Bishop Tonnos Catholic Secondary School has launched a new cosmetology program, giving students the chance to explore hairstyling, esthetics, and hospitality while also meeting the Ontario Ministry of Education’s new requirement that all Grade 9 students take a technological education course.
Spearheaded by Principal Maria Calabrese, the course is a response to a gap in tech course offerings at the school.
“When I arrived at BT, I quickly realized it is a special school with talented students and dedicated teachers. One thing I noticed, however, was that an opportunity for students to engage in cosmetology did not exist,” said Calabrese. “We surveyed students and found that 74% would take at least one cosmetology course, and of those, 63% would take it more than once. With this level of interest, and with support from our Catholic School Council and the Budget Steering Committee, we were able to bring this program to life. I am thrilled to see our students benefiting from this new experiential opportunity.”
The program, led by Teacher Anita Vicinotti, introduces students to foundational skills such as safety practices and braiding before progressing to more advanced techniques like hot tools, updos, manicures, and eventually hair cutting and colouring. The classroom is designed to replicate a real salon, with students practicing on mannequins and each other at stations dedicated to different areas of the industry.
For students like Aubrey Morton, a Grade 11 student passionate about hair and makeup, the new program is especially exciting. Morton, who dreams of one day launching her own line of natural, cruelty-free, and environmentally friendly makeup, sees cosmetology as a step toward her future goals.
The popularity of the program has already sparked plans of expansion at Bishop Tonnos, offering more students the chance to develop both creative skills and hands-on learning experiences that can open doors to future careers in the beauty industry and beyond.
