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Bag 5000 9401 - 99 Ave., Sexsmith, AB T0H 3C0 (780) 568-3642
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Handbook » Dress Code

Dress Code

Sexsmith Secondary School expects that all students will dress in a way that is appropriate for the school day or for any school-sponsored event. Student dress choices should respect the Division's intent to sustain a community that includes a diverse range of identities. The primary responsibility for a student's attire resides with the student and their parent(s) or guardian(s). The school district is responsible for seeing that student attire does not interfere with the health or safety of any student, that student attire does not contribute to a hostile or intimidating atmosphere for any student, and that dress code enforcement does not reinforce or increase marginalization or oppression of any group based on race, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, cultural observance, household income, or body type/size. Any restrictions to how a student dresses must be necessary to support the overall educational goals of the school and must be explained within this dress code.


Our values are:

  • All students should be able to dress comfortably for school and engage in the educational environment without fear of/or actual unnecessary discipline or body shaming.
  • All students and staff should understand that they are responsible for managing their own personal "distractions" without regulating individual students' clothing/self-expression.
  • These dress code guidelines shall apply to regular school days and any school-related events and activities, such as graduation ceremonies and dances.
  • Sexsmith Secondary School expects that all students will dress in a way that is appropriate for the school day or for any school-sponsored event. The primary responsibility for a student's attire resides with the student and their parent(s) or guardian(s).

The Basic Principle:

  • Certain body parts must be covered for all students at all times. Clothes must be worn in a way such that genitals, buttocks, breasts, and nipples are fully covered with opaque fabric. All items listed in the "must wear" and "may wear" categories below must meet this basic principle.

Students Cannot Wear:

  • Violent language or images.
  • Images or language depicting/suggesting drugs, alcohol, vaping or paraphernalia (or any illegal item or activity). If they are caught wearing such clothing, students must also learn why that material is inappropriate for the school setting.
  • Hate speech, profanity, pornography.
  • Images or language that create a hostile or intimidating environment based on any protected class or consistently marginalized groups.
  • Any clothing that reveals visible undergarments (visible waistbands and visible straps are allowed)
  • Swimsuits (except as required in class or athletic practice).
  • Accessories that could be considered dangerous or could be used as a weapon.

Dress Code Enforcement:

To ensure effective and equitable enforcement of this dress code, school staff shall enforce the dress code consistently using the requirements below. School administration and staff shall be unable to vary the requirements in ways that lead to discriminatory enforcement.

  • As outlined above, students will only be removed from spaces, hallways, or classrooms due to a dress code violation. Students in violation of the above  will be provided three (3) options to be dressed more to code during the school day:
    • Students will be asked to wear alternative clothing, if already available at school, to dress more to code for the remainder of the day.
    • Students will be provided with clean temporary school clothing to be dressed more to code for the remainder of the day.
    • If necessary, a student's parents may be called during the school day to bring alternative clothing for the student to wear for the remainder of the day.