ASHLAND — Kinsley Yonkovski had her hair cut at Ashland County’s Back-2-School Celebration Monday night.
Yonkovski, who’ll be a fifth grader in the Ashland City Schools district this year, cut and donated 11 inches of her hair. She’s been growing it since 2023, and Monday night marked her third haircut ever.
The Back-2-School Celebration offers free school supplies and activities to pre-K through 12th grade students in the area before the school year starts.
This year, according to event organizers, 1,300 backpacks of free school supplies went to Ashland County students.
Typically the Back-2-School Celebration is held in downtown Ashland, but it changed venues this year.
Sandra Tunnell, the executive director of Ashland Main Street, said having the event outdoors last year was a struggle due to the weather. This year, the event was hosted at the Ashland County Fairgrounds, which allowed for it to move inside if necessary.
The event also featured free haircuts, like the one Yonkovski received, along with clothing vouchers, shoes and backpacks. Students could also have their faces painted, take pictures with mermaids, sign up for activities for the school year and more.
Several organizations partner to make the event a success, including United Way, Associated Charities, Ashland Main Street, Ashland City Schools and Calvary Baptist Church.
Some businesses also get involved, like Z’s Hair Designs, which helps organize the free haircuts for students.
Tunnell said during the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers handed out supplies to families in need. After the pandemic, organizers continued that mission along with offering children a chance to see their friends ahead of the school year, and that’s when it started to be billed as a celebration.
Yonkovski’s mom, Amanda, said she has five students in Ashland City Schools, ranging in age from pre-K through 12th grade.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity the town has opened up,” Amanda said.
It’s the first year she brought her children to the event. She said watching Kinsley donate her hair was a highlight of the evening.
Getting Back-2-School
Each public school district in Ashland County begins again later this month. Start dates for each district are as follows:
- Ashland City Schools — Aug. 19 is orientation day for sixth and ninth grade students. Kindergartners will have a staggered start from Aug. 20 to 23. First through 12th graders will all go back to the classroom on Aug. 20.
- Hillsdale Local Schools — Hillsdale students return to school for the 2024-2025 school year on Aug. 21.
- Loudonville-Perrysville Exempted Village Schools — Loudonville-Perrysville students have staggered starts depending on the school buildings. Students will have their first days of school between Aug. 21 and 23, depending on grade level and in some cases, last names. You can find more information on the district’s calendar.
- Mapleton Local Schools — Mapleton Local Schools kicks off its 2024-2025 year with students returning to the building Aug. 22.
For students like Kinsley Yonkovski, the Back-2-School Celebration served as an opportunity to see their friends and get excited for the start of the school year.
The future fifth grader said she most looks forward to getting back in the classroom and reading history books — and she’ll be donning a brand new trim when she does.
“It feels lighter,” Kinsley Yonkovski said.
Below is a gallery of photos from the event.
