The new Conard High School sign was installed on the brick wall in front of the West Hartford school on Wednesday, replacing the former sign that featured a Native American image.

Photo credit: Ronni Newton

By Ronni Newton

The rebranding of West Hartford’s high schools without Native American imagery took a major step forward Wednesday with the installation of a brand new sign on the brick wall outside Conard High School on Beechwood Road.

“We’re really excited about it. This is a great result of all the work that has been done by the administration, students, and teachers,” Assistant Superintendent for Administration Andrew Morrow said.

A group of teachers, coaches, students, and parents have been working under the guidance of Principal Julio Duarte to create a new logo for the Conard Chieftains, following a Board of Education decision in March that the West Hartford high school could maintain the Chieftain name as long as all Native American imagery was eliminated.

Morrow said that Conard’s new logo, a gray and red design with four quadrants – representing scholarship, athletics, arts, and community – and a red “C” in the center was the unanimous choice of the the committee as well as the administration, all of whom are excited to roll it out this fall.

Conard will use only the logo, and not a mascot, on its athletic uniforms and anything else branded by the school. The Chieftain name has been retained, and is permitted to be used on those items as well.

“The coaches are excited to have the new logo on their uniforms and spirit wear,” Morrow said.

Morrow said that existing uniforms that have Native American imagery will be replaced as soon as possible, but even some of those that do not need replacement will be adding patches with the new logo.

“We want to make sure that everything has the new imagery,” Morrow said.

The new design will also be rolled out to incoming Conard freshman at orientation and introduced to all of the students at the beginning of the school year.

Hall is still finalizing its new logo and mascot, and Morrow said he anticipates that it will be rolled out soon.

The Board of Education funded the development of the new logos, and Conard’s design was created by Nina Fox.

Like what you see here? Click here to subscribe to We-Ha’s newsletter so you’ll always be in the know about what’s happening in West Hartford!