By Liz Page
STAMFORD – Stamford Central School must change its mascot by order of the state's Commission of Education and is starting the process to make the necessary change.
The use or display of Indigenous names, mascots and logos is no longer permitted in the state's public schools. The school's board of education passed a resolution to no longer display or use names or imagery related to the Indian.
Finding a new mascot is not easy, because there are so many different ideas. How to decide on whether to be blue jays, knights, whales, eagles, wildcats, hornets, bumble bees or purple doves has an endless list of suggestions. That's why the district is looking to include the entire community in the process of finding a new mascot, not just the students, faculty, staff and parents, but everyone.
The alumni may be the hardest to convince to let go of the old mascot, which is why they need to be involved in the process.
In order to do that, the SCS Student Council is taking on the task of walking the community and the district through the process. It begins with a survey that can be taken on your cell phone, your computer, or by simply writing your thoughts on a piece of paper and handing it in or mailing it.
Thought Exchange is the program that numerous school districts have used to help identify a new mascot. It is a way to organize everyone's thoughts and analyze the results to lead the community to choosing a new mascot.
The Thought Exchange will not ask you to suggest new mascot names, but to identify qualities or values that you think best represent the school district and the community. Once the so-called "identity drivers" are know, it will assist in the next step of possible mascot names.
"The survey information has gone out to every single community member," said SCS Superintendent Dr. Glen Huot. "We really want this to be all inclusive."
He said people merely have to express their thoughts of what they believe identifies the community and the school district. There are several steps in the process, with this survey the first step. The results will be compiled and announced. You can actually see the results of what others are suggesting and how they are being rated before you close out of the survey. If you have extra thoughts, you can revisit the survey until it closes on Oct. 18. So, there is no time to waste.
• The exchange is confidential. Your thoughts will be shared with other participants, but not your name.
• You will see and rate the thoughts that others have provided based on how much you agree/disagree or how important you feel the ideas are.
• Please rate as many thoughts as possible so we can understand what is important to you as you review the input from others.
It starts with the question: What qualities or values should Stamford CSD/Community be known for (e.g. togetherness, grit, resilience)?
As long as the ThoughtExchange remains open, you can return to share and rate.
Some of the thoughts already listed, include: Community, together, unites, unity, important, loyalty spirit, teamwork, helping, determined, perseverance, town, resiliency, small, self, rugged people, supportive, sustaining, free and tough.
If you received a letter, simply go to the survey link provided in the letter or use the survey QR code. If you don't have the technology or are not tech-savvy you may write your response to the question: What qualities or values should the Stamford Central School District/Community be known for? and hand in at the school's main office Stamford Central School District, 1 River St., Stamford, NY 12167. By the time you read this article, it will be too late to mail your response. They are looking for as many responses as possible.
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