Hampton, Virginia
Welcome to the George P. Phenix High School Alumni Association Webpage.
The association was started by the Phenix Plus 50 Group and in 2007 evolved into the George P. Phenix High School Alumni Association. The Phenix Plus 50 Group were classmates who had been graduated from the George P. Phenix Training School on the campus of todays Hampton University for at least 50 years. Because of the dedicated work of the Phenix Plus 50 group, they were able to sustain the organization and now we are in a position to petition to have a school renamed in honor of George P. Phenix.
School Board selects Mascot and Colors for Phenix School
2010
During the past few months I have met with Hampton School Board officials on your behalf on the selection of the new Phenix PreK-8 Elementary School. It was a natural assumption on our part that since the school was named in honor of George P. Phenix that the mascot would be a pirate and the school colors would be maroon and gray. I expressed to them the historical significance of the history of the school from integration to segregation and the proud legacy the school has. I requested that they honor the tradition and keep the school colors and mascot. I was told early on that they could not retain the original pirate because it had a knife in its mouth and the school has zero tolerance for weapons.
They then created a new pirate logo. They also created samples of other mascots and color schemes. Focus groups were created to review the logo’s and color schemes along with parents. Hampton City Schools developed a position many years ago that the students attending a new school should have a say in their school mascot and school colors. So a group of prospective students who will be attending the school was formed and they were allowed to provide input on their selection. Hampton City Schools has a slogan of “Students First”. They believe it is important for the students to be stakeholders in the school and take pride in their mascot and school colors. They also believe that the Phenix Alumni should be stakeholders in the success of the school.
Remember although the school is named after George P. Phenix, it is no longer George P. Phenix High School. The last Phenix High School lost its name in 1968. The city later renamed an elementary school Phenix School (which later closed) and their school colors were Blue and White, I guess after Hampton University. Naming the new Prek-8 school after Phenix was a tribute to his legacy and not a mandate to retain the school colors and mascot.
So the final decision was left up to the students. The school colors will be maroon and gray, but the mascot will be a Panther.
This is a final decision made by the School Board.
The Phenix Legacy will be prominent in the school. Key areas such as the auditorium, gymnasium and library will have carpets, paint, decorations, etc. of maroon and gray. In the main foyer the Phenix Alumni Association will have a prominent display case where we can showcase our history through pictures, apparel and trophies. We will be given the opportunity to recommend naming parts of the building such as the auditorium, gymnasium, library, etc., after prominent Phenix Alumni. They are requesting our presence at the school as mentors and any capacity where we can help the students.
The final analysis is that after 40 years we got a school named after George P. Phenix and his legacy will continue to grow for future generations. The students got to name a mascot they can rally around to make the school their very own. The mascot will not always be the prominent figure. They have agreed to develop maroon colored shirts with gray imprint that says George P. Phenix PreK-8 School without any reference to the panther. But their will be occasions where the panther will be on display. The important fact is that we have a new Phenix School.
Respectfully
Calvin Pearson
Alumni President
PHENIX WINS PHENIX WINS
2010
At the October 22nd Hampton School Board Meeting the School Naming Committee recommended that the new Prek-8 school under construction behind Bethel High School be named the George P. Phenix PreK-8 School. Although we had requested the school on Victoria Boulevard, we will proudly accept this school. The school on Victoria will be named in honor of former and deceased State Senator Hunter B. Andrews. The School Board will adopt these names at the meeting on November 5th. It was reported that 448 nominations were submitted that included over 100 individual names.