CEDAR FALLS - Sara Brown was having a change of heart.

For nearly 30 minutes she stood quietly by while her River Hills classmates each took their places in a salon chair. She watched as the stylists curled and sprayed their hair, but gently refused the offers to style her short 'do.

But, as her eyes took in the commotion at New Creations Salon in Waterloo she started to change her mind.

"Do you think they know how to spike hair?" she asked.

Minutes later, she was seated in Jody Carrier's chair getting sprayed and spritzed with the rest of her classmates. The five girls were getting all dolled up for their special senior day outing. After the salon visit, the girls would join a sixth male classmate back at the school for a ride in a Hummer stretch limo, then lunch at Old Chicago and a viewing of "Hannah Montana: The Movie."

Jari Sherburne, a River Hills teacher, said the students worked hard to earn enough money for the trip selling cookies and cards to their classmates and teachers. The day is just one more stepping stone on their way to a special graduation ceremony later this month.

"This is a great opportunity to let them know just how special they are to us," Sherburne said. "A lot of these kids have been at River Hills for many years. It's a big process saying goodbye."

Monica Paulsen, the salon owner, and several of her stylists offered up their chairs free of the charge for the special event. The students were treated to prom-like updos and mini-manicures.

"Anytime we can help out or make these kids feel special, it's a wonderful thing," she said.

And the girls definitely felt special. Mirranda Fintel's eyes lit up when she was finally spun around to see her curly new style. And she was quick to offer compliments to her friends.

"I love it," she said to one with a similar curly 'do.

"I like yours Sara. That looks great," she said.

Though Fintel wasn't certain just how the rest of the day would play out, she knew one thing for sure: "I don't want to go back to school."