Nossal High School principal dyes hair pink

He may be the principal of one of Victoria’s top achieving government schools, but Roger Page wasn’t going to welsh on a bet with his students. This is the head-turning result.

In the pink: Nossal HIgh School principal Roger Page.

A principal at a top government high school has honoured a bet to dye his hair pink for a day if a student achieved a perfect 99.95 ATAR.

When Nossal High School dux Ruby Bai was among 37 students and only seven females in the state to reach the goal a number of students reminded Roger Page of the pledge to dye his hair pink.

It is the first time a student at the school, named in honour of distinguished researcher Sir Gustav Nossal, has achieved 99.95.

Mr Page, the founding principal of the 10-year-old select entry Berwick school, said he felt duty bound to go through with the pledge on Monday.

In a surprise for attendees at the high achievers’ assembly he led the academic procession into the assembly and delivered an address, sporting the bright pink hair, in what is traditionally a solemn occasion.

“After I delivered my speech I acknowledged the pink hair at the end,” he said. “The hair did lighten the mood.”

Nossal High School principal Roger Page held up his end of the bargain.

Roger Page before his hair transformation.

Mr Page said on the way home he needed to stop for petrol and his conspicuous hair colour did get some second looks.

“The pink came out after a fair bit of scrubbing,” he said.

Mr Page said he was proud of the still relatively young school’s accomplishments.

“We are very, very good school and our students achieve excellent results, but it is not just about the marks and I am proud of the other things we put around that,” he said.

MORE NEWS

GOODES’ SPECIAL HONOUR FROM POINT COOK SCHOOL

UNI’S BID TO HELP WOMEN GET PROMOTED SLAMMED

NORTHCOTE HIGH DUMPS JOHN BATMAN FROM SCHOOL’S HOUSES

Mr Page said in addition to striving to do well the school wanted to prepare students for life beyond the school gates when they go on to tertiary study.

The class of 2019 all received first and second preferences for their desired tertiary courses.

Of the cohort 52 per cent achieved an ATAR over 90, the median ATAR was 90.3 and nine students achieved over 99.

[e-mail]