Blue Knight Debuts At St. Joseph The Worker

Question: What’s navy blue with white trim and sports the logo for St. Joseph the Worker School?

Answer: The Blue Knight, the Orefield school’s new mascot.

This is the 15th year of operation for St. Joseph the Worker School. With that in mind, the school’s principal, Jody Myers, said she looked for “things that brand St. Joe’s.”

That got her to thinking and Myers decided during the previous school year to poll Mike Storino’s 7th grade Religion class – students who would be entering their final year this fall at the school – for ideas about a school mascot.

Once the idea of the Blue Knight was suggested, Myers said, it received “lots of support.”

The school’s Parent Teacher Organization purchased a professional mascot costume from Facemakers Inc. According to its website, the Savanna, Illinois, company also has supplied mascots for Disney, high schools and colleges.

The next step was to choose a student to wear the Blue Knight costume. Myers said she chose Michael Cardiges of Fogelsville, an 8th grader, because of his dependability. “It’s fun, but it also has a serious side,” Myers said.

Zach Henry of Alburtis, an 8th grader, is the back-up.

Michael said he readily agreed to be the mascot because “I thought it would be fun and enjoyable. It’s fun to go to all the events.”

The school has 373 students in kindergarten through 8th grade. Michael said that though some kindergarteners seemed a bit afraid of his costume on the first day of school, in general the reaction has been good.

The Blue Knight will make an appearance at one of the school’s major fundraisers, a walkathon on Oct. 14.

Myers said it makes sense to have the Blue Knight as the school mascot because the school’s theme for this year is “to protect and defend each other.

“St. Joseph was the protector of his family.”