CENTER — After students enjoyed special presentations on Feb. 23, the Recruitment and Retention Team at Center Schools pampered staff on Feb. 24 to polish off Staff Appreciation Week.

Following breakfast at 8 o’clock, staff had time to catch up with each other, with planning for parent-teacher conferences, and without students on campus. Players jumped into Pickleball games in the gym while others received chair massages. Some sought both. Some decided to visit the chiropractor on-site.

The cafeteria featured catered lunch from the Colorado Grille from Del Norte, and staff enjoyed massages and nail pampering in the decorated library.

In the Information Technology Office, men and women received complimentary haircuts from Horacio Naranjo (also known as “Stretch”) and Edgar Borunda from Stretch's Cuts Barbershop in Monte Vista. Naranjo said this is his third year providing free cuts at Center Schools.

Licensed in 2018 after eight years cutting hair, Naranjo has more than a dozen years in the trade. With Borunda helping handle customers at the new location in Monte Vista, Stretch's Barbershop attracts regular customers. Naranjo said he is looking to expand.

In the meantime, the young entrepreneur tries to return to his community. That is why Naranjo and Borunda worked for free outside the Network Operations Center deep inside the IT Office at Center Schools.

Financially, every bit helps. School employees, like students, can always use a break. Before the start of the 2022–2023 school year, for example, Stretch opened his doors to provide free service for students. In total, 61 kids with new hairdos strutted into school on their first day.

After Staff Appreciation Week, more than a dozen Center Schools staff members returned on Monday with new hairdos too.