Clover Park School District announcement.
LAKEWOOD, Wash. — When Clover Park High School teams compete this year, new cheers will fill the stands. Clover Park High School has selected a new school mascot: the Timberwolves.
The school’s mascot selection process was led by a team of students and staff from the high school’s site council. The committee reviewed student and staff input, as well as survey results from alumni, families and community in making its decision. Importantly, the committee reviewed what each potential mascot represents in the context of the Clover Park High School community. Ultimately, the committee voted unanimously on the Timberwolves.
“I would like to thank the students and staff who led this important process,” Principal Tim Stults said. “While this process was not easy, our committee stayed focused on identifying a school mascot that positively reflects the important values and community that is Clover Park High School. Our students were simply amazing, insightful, enthusiastic and wise throughout this process.”
The school will engage students on the new mascot name and how it will be integrated into the school’s culture. A new mascot image is expected to be unveiled this spring; however, the school will immediately begin using the new mascot name while it replaces imagery, equipment, uniforms, signage and materials this school year.
Students and staff are excited to enter a new era of Clover Park High School with a mascot name that reflects a commitment to inclusion embedded in the school’s values and creed. We invite you to join us in cheering on our new Timberwolves at Clover Park High School’s upcoming home sporting events.
Background
The mascot change aligns with recent legislation prohibiting the inappropriate use of Native American names, symbols or images as public school names, mascots, logos or team names. As part of this process, the school district consulted with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Puyallup Tribe, as well as gathered input from Native American staff, families and students.
The name Warriors and Native American imagery have been a connected part of the Clover Park High School mascot for the school’s history. After considering our Native American community’s input, the Puyallup Tribe’s responses and resources, and state legislation, it is clear that based on SHB 1356 the district cannot easily disassociate the name Warriors from the Native American imagery that has been a part of the school’s mascot for more than 70 years. The Puyallup Tribe reviewed the district committee’s process and recommendation and agreed that the warrior mascot “is too deeply tied to a history of harmful stereotypes to warrant a simple change of imagery” and stood by its initial response in July 2021 “that specifically lists ‘warrior’ as a mascot the Tribe does not condone.”
I like it!
I will always be a Warrior in my memories of high school, but I fully embrace the new Clover Park Timberwolves! A change in a mascot does not diminish the pride I have as an alumnus. Go, Timberwolves! You have my full support.
I wonder what will happen when PETA convinces our legislators into believing animals are being insulted by honoring them with the misappropriation of their names for school teams? I also wonder if it would cost the taxpayer any more to use the money needed to change uniforms to install a statue honoring the brave women and men warriors of JBLM and keep the name. I doubt they would be insulted.
Here’s an idea: change the name to the OWDs (Old White Dudes). OWDs are politically marginalized enough that few will care, and speaking as an OWD, we would find it humorous. Genetically speaking it makes more sense than Stanford’s fighting trees. Go Clover Park Curmundgeons!!
Wow, if the phrase “Get off my lawn!” was a person
If you attended Clover Park High School, or taught there 50 years ago, come join us. We are the Clover Park “Ancient Warriors” and we meet at Roley’s Restaurant at Meadow Park Golf Course, every other Tuesday for breakfast. We’re not changing our name. We’re too old to be “wolves” .
Also, you stated that the committee voted “unanimously” for this name. That reminds me of the saying, “if everyone thinks alike then nobody’s thinking.”. Hmmm…….now what do we do about the “Wounded Warriors”? Are they all Indians? Do they have to change their name too?
We need to be done with trivial matters and start solving our real problems.
LOL like Indians from India? Are you like Christopher Columbus? You landed on a tiny island with no elephants or tigers but you convinced yourself you were in India.
Darlene is right! Racism isn’t even a problem anymore.
Why go through a needless name change? Anyone who engages in battle is a “warrior”. The term does not apply only to Indians, but to anyone who wages a war of some kind (I offer as evidence “social justice warriors”). I served proudly and honorably for eight years in the United States Army. I suppose that makes me a “warrior”.
Again with the Indians, are you stuck in the 1980’s?
Mike, you probably peeled potatoes for the Army!
A long overdue change! I am proud of the mascot change.