James Caldwell Principal Reminds Parents About Dress Code

In another sign spring has arrived early, Principal Kevin Barnes has already sent an email to parents, reminding them to make sure their child is dressed appropriately when leaving for school.

To reinforce his message, Barnes has also included a helpful visual chart, in an approximation of the high school's own do's and don'ts for appropriate attire. 

Barnes, who is known for his wit in his parental emails, began his message by noting the beautiful weather everyone has been enjoying lately, but then had this to say, "This is the earliest it's been this warm, and it's the earliest I've had to send this email to parents."

After informing parents all students had grade level assemblies in the fall to inform and instruct them about proper dress for school clothing, Barnes used a line he has made popular before, "We want to see all of our students everyday, but we don't want to see all of our students any day!"

Many parents took Barnes' email in good humor. 

"Reasonable? Yes," commented West Caldwell parent Ingrid Palazzo, adding this was "something he has to do."

West Caldwell parent Melissa Weisman found Barnes' line about "all of our students" humorous. "I always find his emails in good taste and good humor, reminders never hurt," Weisman added.

Another parent, West Caldwell resident Akiko Axe, remembers Barnes using this humorous line last year.

"The student attire is nothing new," commented Axe, who also noted she has received similar emails over the years from Principal Casey Shorter at .

Axe, similar to the other parents, did mention how Barnes uses his wit to get his point across. 

Barnes detailed student attire regulations listed in the Student-Parent handbook. Many of these guidelines are listed in his visual slide that accompanied his email and include the following:

• The wearing of headgear, other than that required for religious reasons, must be removed when students enter the building;
• clothing that contains messages that are offensive to specific gender, ethnic, racial and/or religious groups, that contains inappropriate language or pictures, or that advertises cigarettes, alcoholic products or drug paraphernalia is prohibited;
• no low riding pants, shorts, or skirts that expose undergarments or anatomy.

While Barnes did use humor, he warned parents that students who violate the school's dress code will be given choices for a first time offense. Students will either change their clothes for more suitable ones, make arrangements for more appropriate clothing to be brought to school for them, or spend the day in non-disciplinary in-school suspension.

Parents will be notified, and after a first time offense the administration will not give students a choice but will determine what the student's consequence will be for violating school dress code policy.

To avoid these problems, Barnes reminded parents to "take a look at your child as he/she leaves your home."