Howard the Hawk, Satz School's New Mascot

There is a new cheerleader in town. And his name is Howard.

Howard the Hawk made his soaring debut at the raucous William R. Satz School pep rally Friday, at the culmination of a weeklong school spirit week.

Satz's brand new mascot strutted around the gym like the rooster of the walk, flapping his wings to the roar of foot-stomping, cheering 7th and 8th graders. He flittered about mischievously. He raced up and down the bleachers.

And when he thought no one was looking, he ducked under the stands and peeled his head off. For one brief moment, an observer saw the sweat-soaked head of an 8th grade boy emerge.

"I can tell you it's extremely hot," said Marissa Semler, a teacher who helped bring Howard to Satz. "Cleaning the costume after each game has become a necessary part of it."

Not many middle schools have their own mascot. In fact, Satz might be the only one around. "One of our district initiatives was to build more school spirit, so I thought getting a mascot would be something cool," said Semler, a 2005 Holmdel graduate who is now a Satz English teacher and cheerleading coach.

A donation jar was set up in the cafeteria so kids could donate their change. In three weeks, they put together $500. The PSG group threw in another $500. And the hawk was hatched.

Howard the Hawk-- so named in honor of the school's Principal Arthur Howard -- has already started appearing at school basketball games. While the Holmdel side cheered, some heard whines from the visiting fans, saying "Why don't WE have our own mascot?"

For his own good, Howard must abide by certain rules. First of all, he is strictly an inside bird. Curiously, his fake fur and hawkish attributes are not recommended for outdoor rabble-rousing. (Sorry, soccer teams.)

What's more, he can't run because he might trip on his talons. He must not interfere with coaches trying to talk to their players. And he has to attend some practices with the 20 skilled Satz cheerleaders to learn their routines. 

Five students -- all boys -- have signed up to take turns interpreting Howard.

Semler gives them creative license to do what they need to do to drum up Holmdel Satz school spirit. "It's fun being the mascot. You get to channel a lot of energy."

Howard's arrival capped off a great school spirit week. It included decorated hallways, team color days, and a crazy hair day. The Friday pep rally in the adjoining High School gym featured cheers for the student athletes and hilarious activities like a three-legged race, a scavenger hunt, jump-rope relay, and egg-and-spoon race. Not to mention screaming and cheering and more screaming -- which could be heard echoing in the empty hallways of the Satz School.

"This is the first time Satz has ever had a mascot, first time it had a pep rally and spirit week," said Semler. "I went to Holmdel, and this is something I always wanted to do."