PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Zina McGowan-Thomas, Public Information Officer, 301-475-5511, ext. 193

LEONARDTOWN ELEMENTARY ADOPTS A NEW MASCOT

            LEONARDTOWN, MD – When students and parents attend Leonardtown Elementary School’s Open House on August 19, 2008, not only will they experience the newly renovated and expanded school site, but they will also be greeted by the new school mascot – the Osprey.

After numerous episodes of bad weather in Southern Maryland and across the nation, a school-wide contest was conducted at the end of last school year to replace the school’s long standing mascot – the Tornado.  Leonardtown Elementary’s staff, students, and parents felt that the timing was perfect to make a change from a mascot that carried some negative associations. The Osprey, who was victorious in the mascot competition, will be accompanied by the motto, “Learning, Experiencing, Succeeding.”

“The Osprey is a bird familiar to Southern Maryland and lives near area waterways,” said Ms. Denise Eichel, principal of Leonardtown Elementary.  “The spirit of Leonardtown Elementary School is one of soaring to new heights and achieving great things, just like an Osprey.” 

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