Uniform Guidelines for 2022-2023 from the MMFA Community Handbook

The dress code for the 2022-2023 school year is as follows:

Shirts: All shirts can be short- or long-sleeved

  • Shirts with Collars: Navy blue, red, white, gray, kelly green 

  • T-shirts: Navy blue, red, white, gray, kelly green; any color Magnolia t-shirt; optional college t-shirt on Fridays 

Bottoms: Khaki, navy blue, or denim/jeans: pants, skirts, skorts, shorts (appropriate length), jumpers, and leggings

Outerwear: Any solid-color sweaters or jackets (no characters)

Tights: Any solid color

Socks: Any socks

Shoes: Closed-toe shoes that children can put on/take off independently; designed for running and playing; rainboots or other shoes appropriate for rainy and muddy conditions. No shoes that are open-toed, have wheels, lights, or high heels allowed.

Jewelry:

  • Pre-K3-Kindergarten: Safe to play earrings (studs or very small hoops)

  • 1st-3rd Grades: Safe to play earrings (studs or very small hoops) and watches okay

  • 4th-6th Grades: Non-distracting jewelry okay

Hats: Hats okay (no characters)

The MMFA dress code strives to do the following: 

  • Allow children to focus on finding their passions, building their skills, making friends, participating in the community, thinking deeply, generating ideas, and expressing themselves through the arts instead of worrying about what they are wearing or who is wearing what. 

  • Emphasize the similarities among our diverse families, rather than highlight economic disparities. 

  • Provide developmentally-appropriate choice. The amount of choice increases as the children get older. We want them to have choice without feeling overwhelmed or needing to spend too much time making a simple decision. 

  • Encourage children to work and play comfortably without adjusting their clothing or worrying about their undergarments showing. On a typical day, children will be working at tables and on the floor, cooking, gardening, running, jumping, climbing—the list goes on! This is why you see skorts as an option, but not skirts/dresses/jumpers for the younger children. 

  • Give families flexibility to purchase items at the stores of their choice, so they can stay within their own budgets. 

Procedures

Children who do not come to school in uniform will be asked to go to the Free Uniform Closet to change and families will be notified via a note. We reserve the right to ask a child to change or prohibit items of clothing, shoes, or jewelry should they be distracting or unsafe. 

Parents/guardians are responsible for purchasing and providing their student(s) with the required uniform, except in the case of economically disadvantaged students as provided in the Texas Education Code. The school may provide a uniform for economically disadvantaged students. A request for school assistance for purchasing uniforms must be made in writing to the Director of Student Affairs & Services, and include evidence of inability to pay.  FOM provides a Uniform Closet of free gently used uniforms. It is always available to families - ask about it at the front desk.


A parent/guardian may choose for his or her student(s) to be exempted from the requirement of wearing a uniform if the parent/guardian provides a written statement that, as determined by the Board of Directors, states a bona fide religious or philosophical objection to the requirement. 

Uniform and Dress Code Rules 

Any clothing that, in the Principal’s judgment, may reasonably be expected to cause disruption of or interference with regular school operations is not permitted. Clothing that is ripped, torn, ragged, or suggestive is not appropriate school wear. Shorts, pants, etc. must be worn at the natural waistline and must fit appropriately in the crotch area. No sagging is allowed. Banned items include, but are not limited to, the following: 

  • Belt buckles one inch wider than the width of the belt itself. 

  • Items containing pictures, emblems, or writings on clothing that are lewd, offensive, vulgar, or obscene. 

  • Items that advertise or depict tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, drugs, or involvement with the drug culture. 

  • Items constituting “gang” attire or affiliation. 

  • Shorts, skorts, and skirts must be an appropriate length. A typical guideline for this is that bottoms must reach the end of the students’ fingertips. 

Students are expected to be in uniform and comply with the dress code for the entire school day. There are no excuses for arriving out of uniform or not within the dress code. Tardiness or absences will not be excused because appropriate clothing is not worn. If you are not able to furnish appropriate clothing for your child, please contact the Director of Student Affairs & Services. The Principal possesses final discretion in determining appropriate dress and appearance. Failureto adhere to established dress and appearance codes will result in disciplinary action inaccordance with the Student Code of Conduct.