With construction underway at Parkland High School, the Parkland Administration decided it was also time for a makeover of all of the Parkland School District logos. The Parkland School District Newsletter stated, “This comprehensive rebranding effort brings a fresh, modern aesthetic while honoring Parkland’s rich tradition.” Mrs. Andrush, Parkland’s Communications and Community Engagement/ HR Financial Technician, was the artist and mastermind behind the logos of the new era. Even with all of Mrs. Andrush’s hard work to create these new logos, it sparked a little controversy, community members yearning for tradition, and mixed opinions.
The creation and selection process of the new logos was tedious. Mrs. Andursh said that she presented variations of all 12 logos to Superintendent, Dr. Madson, and modifications were made. Mrs. Andrush knew it was vital to the Parkland community to maintain the iconic Double P logo that is part of Parkland’s rich tradition. Mrs. Andrush said, “This enduring identifier connects our past to our present, honoring the legacy that continues to define us.”
Additionally, the logos were proposed to each school, and Mrs. Adursh stated that each school was given the opportunity to approve the logos as-is or request modifications. The majority took the opportunity to request changes, and the consensus between most schools was that they wanted the logos to have a softer, more approachable appearance. There was also a goal to have the designs reflect elements of the previous logos and honor individual school identity, while maintaining unified branding. Ironton Elementary School Principal, Mr. Holmes, said, “We like the new logos. The new logos branded Ironton and the district with a standard style. We adopted the logo and ‘trotted’ forward without looking back!”
While the administrators of each school were the decision makers on logo modifications and which one they would officially choose to represent them, Cetronia Elementary School wanted to give its students a voice. “Students were excited to vote for the new mascot. There were three renderings of the new Hedgie. Every student and staff member placed a vote. I believe everyone felt included with this big decision, and as a result, it helped build an immediate connection versus just being given the mascot without a voice,” said Dr. Giaquinto. He also added, “I love the new Hedgie. It is smiling. It is friendly.”
Even if you hold harsh opinions on the news logos and cherish the traditional nostalgic logos, we must give credit to Mrs. Andrush, who worked tirelessly to honor tradition and preserve the double P logo while simultaneously giving the logos a modern look. “Honestly, I love all of them and couldn’t be happier with how they turned out. Each one has its own unique character, and it was rewarding to see them come to life,” stated Mrs. Andrush. Now, with the new modern logos, it is time to welcome a new era of Parkland School District with new unified branding and construction to the high school. It is thrilling to think about all the memories, accomplishments, and successes in this new era of Parkland.
