May 28, 2026, Commentary by Charlie Stephens

Recently the KPBSD moved to close several schools on the Peninsula due to budget shortfalls. Some consequences of school closures are obvious, some are not. One possible consequence to the closure of Seward Middle School is a move to change the school mascot from the Silvers to the Seahawks.

Photo of the Silvers mascot by Seward Middle School

On the surface, this seems to make sense monetarily and as a way to matriculate the two populations as they begin to share the same building. I would contend that the loss of tradition of being the Seward Silvers, the loss of individualism and the lack of meaningful cost savings make this change a bad move.

“For over 60 years the mascot has not changed. As traditions are lost, we lose some of the history and team spirit.”

I spoke with Ann Livingston recently, who started teaching in Seward in the fall of 1964. She said that the mascot was the Silvers at that time. For over 60 years the mascot has not changed. As traditions are lost, we lose some of the history and team spirit. When I went out for the basketball team at Seward Junior High School in 1973, I knew about the Seward Silver basketball tradition. It gave me a sense of pride to be a part of that tradition. We won the championship that year and the following year. It was at least the fourth year in a row that Seward had won the championship. Can new traditions be made with the Seahawk moniker? Of course. But why kill a storied tradition of over 60 years in the process?

Middle school students having a separate identity from high school students is a healthy thing. Having their own mascot helps foster team spirit. Students can take ownership of their mascot; they are not sharing the moniker with another school or with their older peers. As they transition to high school, it will be more meaningful to join a new team, the Seahawks, a team that has its own storied traditions.

It is my understanding that one of the driving forces to make this change is in order to save money. Certainly, there would be a cost savings realized by using hand-me-down uniforms from the high school for the middle school. Realistically, though, will high school uniforms fit the smaller middle school athletes? Some probably would, others not so much. Growth in physical maturation and height can be significant from middle school to high school.

Keeping the Silvers as the mascot for middle school students in Seward maintains a tradition of over 60 years and ensures that those students will be able to enjoy the benefits of having their own identity. The cost savings of changing the mascot would be minimal and utilizing hand-me-down uniforms would be problematic. Keep the Seward Silvers mascot alive!

People should contact the KPBSD superintendent and school board members regarding this issue if they feel motivated to do so.