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The kindest cut

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson Kaley Bailey, third and fourth grade teacher at Community Christian School, left, reacts as Angela Croonquist, hair stylist at Hair Gallery on 15th, prepares to cut one of her locks of hair Thursday morning. The hair is being donated to Wigs for Kids, a nonprofit organization that serves children suffering from hair loss.

Teachers Kaley Bailey, Leah Gaillard, and Tasha Pierce will have a new look when they return to the classrooms at Community Christian School.

The teachers all had their hair cut Thursday morning at the Hair Gallery on 15th. Only, their hair was cut a little shorter than usual for a good cause.

Their locks of hair are being donated to Children With Hair Loss, a nonprofit organization that serves children suffering from hair loss.

“I had been talking about getting my hair cut because I do it about every two years,” Gaillard, who teaches kindergarten, said.

After a conversation with Sheila Huebsch, a Title 1 reading teacher, Gaillard got the idea to donate her hair.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson Tasha Pierce, preschool director and teacher at Community Christian School, front, has one of her locks of hair removed by Angela Croonquist, hair stylist at Hair Gallery on 15th, Thursday morning.

“We decided to do it as a group,” Pierce said. “I had been wanting to donate my hair for a while and Sheila said she was doing it.”

Pierce is the preschool director at CCS.

Carrie Albertson, first-grade teacher at CCS, was on hand to see her fellow teachers get their hair chopped.

Albertson said compassion is the character trait of the month at the school.

“We thought this fit well with that,” Albertson said.

-Submitted photo Kaley Bailey, Leah Gaillard and Tasha Pierce, left to right, pose with — and without — the locks of hair each donated on Thursday to Children With Hair Loss, a nonprofit organization. Bailey is a third- and fourth-grade teacher at Community Christian School.Gaillard is a kindergarten teacher at CCS, and Pierce is preschool director and a teacher there.

Although the teachers were away from the school, the work had apparently followed them.

“Are you doing lesson plans?” Gaillard asked Albertson.

“I am doing lesson plans,” Albertson said.

“You’re such a good teacher,” Gaillard said.

Angela Croonquist, a stylist at the Hair Gallery on 15th, was tasked with cutting the women’s locks.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson Locks of hair from Leah Gaillard, a kindergarten teacher at Community Christian School, will be donated to Wigs for Kids, a nonprofit organization that serves children suffering from hair loss.

She said a quarter to a half-inch of hair could grow back in a month depending on the person.

Bailey, a third-and-fourth grade teacher, was up first.

She is in her first year at CCS,

“First-year teacher initiation,” Gaillard said.

“I am so sweaty right now,” Bailey said. “I’ve never had it this short before.”

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson Angela Croonquist, hair stylist at Hair Gallery on 15th, prepares to cut locks of hair from Leah Gaillard, a kindergarten teacher at Community Christian School, Thursday morning.

After the first snip, she was all in.

“All I see are clumps of hair falling,” Bailey said. “Wait until the students see it.”

According to Bailey, there will be at least one benefit of having shorter hair.

“Shampoo and conditioner,” she said. “I won’t have to buy any more for a long time.”

Next up was Gaillard.

“Let’s do this,” she said.

Croonquist had an observation after cutting Gaillard’s hair.

“Your natural curls will kick in now that the weight is off,” Croonquist said.

Pierce had her hair cut last.

“I donated two years ago, also,” Pierce said.

“You should be a pro,” Bailey said.

Croonquist said Children With Hair Loss also accepts monetary donations because making wigs is apparently quite expensive.

She said it’s a worthwhile cause.

“What a perfect thing to do on a snow day,” Croonquist said.

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