The South High School mascot has been the Rebels since the school’s founding in 1926. The Rebels is a reference to the southern Confederacy in the Civil War. Nearly 100 years after the school’s founding, the Rebels no longer seems appropriate, acceptable, or an accurate representation of what South stands for or should reflect in its mascot. For this reason, the leadership at South determined that the mascot should be updated to better represent the school’s values.
Following “robust community feedback,” as well as process involving surveys, focus groups and a mascot selection committee that took six months, the school selected the Ravens as the new mascot.
“We believe that the Ravens represent the South community in a number of ways,” Thomas wrote. “Ravens are smart, clever birds that are known to be strategic problem solvers. They are empathetic, loyal creatures that form lifelong bonds. And importantly, the raven is an inclusive animal — it has a long history of being held in high regard both in Native American culture and others throughout the world, and ravens are not associated with any particular gender or race.”
The school’s new logo will be unveiled in the coming weeks.
The stadium on the campus of Englewood High School has been renamed Randy Penn Stadium, after the legendary former coach, teacher and mayor who passed away unexpectedly last month.
Penn “was a pillar of the Englewood community,” Englewood Schools superintendent Wendy Rubin wrote in a letter last month.
Penn started in Englewood School as a teacher in 1981, and at various times, he coached football, wrestling, cross country, track and girls swimming until 2008. He was Englewood’s mayor from 2011-15, and recently retired as the executive director of the Chamber of Commerce.
Randy Penn. (Courtesy of Englewood Schools)
“Randy’s legacy in our schools and community is boundless,” Rubin wrote.
After Penn’s unexpected passing, many members of the community reached out to Rubin, Englewood athletic director Nate Smith, and Englewood principal Ryan West about the possibility of naming the stadium after him.
“Randy’s teaching and coaching career touched the lives of so many people in Englewood, and his continued involvement with the community after he retired from EHS was an example of how much he cared about Englewood,” Smith said.
The stadium recently completed a major renovation, and is now among the best facilities in the state.
On Tuesday night, the Englewood Schools Board of Education approved a proposal to rename the stadium after Penn.
The CHSAA follows state and local guidelines regarding maximum numbers in facilities. Many of our state events will have some restrictions and modifications on spectator numbers. Please check with your school athletic directors for spectator variances.
During a meeting on Wednesday night, the CHSAA Board of Directors voted to approve variances from the Governor’s COVID Response Team which will provide member schools with the local option to play field hockey, football and sideline spirit during the fall (Season A) season.
Schools will continue to have the option to play these sports in Season C, as previously upheld by the Board, if they elect not to play during Season A. The seasons will be treated equitably. Schools may not play in both seasons. This will allow local schools and districts to make the determination.
“I want to thank my colleagues on the Board,” Troy Baker, the president of the Board of Directors, and the athletic director at Buena Vista High School. “The CHSAA Board is charged to make the best decision for all kids in our state. We are a diverse state and many of our schools are faced with unique challenges that can elevate the complexity in making a decision that supports all schools and students.
“We are in a pandemic,” Baker said. “It’s not normal times. We’re all trying to find a way to navigate through it, with the hope of trying to find some normalcy in our lives. There isn’t a guide of how to do this.”
The Board met on Wednesday night to discuss the playing variances approved by the COVID-19 Response Team from the office of Gov. Jared Polis. The vote was 12-3 in favor of moving forward with those seasons.
According to the Governor’s public announcement, the CHSAA Board of Directors has empowered its member schools and school districts to determine if their teams are able to proceed with a fall (Season A) schedule in field hockey, football and sideline spirit safely under the guidelines set by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
“I would like to thank the CHSAA Board of Directors and the CHSAA staff for their commitment to reconsidering the options once the variances were provided to the CHSAA office. I would also like to thank our membership, who has been in this whirlwind as we sought a resolution,” said CHSAA Commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green. “We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with the Governor’s office to obtain variances for wrestling, swimming and other sports in Seasons B, C and D.”
A major factor in the Board’s decision was the approval of the variances, and the COVID Response Team’s approval that these sports could move forward in a safe manner, with all the recommended guidelines.
