Purple highlights, nose rings and neon colored fishnets distinguish individuality, but handbook rules prevent these forms of personal expression.

Despite some students? opinions, teachers and administration devise the dress code regulations to maintain focus in the classroom.

?We have these rules because we find there is a connection between how people dress and how they behave in a certain environment,? Molly Sargent, dean of women, said. ?There are bound to be distractions if students were allowed to wear whatever they wanted.?

Students received a paper stating the importance of following handbook rules on Aug. 14. Teachers expect students to dress in the attire the code deems acceptable.

?High school students are held responsible because of their age,? Sargent said. ?It?s a life lesson because they will have to know what is acceptable later on.?

Even though students understand the guidelines some still choose to wear the clothes they want and risk punishment.

?I got in trouble for my shorts,? Ashley Chavez, ?08, said. ?I was told they were too short even though I thought they looked fine. My shorts were six inches above the knee instead of four. I didn?t think two inches would matter, but it does.?

Teachers create consequences to compel students to dress in the proper clothing in an effort to prevent further conflict.

Repeated violations of the code result in a consequence, but students caught for the first time receive a warning and a change of clothes.

?Our goal is not be punitive, but for students to comply,? Sargent said. ?We only punish when students are disobedient and knowingly break the code. Students normally get a freebee. We will give them a t-shirt or hand-me-down pajama pants.?

Students who decide to break the code on picture day must change before Milne Photography takes their yearbook photo on Aug. 30. The handbook applies not only to attire, but to grooming. Mick Fuller, dean of men, plans to keep a razor on hand for any unshaved facial hair.

?I would be upset if I had to wear an old t-shirt in my yearbook photo,? Ryan Aydelotte, ?10, said. ?I choose to follow the dress code because of penalties like this. I don?t want to get a consequence for something I wear.?

Some students find fault with the recent changes in the handbook rules.

?I am disappointed cheerleaders aren?t allowed to wear tank tops anymore,? Renee Idsinga, ?08, said. ?It gets really hot when we practice outside, especially during the summer. Tank tops are lighter and more comfortable to wear than a regular shirt.?

While some students disagree with the rules, teachers find them essential.

?For the past several years I have been responsible for the dress code,? Sargent said. ?We used to let girls wear tank tops, but enforcing a modern standard of tank top modesty is difficult. Modesty is an issue with visible bra straps and clevage. The easiest way to handle this problem was to get rid of tank tops all together.”