October, 2005

Removing "the pit"
Locker area now called the "Eagle's Nest" thanks to sixth-grader Alicia Soucy

For as long as most Duanesburg students and staff can remember, the sixth-grade locker area was referred to as "the Pit," because of its location in the lower section of the middle/high school building.

"Over the years, some of the lockers had been removed, which helped open up the area somewhat," explained House Principal Beth DeLuke. "Even so, the rather negative-sounding name stuck." 

When middle school guidance counselor Neal Silverman recommended renaming the locker area, Secondary Principal Bill LeForestier suggested offering it as a contest to sixth-graders.

From the 30 entries received, Silverman and the sixth-grade teaching team whittled the list down and students were asked to vote on the five selected finalists. 

Sixth-grader Alicia Soucy's entry, "The Eagle's Nest," received the most votes. "With our mascot being the eagle and sixth-graders moving up from the elementary school, the name really fits," said DeLuke. Soucy, who returned to the Duanesburg schools this year after being home-schooled for several years, will design and decorate a bulletin board that has been place in the locker area. She also received a $10 gift certificate to Stewart's and a soaring eagle pin.

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