We have a house system, 6 houses of about 250 students each who are part of 9 different teacher advisor groups.... in our infinite quest to find ways to get more kids involved we purchased six mascots to represent each of our houses...this is where we only had a vague idea about what we were doing but forged on into the fog. In over 20 years of STUCO advising I can tell you the idea of multiple mascots never once crossed my mind.... let me tell you, the interaction between these six characters is unbelievable...for example, and this is really easy, they have a routine where, along with their escorts, they have a twist contest at half-time in a basketball game...they get partners from the crowd . . . mom, dad, other students.... the game policeman...and they simply have a twist contest.... it is simple, but you should see the crowd reaction. The crowd reaction to these six characters along with the other parts of the program is beyond our wildest imagination....
As to the gold mine comment, every single school has spirit, it is a question of digging it up and showing it off, yes it is most certainly is there! Our mascots are just one tool that has helped us to do the mining.... and what a tool.
The mascot idea would never have happened except that there are enough of us that focus on possibilities and really never spend much time concerned with what some believe cannot happen.
Dave Garvie
J. G. Diefenbaker High School Calgary