The Snohomish High School student who was suspended for wearing a "SNOHOS" T-shirt to school in February will be allowed to wear the shirt to school after all.

Senior Justin Patrick originally was told his T-shirt was derogatory to women because it contained a slang term for prostitutes. But a school-district official who considered Patrick's appeal ruled the boy won't have to serve a two-day suspension for dress-code violation, sexual harassment and gross insubordination.

Patrick, however, will serve six days of after-school detention for swearing at a vice principal who told him to cover up the T-shirt.

In a statement released by the school district yesterday, Snohomish High Principal Diana Plumis said the T-shirt did not use "Snohos" in a negative context. But it warned that officials would take action if the term "is clearly used to demean or insult."

"I wish he'd kept his cool, but I'm proud of him for standing up for himself," said his father, Barry Patrick, who learned of the school district's decision by letter Monday.

His son said he was pleased the district had lifted his suspension.

"I was just relieved," he said.

Patrick, 17, and several friends said they dubbed themselves the "Snohos" four years ago when they were shooting videos of themselves doing stunts around town.

"We tried Snohomians, but that was too long," said Kyle Butcher, one of the friends.

They had the T-shirts made up two years ago, and since then said they'd worn them regularly to school without incident.

But in February, when Patrick was sent to the office for not having a calculator in math class, Vice Principal Robynn Harrington told him the shirt wasn't appropriate for school. Patrick argued, eventually employing what he called "a few choice words."

After his story was publicized in the media last month, callers to local radio stations asked whether the school planned on banning all occurrences of the letters HO, such as "Gung-ho," "wagons ho" and even "Ho-Hos."

Some Snohomish residents said yesterday that common sense seemed to have won out over political correctness.

"I've seen a lot worse on T-shirts," said Jamie Beer, owner of Snohomish Shirt in Snohomish. After the suspension, she said, one customer asked her if the school was planning to ban cohos, too.

At Snoho Mojo, a local coffee stand that has used the abbreviated version of the town name for years, the owner said students should give school administrators credit for admitting they were wrong.

"They were being sensitive to the women staff and students, but once they took a step back, I think they realized it wasn't that big a deal," said owner Sharon Burlison.

Over spring vacation, but before the final disciplinary decision was made, Patrick and his friends learned that they would be allowed to wear their T-shirts to school. They had 100 shirts printed that say, "Snohos We Won" and now are selling them to friends.

Patrick attended school yesterday wearing his original "SNOHOS" shirt.

Lynn Thompson: 425-745-7807 or lthompson@seattletimes.com