Goodrich – Damian Marovich, 10, amazed classmates by showing up to Wayne Wilson’s Oaktree Elementary class Feb. 17 with a new look.
His grandfather had shaved his head smooth as a cue ball.
‘I told Mr. Wilson if he did, I would too,? said Damian.
Teacher Wayne Wilson was one of five Oaktree educators voluntarily losing locks to Grand Blanc barber Kirk Reid, an incentive for students to reach the $5,000-mark in a tsunami fund-raiser.
‘It’s for a great cause and the kids earned it,? said Wilson, as he readied for the barber’s chair.
‘I’ve been letting my hair grow for a month for this,? said fifth-grade teacher Jim Rice, a Goodrich grad voted ‘Mr. Romantic? in his high school days. ‘My hair’ll grow back, but people over there, their lives will never be the same.?
Spontaneous waves of chanting and cheering broke out, as kids waved signs saying ‘Go Baldy? and ‘Bald is Beautiful?.
Superintendent Kim Hart didn’t give up her locks. ‘There are just some things I won’t do,? she said. ‘I’ll sit on a roof, I’ll get dunked in a dunk tank, I’ve had pies in my face, but I’m keeping my hair.?
Last up was principal Mike Ellis.
Reid wrapped a barber’s smock around his neck, and Ellis removed his glasses. He was ready.
Along with elated Oaktree students and a few high-schoolers, Ellis? daughters looked on.
‘It might be an improvement,? said daughter Cortney Ellis, 14.
Chelsea Ellis, 17, wasn’t so sure.
‘We’re going to make sure he wears hats whenever we go out with him,? she said.
A glimpse in the mirror revealed five new faces.
‘How do the students feel? I think the word was ‘hideous?,? said Wilson.
‘He looks like a monkey,? said student Chaz Springsteen, 11.
It was head-coverings that earned the head-shavings.
Following the Dec. 26, 2004 Asian disaster that claimed thousands of lives, the Oaktree student council collected $1 fees for students to wear hats each Friday for six weeks, raising nearly $500 the first day.
Fridays were festive during the fund-raiser, with some teachers encouraging Michigan State University hats, and principal Mike Ellis offering to ‘upgrade? Jeff Gordon hats for Dale Jarrett hats. Teachers also donated $1 to wear jeans on Fridays. A total of $5,500 was collected for UNICEF.
‘It’s very important because some kids are left homeless with families alone,? said student council president Kenny Rappuhn, who encouraged donating more than the minimum. ‘I knew Grand Blanc raised $5,000 and I thought Goodrich could do that.?
Students? empathy was heightened by last year’s holiday collection of personal items to donate to area charities.
It came as a shock that some can’t afford items like shampoo and soap, said teachers.
‘The reason our school was raising money for the tsunami victims wasn’t to have a movie, popcorn, pop, or see teachers get their heads shaved,’wrote Julie Kerwin, a student in Marlyce Bryant’s fourth-grade class.’That just made it fun.?
‘I hope we can get back restaurants, homes, paper, pencils, food, animals, electricity, and all of their other needs,? Julie said.
‘When you look at us bald guys, let that kind of be your symbol for success,? said Ellis.