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Two teachers shave their heads for Jump Rope for Heart (8 Photos)

Mitchell Woods Public School raised their goal of $5,000

On May 17, The Upper Grand District School Board began to raise money for Jump Rope for Heart, a foundation for heart and stroke research.

Mitchell Woods Public School raised $3,000 in 2017, so grade three teacher Katie Osborne and Educational Assistant Kim Jenkinson felt that it was time to raise the bar to $5,000.

So when Osborne and Jenkinson promised to shave their heads as an incentive for the school to raise $5000, they knew they would carry through if the school met that goal.

And they did. They raised over $5300.

Osborne and Jenkinson sat nervous and courageous in the library on May 22 as two children live streamed the procedure for the entire school to see.

“I have no heart rate right now. It’s not registering,” said Jenkinson as the hair stylist prepared to chop off all her hair.

The two women laughed about raising the bar the next year as their hair buzzed off.

“My father passed away of a stroke last year and today would have been his 80th birthday so today holds significance for many reasons,” said Jenkinson.

“Shaving my head, he would have said I was nuts.”

Osborne said the teachers were originally going to set the goal for $3,000 but they wanted to motivate the students to do good in the world.

Once her head was shaved, Osborne was nervous to see it.

“I do feel proud. I thought it was going to be a very exhilarating experience and it certainly was,” said Osborne.

“I haven't looked at myself in the mirror yet so I might feel differently but I'm super proud to have gone through with this because that's what I promised. They did their part so I did mine.”

Osborne and Jenkinson had both prepared their students beforehand because they expressed concern.

“I just reassured them that it's okay. I came to terms with it and I am happy to do it. Its just hair. It will grow back,” said Osborne.

Jenkinson said it was important for her to follow through after the kids kept their promise.

“I'm not worth anything if I'm not keeping my word and why should the kids that I get to work with trust me if I'm not going to be honest? said Jenkinson.”

“I knew as soon as I put my head up that you just have to follow through,” said Jenkinson.

Two more teachers are expected to follow suit on May 23 with grade eight teacher, Maureen Battaglia shaving her hair and grade seven teacher, Benjamin Tucker shaving his beard. 


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Anam Khan

About the Author: Anam Khan

Anam Khan is a journalist who covers numerous beats in Guelph and Wellington County that include politics, crime, features, environment and social justice
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