Once again sales of shaving cream have been down in the Hoosick area as members of the Hoosick Falls Central School faculty and staff have been growing out their beards for a great cause.[private] Some of the gents started in November and the others started in January. It is all to raise money for the Isabel McGuire Memorial Scholarship. For the first time a student, senior Cole Votra, will be participating too. This year has eight gents participating making them the biggest group ever!
Officer), Mr. Cabana (Teacher Aide), and Mr. Wyan (Math Teacher). Not pictured: Mr. Calebrese (Science Teacher). Photo courtesy of HFCSD
Before the event on March 16, students in grades 7-12 can purchase raffle tickets for which teacher (or student) they would like a chance to “shave,” which is an opportunity for the students to create humorous and creative patterns, shapes, and designs into the beards.
The event is organized each year by high school Art teacher Rob Viera, who said, “Even though Isabel is gone, her memory lives on here in Hoosick Falls. She was such a prominent part of our school and our community, and we want to keep her memory and her smile in everyone’s hearts and minds. We created this event to do just that, as well as raise awareness for the cancer that took her life far too soon. Of course, we also want to make people laugh at our expense – that’s what Isabel would have wanted.”
The guys participating have to wear their “beardcuts” for the next school day, before being able to shave off whatever beard remains.
Last year, through the sale of raffle tickets and t-shirts, over $1,300 was raised for the scholarship named in memory of McGuire, who passed away on March 13, 2014 when she was only 48 years old. In 1995 Isabel McGuire was hired as a high school math teacher at Hoosick Falls Central School and was in her 18th year teaching at the time of her passing. Her impression on students and her love for teaching was inspiring. The HFCSD family of colleagues and students still have a profound respect and love for Isabel, who is missed every day.
To help make the event even more successful this year, the Beard-Off gentlemen are asking if members of the community and/or business owners would like to support the Beard-Off, to please contact Mr. Viera:
vierar@hoosickfallscsd.org [/private]