Sparks Middle School first middle school to require uniforms
Many Sparks Middle School kids are not happy about their new school uniforms. From left to right are: Destiny Barney, 13, of Sun Valley; Fransisco Dominguez, 13, of Sparks; Sendy Ramos, 13, of Sun Valley; and Silvia Rodriguez, 13, of Sun Valley.
Sparks Middle School is Washoe County School District’s first middle school to require uniforms for its students.
The middle school at 2275 18th St. began enforcing the attire this week. Students are required to wear khaki pants and green polo shirts featuring the school’s mascot, the golden bears.
“The purpose behind it was to try to remove unnecessary distractions (at the school) and really focus on academics,” Principal Andrew Yoxsimer said. “There was a lot of missed instructional time trying to enforce the district dress-code policy.”
The school encountered problems with students wearing colors representing gangs and girls wearing revealing clothing, such as shirts that revealed their stomachs, Yoxsimer said.
“Good for them,” said Sabrina Pellett, assistant principal of Echo Loder Elementary, which has had a uniform policy for more than four years. “I think they’re going to find it to be a positive experience. It takes consistent reinforcement, but the benefits outweigh the negatives.”
Pellett said that Echo Loder’s uniform policy helped remove the influence of gangs in the elementary school.
“I think it makes a huge difference,” Pellett said. “It eliminates any color-based wearing of any gang-related colors (and) it provides for an appropriate dress for all students.”
Students had varied opinions on the school’s new uniform policy this week.
“It has its ups and downs,” said Sparks seventh-grader Jennifer Valadez, wearing the school’s green polo shirt and khakis. “It doesn’t let you wear your style but then … it’s good because parents don’t have to waste a lot of money buying clothes for every day.”
Shirts can be purchased at the school for $10 or given to needy families at no cost.
Yoxsimer said he hopes the new dress code will reduce sexual harassment and fights.
Valadez, 12, of Sun Valley, said an enforced attire for her middle school is needed to combat gang problems and reduce fights.
“Some people like to represent their colors and a lot of fights go on,” Valadez said. “Some kids are in danger of getting shot just by wearing a certain color.”
Other students, such as seventh-grader Destiny Barney, said the uniforms will not rid the school of gangs.
“They think they’re going to stop the gangs, but everyone is still representing colors,” said Barney, 13, of Sun Valley.
This article originally appeared in Reno Gazette-Journal.
