More than 50 years after they were last worn, straw boaters have been made part of the Dunedin college's summer uniform again, in a bid to make the school more sunsmart.
Teacher in charge of the student council Bryn Jones said the pupil-led initiative came about after they realised there were no secondary schools being sunsmart outdoors on breaks, school trips or sports days.
``So the student council sat down and started to think about what it could do to make the school more sunsmart. We thought it would be a good idea to bring back the original boaters that we used to wear.
``Bring back the boater was the name of our campaign to present to the board,'' Mr Jones said.
``The students took it to the board for approval and the board said `yes, it's a great idea'.''
The college has introduced two different styles - smaller ones for the year 7-10 pupils which cost $10, and larger ones with a different band for the year 11-13 pupils which cost $15.
Mr Jones believed the last time pupils at the school wore boaters was midway through the last century.
Mr Jones said it was not compulsory to wear the hats, but the initiative had been well received by pupils across the school.
Pupil Dan Kunac said he and his fellow pupils liked the new boaters because they gave the uniform a ``summery'' feel.
``They think they're nice and colourful, and a bit more fun than just a normal hat.''
Mr Jones said he did not expect sales to really take off until the start of the next school year when the summer season would be at its peak.
``Especially when we head into athletics day, when we're all out there on the field. That's when they'll start to kick in, I think.''
He said news had already spread to old boys of the school, and many had placed orders for boaters as a souvenir of their time at John McGlashan College.
He believed the hats would complement the free sunscreen provided to pupils while at school.
``In the past, we haven't had anything. A lot of secondary schools don't have anything to protect their students from the sun.
``This makes us feel as though we're achieving something as far as sun-smart initiatives go.''
