Share Your Mascot Ideas!
Opportunity to share new KLSD mascot ideas now through February 23
Katonah-Lewisboro’s move towards selecting a new mascot that reflects our community’s values and aspirations for our students is taking positive steps forward. All interested parties, including current students and staff, alumni and former staff, community members, even preschool students, are invited to share their ideas here through February 23, 2020.
The survey was announced at the public meeting on January 30 as an important part of the mascot search committee’s task. The process is as follows:
- All community members have the opportunity to share suggestions for a new mascot until February 23, 2020 here
- In the weeks following that date, the mascot steering committee will winnow the list using the criteria they have developed.
- Staff and students in grades 6 – 12 will then vote on the final choices with the goal of recommending a new mascot to the Board of Education on April 21, 2020.
Highlights of the January 30 Public Meeting
The mood at the public meeting was collegial as participants responded to several prompts by the administrative team leading the mascot search committee.
Christian McCarthy, the district’s director of health, athletics, physical education and wellness, opened the conversation by listing the initial criteria for any new mascot: a strong connection to the community and a positive representation, and avoiding references to race, ethnicity, religion, weaponry, and nearby towns’ mascots. “What would you add?” he asked the room. Two criteria suggestions were unanimously agreed on: avoiding reference to gender and being passionate and fun.
One of the next questions for discussion was posed by Dr. Siciliano, principal of John Jay High School: “How would you like to hear about the new mascot?” When groups relayed their tabletop conversation to the whole room, unveiling the new mascot in a fun way seemed to be universal. McCarthy saw the potential to incorporate the mascot reveal with J-Fest, the high school’s pep rally in mid-April.
Roundtable Discussions
Jeff Swiatowicz, principal of John Jay Middle School, posed the final question. “How do you think we should retire the current mascot?” A student suggestion got positive reception: creating a mascot exhibit in the high school which would tell the story of why Indians was chosen as a mascot originally—to honor Chief Katonah—and why, in 2019-20, the community moved to something more inclusive.
Finally, markers were passed out and participants were invited to write their mascot ideas on sheets of paper hung on the walls. Add your thoughts here through February 23, 2020.