PORT TOWNSEND — In preparation for the transition from Redskins to Redhawks as the school mascot, athletic gear that includes the name of the former team is on sale this week at the high school office.
A variety of used athletic wear from the school’s various sports teams will be sold at the high school office, 1500 Van Ness St., between 6:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. all week or until everything is gone.
Many of the best items were purchased by early shoppers who lined up at 6 a.m. on Monday, according to school secretary Jan Boutilier.
Those lining up were mostly alumni while kids have come in all day to buy the items, which are all priced at $5.
All of the items are used and most of them are clean, Boutilier said.
After putting up the display, a cache of volleyball gear was discovered and that will be put up for sale this morning.
This represents the beginning of the end of a two-year process to get rid of the Redskins mascot.
The change was prompted by a district parent writing a letter to the School Board in June 2012 saying the symbol was offensive and inappropriate.
After a committee’s yearlong study, the board unanimously voted June 24 to retire the name of Redskins “with honor and dignity” and conduct a “student- and community-based process to replace it.”
The issue received increased attention due to a controversy about the Washington Redskins NFL team, whose owner has said he will not change the team’s name.
After a series of student meetings this year, there were two votes, with Redhawks eventually prevailing over six other choices as the new mascot.
The school will now begin the process of removing the Redskins logo from the gym floor and other locations around the school.
Additionally the school needs to decide how “Redhawks” will be spelled: as one word, two words or one with a capitalized “H.”
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
