Toasty, the god of breakfast, is the new mascot for all third-graders at the school after a spirited campaign that started with dozens of candidates, and the students who participated in this project proved that elections can be done with respect

Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com

Representatives of the candidates gave genuine, passionate speeches to lift up their causes.

Journalists tracked the race and reported their findings to their audience.

Voters registered prior to the big day.

Election workers verified the paperwork before handing out the ballots.

There was a voting booth set up as well, for privacy.

You might have heard of a big national election last week, but there was a smaller, but consequential, local election last week at Salmon Creek Elementary School.

A spirited campaign that started with dozens of candidates was down to three finalists after the primary season. 

The big winner: Toasty, the god of breakfast, is the new mascot for the three third-grade classes at Salmon Creek Elementary.

This mascot vote was a tool to teach young students a little bit about what the adults in their lives have been talking about in the leadup to the federal, state, and local elections.

“For two weeks they were working really hard on the campaign,” said Jeremy Stone, one of the school’s third-grade teachers. “The students are super into it. This is a great way to see the process and model it.”

Students working on each campaign sent out letters to teachers, asking for endorsements. Many of the students were attached to their “team” and were invested in the outcome. 

On Wednesday, students working as election workers counted the ballots. Then the students working as journalists, covering the biggest story of the year at Salmon Creek Elementary, broke the news to the rest of the 60-plus students in the third grade.

Toasty, the god of breakfast, won in a landslide, picking up more than 50 percent of the votes in the three-mascot race. Dominic the helpful coyote was second, and Sam the Phoenix finished third. 

Stone knew that while many would be elated, some would be disappointed in the result.

“That’s a moment we can teach them,” Stone said. “Hey, we can have different opinions and be respectful and kind to each other. At the end of the day, we’re all still in the same class.”

A teachable moment for the rest of us, perhaps?

“It’s nice to see them behaving better than adults,” Stone said. 

He added that there was not a single negative incident during the campaign.

“Everybody was kind and respectful the whole time,” he said.

The process started with 57 nominees. A couple of primary votes brought it a top 10. And then a final three.

“Do it for the Syrup” was the campaign slogan for Toasty.

“Sam will light up your night” was the message from Sam the Phoenix’s campaign.

“Bark’s Out!” was the battle cry from Dominic the coyote.

Others that did not make it to the general election included: Tim the Lizard, Lyla the Bear, Bookie the best book reader in the world, and Fuzzy the Fox.

The young voters also got to experience something that adults in this state do not get to experience anymore: Going to the polls to vote. Washington has used mail-in voting for years.

But at Salmon Creek Elementary, voters got to close a curtain behind them to vote in private.

“It felt kind of new and weird,” Emma Avneri said.

“It was kind of hard to decide which one,” Ayla Dugan said.

“I was happy with how smooth it went,” said Louie Petrasek, a poll worker.

It should be noted that this was a vote for the third-class mascot only. Salmon Creek Elementary remains Husky country. 

But the third graders this year get to claim Toasty, too. Toasty was created in part by student Brantley Noble. Toasty has a head of whipped cream and sprinkles, with toast for a body, sausage and bacon for limbs, and forks and spoons as hands.

All who participated in this lesson of democracy were invited to a post-election party, celebrating a successful project.

“We believe this lighthearted children’s election presents a refreshing contrast to the often polarizing and serious national presidential election,” Stone wrote last week in an email. “It showcases creativity, teamwork, and enthusiasm among our students.”

Then the students of the third-grade classes at Salmon Creek Elementary School taught adults a valuable lesson.