St Baldricks Event – Wellington C. Mepham High School

Here’s the 7:45am @News12LI segment! Thanks @macyegeland! pic.twitter.com/5h9JM1m1iM

— BellmoreMerrickCHSD (@bmchsd) March 16, 2022

The entire Bellmore-Merrick school community came together March 16 for the districtwide annual Chop Your Locks for charity event benefiting the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, hosted by Wellington C. Mepham High School.

This year’s in-person event has already raised more than $67,000 for the foundation, which supports pediatric cancer research and outreach.

“The seniors worked together to fundraise and get the word out about the event. But it was truly a community effort,” explained event co-organizer and social studies chairperson Robyn Einbinder. 

Together with teachers Kerry Dennis and Chris Patten, Einbinder oversaw various details of the evening’s success.

Members of the senior leadership classes manned registration, raffle and food booths. Cast members from Skull and Bones’ upcoming drama production, “Beauty & the Beast” performed a musical number. The Bellmore-Merrick Broadcasting team, under the direction of Stu Stein, Matthew Russel and Lisa Kalish, provided live-streaming of the event. Broadcasting students Sean McQuillan and Ava Scheffler interviewed St. Baldrick’s Founder, John Bender, live on air.

The Amity Harbor Pipes Band, which includes social studies teacher Chris Patten, performed traditional Irish music. Members of the Star Wars-themed cosplay group, the 501st Legion, were also on hand. 

One of this year’s honorees included Carsyn Volpe, a seventh grader at Grand Avenue Middle School, who is currently battling pediatric cancer. His sister, Cayden, a student at Mepham, was the event’s top fundraiser at $6,000.

When it came time for the shaving shenanigans, students from the district’s cosmetology program, led by instructor Jaime Pendl, operated the hair buzzers. The program is housed at Sanford H. Calhoun High School.

“We were so grateful to have had the event back in person this year,” added Einbinder.

Money from Mepham’s annual Battle of the Classes which will be held in May will also go toward the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.

 

Photo captions:

 

1) Olivia Orlich started shaving Alex Martucci’s hair, as Mepham Assistant Principal Chris Safina looked on. Safina later operated the buzzer.

2) Mitch Foley braved the shave as cosmetology student Katelyn Vitti choped his locks.

3) Event co-organizers Robyn Einbinder, a social studies chairperson (top middle), and teacher Kerry Dennis (top right) with some leadership student volunteers.

4) From left, Riley Palmer, Kerri Hatcliffe, Alanna Morse and Kaitlyn Smith volunteered collecting raffle donations. 

5) One of this year’s honorees included Carsyn Volpe (right), a seventh grader at Grand Avenue Middle School who is currently battling pediatric cancer.

6) Sisters Cayden Volpe and Camryn Volpe were top fundraisers for the event. 

7) Mepham senior Ty Roberts showed off his after shave look.

8) Broadcasting students Sean McQuillan and Ava Scheffler interviewed Mepham Assistant Principal Andrew Del Rosario.

 

Photos courtesy of Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District