Waupaca Middle School Panthers and elementary school Rascals may become history in a few years.
Ben Rayome, the middle school principal, said the district is considering making Comets the mascot for all the schools.
He said the transition will be gradual with the first change being implemented when the Waupaca Middle School’s gym floor is refinished this summer.
“This would be an ideal time to update the mascot and logo as there would be no additional cost to start the transition from Panthers to Comets,” Rayome said.
Over time, as uniforms need to be replaced, the schools will transition to the new mascot.
In a letter to parents of WMS students, Rayome said the Panthers has served as the school’s mascot since 1973. At the time, the high school was moving into a new and separate building and middle school staff and students wanted their own identity.
“Now, 41 years later, we are in a position to revisit our mascot situation,” Rayome said.
The Rascals has been the mascot for Chain O’ Lakes Elementary School and Waupaca Learning Center since 1990.
He said the district has implemented a unified discipline centered around the themes of respect, responsibility, preparedness and safety.
Called the Waupaca Way, it has become a community-wide, community-pride initiative.
“We celebrate the Comet mascot throughout the community,” Rayome said. “Our water tower has the logo, welcoming all visitors and giving a sense of pride to the community.”
Rayome pointed to other school districts, such as Iola-Scandinavia and Weyauwega-Fremont, that have a unified mascot.
He said a common mascot will help even the youngest students “develop a sense of Comet pride, which leads to pride in positively representing our Waupaca community.”
Rayome said the district is conducting a survey of staff, parents, students and the community at large regarding having the Comet as the common mascot for all schools.
Go to http://goo.gl/LfaH8U to participate in the community survey on the Waupaca mascots.