From Madison Welch害羞草研究所檚 perspective, the message to Grade 6 and 7 girls at South Meridian Elementary last week was clear: shorter shorts, crop tops and spaghetti straps 害羞草研究所渟ometimes distract the boys.害羞草研究所�

But the 11-year-old says it was a surprise and 害羞草研究所渞eally embarrassing害羞草研究所� when she and a friend were singled out soon after its delivery and made to cover up with school jerseys 害羞草研究所� Madison, for wearing a top her grandmother had bought her, that left her shoulders exposed; her friend, for 害羞草研究所渨earing a T-shirt just to her pant line.害羞草研究所�

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Not only did Madison not have any inkling that her outfit violated the school害羞草研究所檚 dress code, but she said the girls had also just been told, as part of the same message, that the jersey rule for inappropriate dress wasn害羞草研究所檛 to take effect so immediately.

害羞草研究所淭hey had said the rules didn害羞草研究所檛 start until the next day,害羞草研究所� Madison told Peace Arch News Friday. 害羞草研究所淓veryone was confused as to why we had to wear one.害羞草研究所�

PAN reported on the issue online last Thursday, after parents took to social media 害羞草研究所� first in a closed Facebook group, then in response to PAN害羞草研究所檚 online article 害羞草研究所� to share concerns and opinions as to how it was handled.

District spokesman Doug Strachan confirmed at that time that the Grade 6 and 7 boys were not included in the dress-code discussion, and that parents were not given advance notice that the girls would be spoken to.

He also said, after consulting with the school害羞草研究所檚 principal, that the girls 害羞草研究所渨ere not told害羞草研究所� that certain clothing could be a distraction. And, he said, the jersey measure was 害羞草研究所渘ot an institutionalized approach.害羞草研究所�

Madison, who turned 11 in September, said she understands that some outfits simply aren害羞草研究所檛 appropriate for school and that 害羞草研究所渋t should matter if it害羞草研究所檚 super-inappropriate.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淏ut if it害羞草研究所檚 off the shoulder, showing the shoulder a little, that should be OK,害羞草研究所� she said.

A reminder about the school害羞草研究所檚 dress code was included in the school害羞草研究所檚 May 2018 newsletter.

害羞草研究所淐hildren need to be properly dressed for attendance at school. Appropriate dress is primarily the responsibility of parents. If in doubt, be conservative,害羞草研究所� it states, in part.

害羞草研究所淥ur only guideline is that dress be in good taste. Clothing should not be offensive or distracting. For example, shorts are acceptable providing that they are not too short. Tops should not reveal bare back, shoulders, or midriff and undergarments should not be visible.害羞草研究所�

A photo of the outfit Madison had been wearing that day was forwarded to Strachan Friday morning via email, after her mother, Jackie Welch, posted it to Facebook.

Asked for comment regarding whether the district agrees it was inappropriate for school, and to respond to Madison害羞草研究所檚 assertion that she and her peers were indeed told certain outfits 害羞草研究所渟ometimes the distract the boys,害羞草研究所� his response was limited.

害羞草研究所淭he principal says there was a very positive and fruitful meeting on a school dress code, involving the Parent Advisory Council executive and parents, that will aim at balancing individual liberty, social convention, functionality, community standards and school community values,害羞草研究所� Strachan said by email late Friday afternoon, referring to a parent meeting held Thursday evening at the 16244 13 Ave. school.

害羞草研究所淭he conversations will continue.害羞草研究所�

Parent Derek Thornton 害羞草研究所� who first brought the matter to PAN害羞草研究所檚 attention 害羞草研究所� said Friday that he still felt the matter was 害羞草研究所渘ot handled very well by the school,害羞草研究所� though he said Thursday害羞草研究所檚 meeting brought some relief.

害羞草研究所淚 feel comfortable/confident that another student will not be made to wear a jersey to cover up and that it sounds like any discussions regarding attire will be done with the parents and not during school/learning hours,害羞草研究所� he told PAN via email.