Fighting Marmots?

Name-that-school survey gets interesting responses

Picture this:

It's the fall of 2007, there's a brand new high school north of Kalispell, nestled in the fields at West Reserve Drive and Stillwater Road, set against a stunning mountain backdrop.

The sign at the entrance announces your arrival at Glacier High School.

That, in one permutation or another, is the name that sounded good to a whole lot of people who weighed in with their opinions in a "name that school" on-line survey (www.yournewschool.com).

A couple even figured the Fighting Marmots would be a good mascot.

Doesn't set just right with you?

OK, how about the Freeze from Avalanche High? Or maybe the Bob Marshall High Wolfpack?

Kalispell school trustees recently asked for input on naming the new high school - they will see to the mascot and school colors, thank you very much. More than 200 responses poured in so far.

A school committee will sift through everything and pick their favorite. It passes to the school board for a final thumbs-up this spring.

Land forms and directional sense hit a chord with many.

"Glacier" drew the greatest interest.

It was combined in any number of ways: Glacier High, Glacier Gateway (never mind the Columbia Falls elementary), Glacier View, Flathead Glacier View, Glacier Peaks, Mountain Glacier High, South Glacier, even Glacier/Grinnell.

Those suggestions took up a good 2 1/2 pages of the 10-page list of ideas.

One who picked the Fighting Marmots as Glacier High's mascot figured it is "unique to the area … both cute and fuzzy but with a fighting spirit." The other Marmot backer would be fine with Bighorns, too.

"Mountain," without the "Glacier," was a big hit.

It came in as Mountain Peaks, Mountain Ridge, Mountain Valley and Mountain View.

Or pick a specific mountain and call it Blacktail High.

Some came down from the mountains with Valley High and Valley View High. West Valley High gave a nod to the fire district and elementary school of the same name.

Sweet Valley High was a nice touch on the valley list.

"Rocky" seemed to fit well. Rocky Mountain High was popular (would John Denver be the mascot or, as one voter suggested, the Wolfpack?) and Rocky Top High got a vote.

That geographical sense showed itself in 3 Rivers High, Three Rivers High or Triple River High, as you please. Reserve High got a vote, as did Middle Fork, Ashley Creek and Many Lakes High with a mascot of - what else? - the Anglers.

Of course, White Water High's mascot would have to be the Rapids.

Wild Horse High mascots could be the Colts or Thunder.

Jewel Basin High's mascot could be Fire - ouch! - and Jewel of the Mountains affirms that "we are in the most beautiful part of all the mountains."

Lone Pine, Lone Ridge, Ridge View, Summit View and Hilltop High caught some people's imaginations. So did Lake View High.

Buffalo High does double duty, conjuring up the shaggy behemoth that once roamed across the similarly named hill north of town.

Several people thought Kalispell ought to be in the name.

It could be a straightforward Kalispell High, or embellished with Kalispell North, North Kalispell, Kalispell Northern (the Lights for a mascot), Kalispell Northern Lights, Kalispell Northwest, Kalispell Westview, or Kalispell Stillwater.

(Fifteen more suggestions came in for Stillwater High or Stillwater Valley High. But watch out, that's pretty close to Stillwater Christian School south of town.)

One proponent for Kalispell High confessed a long-standing burden brought on by his or her Flathead High School diploma.

"I've been dragging the name 'Flathead High School' around for over 30 years," the voter moaned. "It really doesn't look that good on a job application or resume. Those who are unfamiliar with Montana or the Flathead Valley think I went to school with a bunch of people with flat heads."

Maybe Sky View High of Kalispell, represented by the Lions wearing royal blue and gold uniforms, to capture the "beautiful big blue sky and majestic mountain views … Who would not love this area?"

How about the gold, black and silver Demersville High Spikers, "paying tribute to the citizens that had contributed silver coins which were melted and molded into a spike," presumably for the early railroad line.

Perhaps bigger is better? Big Sky High and Big Valley High got a few votes.

