TCA branded jackets from the school store, are to be worn inside the building.
• No hats or gloves are to be worn inside the building.

Physical Education

• Students are required to wear TCA gym shirts for physical education class. They may wear either TCA gym sweatpants or TCA gym shorts for physical education classes purchased from the school store.
• Athletic footwear is required for physical education.

Special Dress / Dress Down Days

• No low-cut shirts.
• No tank-tops, sleeveless shirts or spaghetti straps.
• Shorts must be no shorter than two inches above the knee.
• Skirts must be no shorter than two inches above the knee (even if leggings are worn underneath them).
• Leggings may be worn with a loose fitting shirt/top that fully covers the front and back.
• Cutouts in pants/shorts can be no higher than two inches above the knee.
• No hats are permitted.
• No earrings, nail polish, or makeup, for boys, no facial piercings for girls or boys.
• Clothes will have no messages, slogans, or pictures that are inappropriate, divisive, or racially/politically motivated as determined by the Head of School or his/her designee.
• No secular musical groups/artists.