What happens when students meet a goal? At Central Riverside Elementary, teachers lose their hair!
This year, faculty members challenged the school's 400 students to read a combined total of 12,000 books. If they did, their principal, Howard Caraway, agreed to shave his head. When the students surpassed their goal by more than 9,000 books - reading 21,000 - all of the male faculty members shaved their heads.
On May 29, the principal, as well as the four male faculty members, celebrated the students' reading achievement in front of a packed auditorium. Students, along with school staff, parents and community members, cheered
"Shave it off!" as they said goodbye to their hair.
"Students remember what they experience," said music teacher Steve Gonzalez, who shaved his head. "This event will help propel them to the future – to learn more and read more."
Principal Caraway congratulated the students on their achievement, and encouraged his students to keep reading. He also applauded his staff for their dedication to their students' success.
"The adults at our school love these students, and we expect a lot from them. We want them to see what we are willing to do for them when they do the right things," said Caraway. "It is our hope that we will inspire them to continue to read."
Rewarding the students' reading achievements at Central Riverside is a tradition. Last year's principal danced on the roof in honor of the students' exceeding their goal. The school hasn't decided what it will do next year to top the buzz cuts, but stay tuned.
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