Saratoga News

Education

Photograph by George Sakkestad

Saratoga Elementary School students voted to make fifth-grader Sophia Zhu's sea turtle the new mascot for the school. The school held a mascot contest, and the sea turtle replaces the oak tree as the school's official symbol.

The oak is no more--long live the sea turtles

By Michele Leung

The mighty oak of Saratoga Elementary School, while stately and majestic, has been cut down as the school's mascot and replaced by the long-living sea turtle.

The oak tree had been Saratoga's default mascot because of its prominence on the school property and because of the school's location on the street with the tree name.

"From what I understand, we've been with the oak theme, but it's not the official mascot," said Principal Diane Smalley. "We had selected other mascots, but they didn't stick."

Every school needs a good mascot for students to rally around, so she announced a contest to design a suitable symbol.

There were 31 submissions, ranging from a dragon to a firebird to a squirrel. Drawings of student ideas lined a wall at the school earlier in the spring so everyone could become familiar with the candidates.

A selection committee of student council representatives, PTA mothers and school and district officials narrowed the field to four. Students voted for their favorite choice, and the sea turtle emerged victorious.

Fifth-grader Sophia Zhu, 11, was the artistic force behind the sea turtle, which she chose for its fitting alliteration with "Saratoga" and its longevity.

"First of all, it begins with an S," Sophia said. "Then, on Finding Nemo, Crush [the animated turtle character] said he was 150 years old. And how old is the school ... 150."

She quickly corrected herself, amending the school's age to 151 years, but her point was well taken. The school has seen a lot of history, as can turtles.

Smalley agreed the sea turtle would be a great new face for the school, noting its positive characteristics.

"They're hardy and hard-backed, which by that I mean we work hard and we don't deviate from our path. They're reliable and good at what they do," she said. "Students like the mascot."

Its likeness will be reproduced on school T-shirts, stationery and other paraphernalia.

Traditionalists who want a symbol that has passed the test of time can rest assured. The oak tree has not been abandoned. The street the school is on continues to be named Oak Street, and the school's former name is Oak Street School, so it is unlikely the tree would be forgotten, Smalley said.

"It will always be part of the school's heritage," she said.

While Saratoga students won't be suiting up in a turtle outfit anytime soon, Smalley said a school mascot is still valuable at an elementary school in that it instills pride and spirit for the school.

Like any good schoolteacher, Smalley found an educational value in this exercise.

"The selection was about student voice and student submissions. It's part of teaching leadership for students," she said.

Sophia said her turtle design marked the first time she won anything, and she thought it was pretty cool to be able to make a lasting contribution to the school.

However, her time as a Saratoga Sea Turtle will be short-lived. In a little more than a month's time, she will graduate and move on to Redwood Middle School, home of the Griffins.

"I'm fine. That's OK," she said.