Fifth Annual Cutting of the Curls: The Best Yet

Previous Years Documented

First Annual Post

Second Annual Post
Third Annual Post
Fourth Annual Post

You know the routine by now.

1. I grow my hair to Texas food portion size. 
2. Offer said hair as a fundraiser for some group.
3. Let some lucky winner style it any way they choose
4. And finally pretend to be embarrassed by the extra attention. 

This year the fundraiser is very cool. Two teacher families here at school are traveling to Cambodia over spring break to build homes through The Tabitha Foundation. One of the families has two boys who were adopted from Cambodia when they we infants. What an incredible experience it will be for them. One of those boys is my student and the point guard on my basketball team. Both families are awesome and I am really happy to have helped the cause in a small way.

If you want to donate to this wonderful cause, you can do so here.

In the end, the raffle to cut my hair was won by my vice-principal - also the Mom of the two boys mentioned earlier. Teachers usually seem to be the biggest buyers for this thing which might say something about how my peers feel about me.

Fourth Annual Cutting of the Curls

Pre-Cut

Although I currently look like an idiot, I generally like the attention. There is something really special about the absolute look of joy that erupts on a middle school kids face when they see me right now. I teach middle school kids, so its a nice change from the typical looks of apathy, anger and aggression I usually see. (This is a joke - my kids are wonderful).

This is the fourth time that I have offered my lovely locks in the name of charity. This year, the middle school Animal Service Club stepped up and organized a raffle to determine who would get to cut my hair. The winner gets to do the cutting in any style they choose.

A sixth grader was the big winner this year and he wasn't shy. I wanted to make sure he had a plan in mind before he started so I asked, "What are you planning to do?"

He stared coldly into my eyes and calmly said, "You'll see."

Uh Oh. So here it is - Student Haircut: 2012 version.

My barber. The look of confidence alarming.

A little worried they gave him scissors.

The crowed looks on. Love the cringes.

This is how the top currently looks. Not the most even of cuts.

My principal, Barb, told me teachers are not allowed to come to work like this, so I asked if I could start spring break early. I think she thinks I was joking because she laughed.

The Animal Service Club organizers. Barb Hegranes on the left is the club sponsor and set up everything.

A year of conditioning gone. 

Thanks to Becky for taking some great photos!

The 3rd Semi-Annual Cutting of the Curls

I don't get hair cuts in Asia.  It is one of the problems with having curly hair. (The other problems are in order: fending off overly aggressive women, keeping a hat on my head, and being mistaken for Bill Walton or Napoleon Dynamite).

When I first moved overseas, my hair was pretty out of control.  Stupidly, I did not get it cut before leaving for Korea.  I could have let it grow longer, but I wanted to look professional for the first day of school.

With that in mind, I walked to what appeared to be a reputable hair salon.  I quickly knew I was in trouble.  After getting me in the chair and giggling with the other ladies in the shop, my 'stylist' scrunched my hair and said, "Perm?"

"Ha.  No. Ha," I responded nervously. "It's natural."

"Oh, natural perm."

Uh oh.  Needless to say, this was not my best haircut.  That was the last haircut I paid for in Asia.  Basically, I get one or two cuts in the summer and then let it grow to ridiculous afro proportions during the year.  At some point, I get tired of it and shave it all off.  The two years I lived in Korea, the school did a fundraiser for mission trips to let a kid shave my head in the style of their choice. (The First Semi-Annual)  After a one year hiatus, we decided to bring it back this year.  All proceeds from the fund raiser go to a school in Laos.  As part of the deal, I have to keep this 'do for a week.

Ready to go.

Anticipation building.

Now we're having fun.

Becky might be enjoying this a little too much.

Some of the damage.

This is the kid that won.  He was too scared to actually cut my hair, so he asked Becky to do it for him.  He directed Becky (who is photo-bombing this picture).

So what did the administration think of this?  I'll let them speak for themselves.

Mr. Mike - Principal and inspiration.

Ms. Sue - Asst. Principal

How did Becky do?  What would you have done?