Melbourne girls school warns students on fake tan, eyelashes
Students who turn up lathered in fake tan or sporting eyelashes that don’t look “natural” risk being excluded from school photos at a Melbourne Catholic girls college.
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Girls fronting at a Melbourne Catholic college wearing fake eyelashes that don’t look “natural” and lathered in fake tan risk a “distinct possibility” they will be excluded from school photographs.
As the school year unfolds, schools are updating and reminding students of their requirements around dress and grooming. While eyelash extensions have been a problem around school formals, schools are starting to spell out bans in their uniform policies as they become more commonplace.
Presentation College Windsor has told families that even though this Friday is an admin day with no formal classes, there will be a number of events such as assembly and school photographs.
“Expectations around uniform and appearance are made clear below and in separate written communications,” the school said in a newsletter.
“We ask that all students are both aware of, and abide by, these regulations. Failure to do so will have consequences, with the distinct possibility that some students do not get their photos taken. We recognise that this is not the way in which we would like any student to start the year; giving ample notice about our expectations should ensure that all girls return to school ready to focus on their learning.”
This time last year Mater Christi College, in Belgrave, was the centre of claims and counter claims over senior girls turning up to school with fake lashes ahead school photos. The girls claimed they were forced to painfully pull them out which the school disputed.
PCW, which will close at the end of the year, is starting 2020 with a depleted enrolment. In 2021 girls will be able to go to sibling school CBC St Kilda as it adopts a parallel education model.
Many PCW rules are similar to other schools but some schools take a more pragmatic approach to hair colouring and piercings, particularly in senior years.
As a Catholic school, PCW allows students to wear a small gold or silver chain with a cross or religions symbol under their dress.
PCW asks girls to have hair “of a natural colour appearance”. It does not permit “extreme colouring or styles”.
GIRLS are allowed to wear two plain metal sleepers or studs in each ear.
STUDENTS are permitted to wear clear/skin coloured plastic studs for nose piercings.
BUT students are advised not to get nose piercings where a metal stud is required as they will be asked to remove it.
COLOURED nails are not permitted and nails need to be at an appropriate length to allow safety and participation in activities.
MAKE UP, including eyelash extensions, are to be natural in appearance.
EXCESSIVE fake tan is not permitted.
NO tattoos are accepted.
The school goes on to say that dress lengths need to be top of knee length.
PCW did not respond to Herald Sun inquiries about how eyelash extensions could be judged as being natural in appearance or depth of fake tan colours regarded as excessive.
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Sister school Star of the Sea, in Brighton, appears to have a slightly different policy, mandating no make up and no piercings or jewellery apart from one small set of plain studs if ears pierced.
Another Catholic school, Sacred Heart College in Hughesdale, ask girls to wear uniforms that are in good condition, not too tight and not too short.
“If your daughter enjoys different hair colour/s over the holidays or gets additional piercings; please ensure that she returns to school with uniform and jewellery, again, in line with college expectations,” the college warned.
Ave Maria, in Aberfeldie, appears to have a policy silent on fake tan and eyelashes.
It reserves the right to “suspend any student who has an extreme hairstyle and/or unnatural colour, until she rectifies the situation”.
Students are permitted to wear a watch, a holy medal or cross under clothing, one matching pair of stud earrings, worn anywhere in the ear and any nose or lip piercings are only to be worn with small, clear spacers without a stud. Band-Aids are not permitted to be used to cover a piercing.