This message was emailed to all South Colonie families on Tuesday, July 11 at 3:30 p.m.
Dear South Colonie School Community,
We hope this message finds you well and enjoying the summer break. We wanted to provide you with an update on the progress of our rebranding efforts following the recent adoption of regulations by the New York State Board of Regents regarding team names, mascots, and logos.
After careful consideration and consultation with our legal counsel, the South Colonie Board of Education passed a resolution on Tuesday, June 13, reaffirming our commitment to comply with these regulations. As a result, we will be phasing out the use of the name “Raiders”.
Therefore, in order to facilitate a smooth transition and ensure that our new mascot name aligns with our district’s values and spirit, a rebranding committee has been established. This committee comprises community members, parents, teachers, coaches, students, building leadership and board of education members. Since late spring, they have been working collaboratively to recommend a new mascot/name that reflects the diversity and inclusivity of our South Colonie School Community.
Seeking Feedback from our Community
During the last week of June, the committee sent out a feedback form to garner additional input from our school community.
In addition to collecting feedback on the following names: Colonie Wolfpack, Colonie Knights, and Colonie Capitals, recommendations were made to consider alternate names.
Of the 265 responses received, below were the most popular requests:
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- Colonie Wolves
- Colonie Rebels
- Colonie Clydsdale
- Colonie Caribou
- Colonie Coyotes
- Colonie Cobras
- Colonie Riders
- Colonie Crusaders
- Colonie Raptors
Addressing feedback
I would like to address the feedback and comments received in relation to our mascot name, “Raiders.” According to the regulations, if the term “Raiders” has ever been associated with Native American imagery, it must be phased out. Unfortunately, this means that even though we have removed all associated imagery, we are still unable to retain the name “Raiders” even if our imagery or color scheme is adjusted.
Next Steps
The rebranding committee is set to meet again in mid-August to review feedback and finalize their recommendations moving forward. In the fall, we will share an update and provide additional opportunities for community members and students to continue to be involved in the rebranding process. We believe it is crucial to include various perspectives and engage all stakeholders throughout this journey.
Thank you for your continued support and involvement in shaping the future of our school community. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at communications@scolonie.org.
Sincerely,
Dr. David Perry
Superintendent of Schools