HERE TO STAY
RIDLEY STICKS WITH ‘GREEN RAIDERS’ NICKNAME
RIDLEY TOWNSHIP » Ridley High School’s nickname “Green Raiders” will remain, according to a resolution adopted by Ridley School Board at a recent meeting.
The board action took place in response to requests from some people that the reference to the school’s Green Raiders nickname be removed from the school, along with its depiction of an Indian brave as the school mascot.
“We haven’t had a mascot in several years,” said Ridley School District Superintendent Lee Ann Wentzel. “The ‘ Rocking R’ is our logo.”
Research of the nickname shows that the name “Green Raiders” dates back to the 1935 Ridley yearbook “Archive,” that tells the story of a student who selected the name Raiders to honor the Lenni Lenape Indians who settled in the area long before anyone else arrived. The school colors of green and white were established around the same time the high school opened.
According to Wikipedia, Lenni Lenape means “Human Beings” or “Real People.” A website with information on native peoples of North America for Reading Area Community College notes the Lenape Indians were not a warlike people.
The issue arose amid a national controversy about sports teams and Native American-inspired nicknames. In Delaware County, the Radnor School District last September retired the “Radnor Raiders” nickname.
The school board also approved three Delaware County Community College Certificated Dual Enrollment Program for Ridley High School for the Teacher Academy, Business Academy and Early Childhood Education. Juniors and seniors at the high school would be eligible to pursue college credit for these programs. The district will cover the dual enrollment credit cost of $40 per credit. The district would provide transportation to the Marple campus.
Under the program students would be able to complete an Associate’s Degree with one additional year after high school.
In another matter, The Locker, which is the high school store, presented a total of $6,000 the student-run store raised this year to the Ridley Education Foundation, Ridley Families in Need and the Ridley Future Business Leaders of America.
The REF received $2,400, the Families in Need,
$3,000, and the FBLA,
$600.
The Locker was established in 2016 with the goal of providing educational experience while providing real world opportunities for students to navigate the challenges of operating a small business. Faculty sponsors for the program are Kristina Rosato and Kristin Milewski.