San Andreas, CA…Calaveras High School was faced with AB30 this year which mandated the removal of our Redskin Mascot, which has been in place since the mid 1940’s. The dignity and pride that we have maintained in the use of our logo will not change. Our Mascot Selection Committee was comprised of Calaveras High School alumni, Calaveras High School staff, community members and most importantly Calaveras High school students representing each grade level. The committee chaired by Mike Koepp, CHS Athletic Director, asked for input from all sources that wished to submit their thoughts to suggest a new mascot for our school. All that data was gathered through an on-line survey as well as hand-submitted forms to our office.

Once the initial survey data was collected, the committee went through all suggestions looking for the suggested mascot name and why people felt that would represent the dignity and pride that we intend to maintain with our new mascot. Over the course of several meetings, we looked through all suggestions submitted, and the committee narrowed the field to four potential options. The four options were: Calaveras Redhawks, Calaveras Skulls, Calaveras High School (no mascot), and Calaveras Reds.

A second survey was created that aligned a Mascot name with a logo to represent each mascot. This second survey asked people to select the option that they felt best fit Calaveras High School. After all the tabulating was completed, the committee chose to go with the overwhelming favorite of all groups…Calaveras High School (no mascot) and maintaining our current dignified logo. We will remove all Redskin references on our campus as per legislative action.

Although none of us would have ever wished to go through this mandate, I am very proud of the work that this committee did and the dedication and support of those people that helped us to make the decision. Legislation may have mandated the removal of the use of the Redskin name from Calaveras High and the other three high schools in California, but it cannot take away the pride, dignity, and spirited support our Calaveras High School students, staff and community have for who we are. We are Calaveras High School and we are proud, dignified and strong.