How do I Find a School Mascot?

Selecting a school mascot can be a great school project.

Finding a school mascot is a task that should not be taken lightly. The mascot will be a primary component of the school for many years to come. You must consider what would print well, as the mascot could appear on school shirts, water bottles, bumper stickers and school correspondence. Also, consider the appropriateness of the mascot and whether it could be offensive to any cultural group. Typically, the school board, the school principal or the parent-teacher organization will head up the search for a mascot.

Instructions

1. Write a letter to the parents of your students describing your search for a school mascot. It is best to let the students of your school help choose the mascot.

2. Create a form where students can draw a picture of the mascot they would choose and where they can name it. Send these home along with the letter. Give a date when the forms must be returned to school.

3. Display the returned forms in the school hallways and on bulletin boards to give positive recognition to anyone who participated.

4. Ask teachers to choose their favorite submissions, selecting one or two from each of their classrooms. Guide the teachers in their selections, reminding them that the mascot must represent the school and the surrounding community.

5. Display the teachers' selections in the main school office.

6. Place a sticky note next to each selection, and ask school staff to place a tally mark next to their favorite.

7. Narrow down the choices to the top three based on the number of tally marks.

8. Display the top three choices, again in the main office, with a sticky note next to each. Have each teacher walk her students to the office and allow each student to place one tally mark by his favorite. For older grades, students could vote via an online survey. This should determine your winner.

9. Meet with your leadership team or selection committee to determine what the final rendering will look like. Look at samples on the Internet or hire a graphic designer to draw your mascot for you. You may have to hire a seamstress to make a costume if you plan to have a person dress as your mascot. Conduct mascot tryouts, and have your student body vote on the person to be the mascot.

Tips & Warnings

• Meet with your staff prior to beginning this process so that everyone is on the same page. Teachers need to talk with their students about mascots and what they represent.

• The selection committee can always override the final vote.

Resources

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