This close to the Canadian border, direction is helpful: North Flathead, Flathead North, North Glacier, North Star, Northern Star, North Valley, Northgate, Northtown, Northview, Northwestern … whew!

Central City and Central Valley High came in because, one voter wrote, "the high school is basically smack dab in the middle of the valley."

And it does have a view; that would, naturally, be from Park View High.

Some people rode the fence.

There's one suggestion for either Mountain High or Big Sky High. Why? Mountain, "because we live where we are surrounded by beautiful mountains." Or Big Sky, "because we live in the Big Sky and Sky High sounds cool because it rhymes!"

One voter just couldn't decide, so suggested Glacier, Stillwater or Valley View. The name should be a geographical reference and the mascot, according to this suggestion, should "be a force of nature, not a typical zoo animal (lions, tigers or bears, oh my!)."

Suitable mascots for this particular theme: Force, Wave, Storm, Freeze, Avalanche, Rapids, Magic, Crush. You get the picture.

Many thought significant people should be memorialized in the school name - Teddy (or Theodore) Roosevelt, Conrad, Brad Bird, David M. Hashley, Harry G. Farrington, Huz Jensen Memorial, Jeanette Rankin, Paul Jorgensen (one just suggested PJ), Marilyn Jensen, Martin Luther King, Mike Mansfield, Richard Schlatter, Sacagawea.

By extrapolation, you could even pull out Monty from Montana Grizz High.

Or how about just plain Heritage High?

And, not surprisingly, Flathead still holds sway with many. There were Flathead Central, Flathead High North, Flathead North, Flathead Lake, Flathead North Fork and Flathead Valley (isn't there a college by that name nearby?).

Patriotism got a nod. The Freedom High School Eagles could wear red, white and blue. Or name it for the 639th Quartermasters, "to show support now and in the future."

Military tones showed in West Reserve Prep School and Brave Academy.

Happy is good - Sunnyview, Sunshine, Rising Sun and Cherry High bring a smile.

There are suggestions for Sierra, Salish and Tri-City High. And Forest High Rangers got a nod.

But some just would have to be questioned. Ridgemont High makes us wonder if we are proposing education or entertainment ala "Fast Times at Ridgemont High?"

And the Huckleberry High Hounds simply would open the school up to too many giggles.

Think you have a better idea? Then prove it by logging on to www.yournewschool.com

Follow the links to take a simple survey asking for your suggestion and why you think that name tops the pack.

But make it good - you have a lot of competition.

Reporter Nancy Kimball can be reached at 758-4483 or by e-mail at nkimball@dailyinterlake.com

A school by any name …

The Daily Inter Lake

Here are more gems from various names:

. Glacier mascots - Ice Dawgs ("it just sounds like a natural for the area"), Fighting Antlers, Avalanche, Monarchs, Grizzlies ("as long as U of M doesn't mind"), Bears, Cougars, Eagles, Rams, Moose, Wolf, Timber Wolves, Lobos, Wolverine, Bull Trout, Thunderhawks, Nighthawks, Cowboys ("what better friendly rivalry would be established with Flathead High … the Cowboys vs. the Braves"), Jammers, Golden Knights, Outlaws, Icemen or Mountaineers

. Lone Pine High Alpines

. Mountain Ridge High Rangers

. North Flathead Phantoms, or Blue Mountains.

. Ridge View/Summit View Titans

. Stillwater High Stallions

. Flathead High North - "They are both a coexisting part of one population of students, athletes and educators. This will also help keep our Flathead High traditions alive, and maintain the strength of our community."

. Glacier View Grizzly Bear, colors sky blue and silver - "Sky blue for the big sky and silver for the silver tips of the grizzly bear."

. Mountain View - "This would be a great name if it has a view of Big Mountain."

. Rocky Mountain High - "It has a beautiful ring to it."

. Sacajawea High - "For me, this teenage Shoshoni Native American is one of the most amazing people in American History. She represents courage in the face of peril, endurance in the face of hardship … knowledge in the face of uncertainty."

. Sweet Valley High - "It sounds like a good name for the new high school."