Franklin Sherman Mascot Receives a Name

Please welcome our new neighbor: The Franklin Sherman Elementary school mascot now has a name.  The entire school turned out Thursday afternoon to celebrate the naming ceremony.

Bamboo the Panda,  cavorting in front of nearly 400 students, teachers and parents gathered in the school gym, was  obviously delighted with his new identity.

"Panda Pride. Panda Pride. Show us your Panda Pride," was the cry that went up from kindergarteners to sixth graders as they waited the arrival of the Panda to accept his name.

McLean's oldest school has long had a panda as their  mascot.  Bestowing upon him a name "makes him more personal," said principal Kathleen Quigley.

"He is a symbol for our character, the friendship and the caring among the students," she said.

The naming effort involved everyone. Students suggested a boatful of names. Then the Student Council Associaton winnowed the list to the top five. Other name-contenders: Franklin, Sherman, and Yogi.

Each class voted on the top five names. Bamboo won. Yogi came in second.

"It's to give the children a chance to demonstrate their pride in their school," Quigley said. 

Why is pride important? "It builds a spirit of cooperation and teamwork," she said.