When Bladen County middle school students return to school on August 27, 2012 they’ll be in uniform. The board of education adopted a new dress code policy for all middle schools specifying that students will be required to wear a school uniform daily to school beginning with the 2012-2013 school year. East Arcadia School will implement the uniform policy school-wide, grades K through 8. Each middle school has chosen its own standard uniform and colors that represent the school.

Anecdotal evidence as a result of school uniforms points to a decrease in discipline and behavior problems amongst students, reduced distractions for students, reduced need for administrators and teachers to be ‘clothes police’, an infused sense of community between students and staff, a higher level of safety and security, and an enhanced learning environment.

Specific guidelines for each middle school are in development but general district guidelines established are part of each schools uniform requirement. Students will have the option of choosing a collared shirt in white and two other solid school colors.; pants, capris, and/or shorts in solid black, khaki, navy, or grey color depending on the school; skirt, jumper, dress, or skorts in solid black, khaki, navy, or grey color depending on the school; belt in solid black or brown; and, socks and shoes in solid black, brown, or white.

All clothing must be free of labels, graphics or insignias of any kind except for the school logo. Acceptable shoes are tennis shoes, loafer, slip-on, lace up or Velcro style. Flip-flops, bedroom shoes, slippers, shower shoes, or spike heels are prohibited. Additional uniform and dress code specifics are available at each middle school.

School colors chosen for Bladenboro Middle are Navy and Gold, for Clarkton School of Discovery are Duke Blue Devil Blue and Grey, for East Arcadia School are Red and Black, for Elizabethtown Middle are Orange and Black, and for Tar Heel Middle are Red and Black.

Local retail stores that have agreed to stock the uniform items for parents to purchase are The Ladies Shop, Fisher’s Men’s Store, Leinwands, Scrub City, Sign Logic, and Walmart. Uniforms can also be purchased at Sear’s, JC Penny, Belk’s, and Target.