A 9-year-old Colorado girl who shaved her head in solidarity with a friend suffering from Stage 4 Neuroblastoma was met with a suspension notice from her school, not support.
Last Friday, Kamryn Renfo decided to shave her head to match her close friend, Delaney Clements. Kamryn’s mother, Jamie Renfro, wrote about it on Facebook, saying she was “so proud” of her daughter.
Two days later, Headmaster Kristin Trezise from Grand Junction’s Caprock Academy charter school called Jamie Renfro and politely informed her that Kamryn could not return to class until her hair grew.
“In the family handbook it clearly states that students may not have shaved heads. We do sign that we understand and agree to the rules every year… But honestly, I never thought my 9-year-old daughter would do something so courageous, brave and selfless,” Jamie said on Facebook on Sunday. “I have to wake a little girl up tomorrow, who was excited to go to school and talk to her peers about what she had done and why, and I get to try to explain why she can’t do that without making her lose her spirit or feel like she is being punished for something so amazing.”
As soon as Jamie posted about the ordeal, community members rushed to her daughter’s defense. Board members from Caprock Academy declined to elaborate, but pointed reporters to their policy, which is intended to create a “non-distracting environment for the school’s students.”
Jamie added on Monday that she doesn’t blame the school, but simply wanted to get Kamryn back to school and “help make her statement about childhood cancer awareness.” She added, “As much as I ask for support and prayers for Kamryn, I ask for the same for Delaney and her family…because if it wasn’t for that amazing little girl, no one would care quite as much as they do!!”
Thankfully, Caprock Academy administrators decided on Monday that Kamryn could return to school the following day — minimizing harm in terms of school days missed. Still, Kamryn’s mother said she will only be truly satisfying if and when Caprock’s Board of Directors changes the dress code.
