It’s not every day that you get to see a teacher have his head shaved in the quad. However, that’s just what happened to Mr. Crisafi on May 5. Not only did Mr. Crisafi have his head shaved by Coach Keller in front of dozens of middle school students, but he sported a mohawk for the day, all in the name of English! Well, more like the literary magazine.

In order to solicit submissions for this year’s magazine, The Insyde, Mr. Crisafi said he would shave his head if he received 150 submissions, and he would wear a mohawk for the day if he received 175 submissions. In all, the students submitted more than 200 poems, elegies, short stories, pieces of artwork, and photos for inclusion in this year’s magazine. It was pretty funny to see a teacher getting his head shaved by Coach Keller,” said eighth grader Martin Weisz. “ I don’t mind having my head shaved,” commented Mr. Crisafi. “It’s low maintenance, and I was happy to take part in something that would get the students to submit their work.” Mr. Crisafi sported a mohawk during the day he was shorn by Coach Keller, and he would have worn it for longer had his wife not intervened and pointed out to him that it was inappropriate for him to continue to wear it at school.

In addition to having their pieces published in The Insyde, students who submitted the best pieces in each category will also win prizes: first ($25 iTunes gift card), second and third (small candy baskets).

However, the literary magazine is not just about submitting something to win a prize or seeing a teacher have his head shaved. It’s about allowing the students an outlet for creative expression and going beyond the confines of the classroom. The Insyde gives Benjamin’s middle school students a voice, an opportunity for artistic expression and a chance for their peers and teachers to glimpse another facet of their personalities – to perhaps even get a sense of their hopes and dreams.