Pass by Harry M. Bailey Middle School in West Haven, and it looks like a typical Connecticut school, but its what’s on the inside that had people buzzing today. Bailey Middle School raised about $1200 for the Sandy Hook Ground Project and a playground in honor of Charlotte Bacon, one of the 26 victims from the tragedy.
The money came in quickly, when the students found out they could get the chance to shave their teachers heads. Eight students stood behind teachers with clippers in their hand, and they played barber. The hair fell to the ground, as students laughed and teachers cringed. Another teacher pledged that if the students could raise more than one thousand dollars, she would die her hair pink. And you guessed it, today it was pink. “I said pink because that was Charlotte Bacon’s favorite color,” said the now pink haired teacher, Sherry Mitchell.
When construction starts on the playground for Bacon at Savin Rock beach next month, students from Bailey will help again. “It’s giving back to the community and it’s helping others,” said eight grader, David O’Brian. He said he will do as much as he can with the build. “It really gives our kids ownership over the playground, and therefore, they will protect it,” Mitchell said as students grabbed their clippers. The hair cuts were televised over Bailey’s in school TV system for everyone to watch.