You think about it when you lay your clothes out the night before. You think about it while you’re getting dressed. And you do one last take before entering the green gates where you are at the mercy of the monitors waiting to call you out on even the slightest infraction.

Dress code is enforced in all schools. According to the student handbook, students are dress coded during school to keep them safe and focused on their work. However, most students have said that they are unaware that dress code can be enforced even outside of the normal school learning hours.

Kimberly Heinz, the assistant principal at OHS, says students can be dress coded during a school event. “If you are going to represent our school then that is our expectation,” said Heinz.

Monitors say that they have dress coded students at prom and have asked them to leave because of what they were wearing.

“We want O’Connor to be looked upon in a positive light,” said Heinz.

Heinz said that in general the students do a good job of following the rules, but there are just a few who like to push and see what they can get away with.

“Students need to know that they can ask about the rules and if what they are wearing is appropriate,” Heinz said.

Gabby House, a sophomore at OHS, said she understands the reasons why schools must have dress codes even at school sponsored events.

“I didn’t know you could (be dress coded) outside of school, but I guess it’s so everyone doesn’t see their goodies,” she said.

The handbook states that some of the consequences of not following these rules range anywhere from a warning, to changing your clothes, and all the way up to a 3 day suspension.

However, the monitors said that they are more lenient on dress code if it’s not during the school hours. They will only give a warning at first and give the students a chance to change their clothes.

“You chose what you wear and everyone will look at (your style) differently. In life there are rules and laws that everyone has to abide by,” said Heinz.