Students make their voices heard at the ballot

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March 21, 2008

By Julie Huss

DERRY — The Barka Bulldog has a new name. So does the Hood Husky and the Derry Village Leprechaun.

Naming the mascots of area elementary schools was a big deal on election day, March 11, as local students headed to the polling places in town to cast ballots for some decisive action for their respective schools.

The student voting event on Derry's official election day was part of a drive to get students involved in the election process and allow them to make decisions for their own schools.

Students all over the district stopped by either West Running Brook Middle School or Gilbert H. Hood Middle School to cast votes for various school issues. Special voting booths were decorated and set up for the students to use.

The student voting was a joint effort between the Derry Education Association and PTA members throughout the district. Education Association President Meg Morse-Barry said students voted in a similar election event several years back and it was very educational and successful.

Morse-Barry is also the district's technology integration specialist and said the event helps keep students involved while teaching civic responsibility when election time rolls around.

Each school decided on a specific decision for voting day and special ballots were made up for students to use upon entering the polling place. Students "checked in" and gave their names and schools, just like the registered adults, before marking their ballot.

In Barka's case, naming the bulldog mascot was the top issue of the day, as it was at Hood, Grinnell Elementary and also Derry Village. Other schools picked favorite activities on the ballot, or a favorite baseball team for their ballot choices.

Many schools noted brisk turnout for student voting on March 11. In Barka's case, third-grade teacher and DEA Vice President Wendy Mahoney said one name came out on top in a big way for the bulldog.

"Eighty-four of our 148 votes were for 'Buster' the Bulldog," Mahoney said. Other name choices were Ernie, Sox and even Dan, for the school's popular principal Daniel Lafleur.

At East Derry Memorial Elementary, 51 votes were cast for the Boston Red Sox, the school's now official Favorite Baseball Team. Five votes came in for the New York Yankees and the Fisher Cats received two write-in votes. At Grinnell, the school's mascot is now named "Gavin." South Range Elementary picked a barbecue for a special year-end lunch party. At press time, Derry Village students were scheduled to hear the results of their mascot voting in an official announcement during a school assembly. Nominated names for their leprechaun mascot included Lucky, Louis, DaVis, Shamrock and Hornswaggle.

And some voting day snags occurred, as can happen on any election day. West Running Brook Middle School assistant principal Lorrie Belinsky said some of her school's ballots accidentally ended up over at Hood, so officials were still tallying the students' votes for a favorite activity including a possible sock hop, rock band concert, battle of the bands or day trips. Hood students voted on a name for their Husky mascot, but had to vote again due to a tie for a top name. The Husky is now known as Hugo.