Contested Election: Little Tor Students Picked Mascot Name

NEW CITY, NY — Students at Little Tor Elementary School in New City chose a name Tuesday for the school’s mascot, the Little Tor Tiger, by an all-American process: voting. And not just voting, but voting with authentic machines and materials, just as adults do when they go to the polls.

The fourth grade teachers and classes came up with the idea during the presidential election. The Rockland County Board of Elections helped make up the ballots and lent out some ballot-scanners. The fourth grade students were sworn in as election “inspectors” and showed younger students how the process worked.

"The cooperation was incredible," said Rockland Election Commissioner Kristen Zebrowski Stavisky. "Listening to the fourth graders explain things like you need to choose one and your vote is private – an honor for us to witness."

There were four choices, all created and supported by one or another student faction: Claws, Tigey, Stripes, and Timmy.

"Stripes won by one vote," Zebrowski Stavisky said. "A lesson in the importance of voting!"

PHOTO: a fourth-grade election inspector explains the voting process to a younger student at Little Tor Elementary School/ Kristen Zebrowski Stavisky