Specifically, these variances allow for 50 players, per sideline, to be on the field during a football game. In field hockey, the variance allows for 25 players per sideline, per game. Previously, these guidelines were 25 players, total.
Spirit roster size is based upon CHSAA classification maximums.
There are other restrictions that must be followed, per the variance:
All participants, including athletes, coaches, match officials, staff, and others, must wear masks while not actively playing, even outdoors. They must also be six feet apart from non-household members on the sidelines, or while not in active play. They may not go into the spectator area.
Spirit participants must perform off the field of play, and must be at least 25 feet away from participants and spectators at all times.
These sports have been conditionally approved. If a community falls out of compliance and enters Level 3 in the Safer at Home Public Health Order 20-35, the Colorado Department of Health has said the approval will be re-evaluated and may be rescinded.
Requested variances for the remaining fall sports — gymnastics, boys soccer, spirit, girls volleyball, and unified bowling — remain under consideration by the COVID Response Team.
Specifics about each season will be communicated to CHSAA member schools in a timely manner. The CHSAA staff will be working closely with our administrators and school districts to assist with implementing Season A changes in an expedited manner.
The 2020 boys tennis state tournaments are Sept. 25-26. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there are some changes to the format of the tournament. Please see below. School athletic directors have been sent all details.
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Schedule
The schedule is going to be different, with each tournament moving from three days to two days. Friday will feature first-round and quarterfinal matches. Saturday will feature semifinals and championships.
Matches will begin play no earlier than the scheduled time.
Players will be given wristbands at regionals after they qualify for the state tournament. The number of coaches teams are permitted to have at the tournament will be limited. Only players, coaches and athletic directors/game managers with wristbands will be permitted into the facility.
At 5A at Gates Tennis Center, teams will be permitted to have two spectators per active player playing. No spectators will be permitted outside the facility at 5A.
At 4A at Pueblo City Park, no spectators will be permitted in the facility. Questions about spectators should be addressed to your school’s athletic director.
Everyone inside the facility will be required to mask at all times, unless actively playing. Those viewing outside the facility in 4A will also be required to wear a mask. Social distancing must always occur.
Only athletes who are actively playing are permitted into the facility. Once their match is over, they must exit the facility. Athletes cannot enter the facility until their name is called, or 10 minutes prior to their scheduled match time.
It is strongly recommended that players practice off-site. Facilities will not be open until 7 a.m. Again, players should not arrive until their scheduled match time.
Team tents will not be allowed inside the tennis facility.
No food or water will provided at the facility. Players are responsible for bringing their own.
Bathrooms will only be available for those individuals with a wrist band.
Media protocol: Must have CHSAA credentials prior to arriving on site. No provisional passes will be given out. No one-on-one interviews will be permitted unless it can be guaranteed that social distancing and masks are used. Interviews will only be granted by permission of coaches. Photographers will be allowed on the courts as long as they maintain social distancing from players and are not intrusive on the match. Media must conduct interviews in the designated area.
Much has occurred this week that has put CHSAA, as well as myself, front and center. Parties have questioned our credibility, integrity, and honesty, even our commitment to the students of Colorado and those we serve yet they are doing so without all the facts before them.
Until today, I have not felt the need to defend myself or our team because I know the vast amount of work and communications that have occurred behind the scenes since June in collaboration with the Governor’s staff to resume all sports in their traditional seasons with the modifications and variances needed to get that done. I have included one of the many communications, in order to stop the noise and finger pointing so that the Commissioner, the CHSAA staff, the CHSAA Board of Directors and the Governor’s team can move forward and focus on what matters right now – the safe resumption of sports in these uncertain times.
All parties are working diligently together towards a resolution.
First the approval of safety plans and variances must be secured from the Governor. Then, with the additional voices of CHSAA member administrators, decisions will be made by the CHSAA Board based on new information that was not available this past Tuesday.
I will take this moment to thank the Board of Directors for their commitment and dedication to education-based athletics and activities, as they have handled this past week with professionalism and grace which wasn’t extended to them.
This morning, modified safety implementation plans and variance requests with additions were resubmitted to the Governor’s team for their approval.
