Pentucket Regional School District Adopts Panthers as New Mascot

WEST NEWBURY — The Pentucket Regional School District and Superintendent Justin Bartholomew are pleased to announce that the District will adopt the Panthers as its new mascot at the High School and Middle School.

The Pentucket School Committee ratified the new mascot on Tuesday, May 24, following a recommendation by the Mascot Selection Steering Committee. That Committee, led by High School Principal Jonathan Seymour and Middle School Principal Terry Conant, consisted of staff, students, parents, alumni, and community members.

The Steering Committee received more than 300 mascot suggestions in January, selecting seven that most closely reflected the District and community.

The Steering Committee narrowed those options to three. A community survey showed strong preference for RiverHawks and Panthers.

During the week of May 16, 860 students at the High School and Middle School, and next year’s incoming sixth-graders, voted and selected Panthers by 58 to 42 percent. High School students preferred Panthers by 52 to 48 percent.

“We were impressed by the level of involvement, and the quality of comments and suggestions we received throughout this process,” Principal Seymour said. “The final selection reflects who we are as a school community.”

“There was a lot of excitement among students about this decision. I am proud that we came together as one community to open a new chapter for the Pentucket District,” Principal Conant said.

The District logo, a stylized letter P, and the District seal remain unchanged.

The word “Pentucket” means “the place by the winding river,” so the new Panthers logo includes the Merrimack River, and three trees reflecting the three sending communities in the District seal. The logo will be used by the Middle School and High School, and  will appear on the gym floor at the new Pentucket Regional Junior-Senior High School, which opens this fall.

“Decisions such as these are not easy, and require community input. Thank you to everyone who contributed their time, effort, and thoughts about the new mascot,” Superintendent Bartholomew said. 

The School Committee and Superintendent Bartholomew wish to thank the members of Mascot Selection Steering Committee for their thoughtful contributions: Principal  Seymour and Principal Conant, Co-Chairs; Athletic Director/Assistant Principal Dan Thornton; Meghan Goldweber and Stevin Bartholomew, alumni and teachers; students Tommy Rich, Will Goff, Zach Bishopp, Lia Alsup, Kaiden Currie, and Parker Greason; and parents Erin Cloutier, Lana Durocher, and Krista Wood. They also wish to thank branding partner BSN and Teacher Sean Bixby for their work in developing the logo.