Newark students raise $; 'clip' principals
By Terri Lagana, NMS Student Council Advisor

New hairstyles were created this morning at Newark's Middle School. The shavings were performed on live television during morning announcements. All students and staff were able to watch and enjoy the buzzes, cuts and shaves.

Pictured are Henry Hann, the District's Asst. Superintendent for Curriculum and Assistant Middle School Principal, losing his mustache, and Principal Bob Palmateer getting 'buzzed' by Foreign Language teacher Robin Newcomer.

Recent visitors to the Newark Middle School probably noticed teachers and staff with unusually colorful hair designs. Other staff members were spotted sporting extremely short haircuts, as well. The hairstyles were a part of a project that has been referred to as a 'Hair-Raising' event, as the NMS Student Council raised money for the American Cancer Society. A favorite 8th grade teacher was unable to teach for many weeks while he received treatments for cancer. Students wanted to support the search for a cure for the disease that was keeping their teacher away from them. To raise money, student council members sold 25 cent tickets at lunch. Students made and posted thermometers to keep track of staff names and dollar amounts. Each time the money collected reached a new level on the thermometers, someone got a new 'hair do.'

 At first, volunteer faculty and staff received colorful and original hair designs created each morning by members of student council. Even Mr. Speciale, middle school assistant principal wore flamingo pink hair extensions for a day. As the quarters turned into hundreds of dollars, other faculty and staff had their heads shaved!

When enough money was collected, Mr. Gnau, Mr. Sutherland, Mr. May, Mr. Binggeli, Mr. Briggs, Mr. Barry, Mr. Dallos and Mr. Henry all had their turn to have their hair buzzed by Mrs. Newcomer and Mrs. Person. Having reached $475 in ticket sales and donations, Mr. Hann, had his mustache buzzed after sporting it for over 20 years. (His own children had never seen him without one.) The target person at the top of the thermometer was Mr. Palmateer, and students needed to raise $500 in order to 'do' his hair. Mr. Palmateer had been quite confident throughout the fundraising that students would not be able to raise the $500 necessary to cut his hair. Each morning for days, he told students that they couldn't raise enough to reach their goal.

As a final surprise, the middle school chapter of the National Junior Honor Society announced their decision to add to the 'Hair-Raiser' by donating the proceeds from a dance they had recently sponsored.

 When the money was all counted, over $1200 had been raised to fight cancer.

For a 'thank you' to students, tickets were drawn at each level, and students were given prizes. But the grand prize was for a lunch of catered food brought in from a restaurant. Two tickets were drawn for the grand prize from the hundreds that had been sold, and the two winning students will each invite five friends to a special lunch. Teachers will set the tables with china and tablecloths as they wait on and serve the lunches to the winning students and their friends.

Student council would like to thank all who helped in any way with this project. From tickets to cuts, to providing hair care products and heads of hair, all donations made this project successful in raising much more money than anyone thought possible.

(Sandra Marcano photos)

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