We are in a pandemic and the safety of the eco-system of sports means that the approval of resumption plans by our state and health officials must be scrutinized much different than your weekend youth and recreation sports. We are an extension of 363 member schools. Our implementation cannot undermine the primary purpose for interscholastic (not club, recreation) participation which is Education First!
We will continue to be the gate keepers even in the face of public outcry and singular sport focus to advocate vehemently for 180,000 student-participants, our member schools (public/charter and private) to resume all 29 athletics and activities for the State of Colorado.
CHSAA commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green is meeting with the Governor’s office on Friday to gather information about potential variances the state would allow for all sports.
On Tuesday afternoon, following multiple conversations with the Governor’s office, it was made clear to Blanford-Green that the variances she has sought from the COVID-19 Response Team since June in order to play certain sports would not be given. This information was conveyed to the Board of Directors prior to their meeting, and vote, on Tuesday evening.
It is apparent that the COVID-19 Response Team has now changed their position. The Governor made a public statement on Thursday, and then gave the Commissioner a verbal reassurance on that same day, that the variances we have been asking for would be expedited.
Blanford-Green is meeting with the Governor’s office to get details in writing about the variances that his office will allow.
Additionally, major concerns of the Board of Directors were that many schools are still trying to safely return to in-person learning, and still remain unable to physically access their buildings. Certain districts do not have the financial resources to be able to safely begin fall sports. The Governor’s office has indicated that it may be able to provide resources to schools to help facilitate their activities programs. Blanford-Green is also seeking to further clarify this possibility.
In light of this new information, the Board of Directors and CHSAA staff are working collaboratively to survey administrators from the entire membership to gather their input.
At a meeting on Tuesday night, the Board of Directors of the Colorado High School Activities Association, addressed a potential change to the 2020-21 sports and activities calendar.
The COVID-19 pandemic has presented many challenges. Specific to CHSAA activities, this has included trying to resume a traditional fall season for moderate- to high-risk contact sports. It has forced inequities when making statewide decisions for the 180,000 student-participants, 363 voluntary members schools, and 178 school districts across the state.
In a resolution Tuesday, the Board of Directors unanimously voted to not reconsider any adjustment to the 2020-21 sports calendar, which was approved on Aug. 4.
“We understand that our school communities would like to return to all levels of normalcy,” said Troy Baker, the President of CHSAA’s Board of Directors, and who is the athletic director at Buena Vista High School. “We listened to all parties and the voices of our membership resonated strongly to support the plan as approved in August. The plan aligns with the CHSAA mission. All students have an opportunity to play a season during the 2020-21 school year.”
Said Richard Hargrove, the superintendent of Springfield Schools, and a member of the Board of Directors: “We are focused on getting school started and running smoothly, as well as handling all the issues of running a school district and trying to have that be as normal as possible. We do not want to travel. The biggest thing for me in the end is that we have continued to move the goalposts, and every time we turned around, we had something else we had to adjust to.
“The discussion last night amplified that there was another potential goalpost movement,” Hargrove continued. “We have already developed a calendar that addresses the concerns of health officials, and gives all students a season and a chance to participate. We need to move forward with that plan.”
During the discussion, the Board as a whole noted that:
The safety, physical and emotional well-being of Colorado student’s participants must be at the forefront of every decision.
Diverse educational return-to-learn models exist throughout the state, and they must not be undermined.
Students have already integrated into non-traditional participation opportunities in the rural and metro areas.
There are Title IX and gender representation issues around any reconsideration of the approved calendar.
“Our state has seen new golf, tennis, softball, and cross country teams formed statewide,” said Terita Walker, an assistant principal at Denver East High School, and a member of the Board of Directors. “Once this plan was rolled out, school administrators and families began to reshape their lives around the calendar. We are moving forward knowing all of our students will have the chance to participate in 2021.”
The Board remains committed to being responsive to our community members and appreciate their feedback, outreach, and input throughout this process. CHSAA will continue to meet regularly with the Governor’s staff, COVID-19 Response Team, and educational and health officials to implement the 2020-21 Activities Calendar.
