HENRICO COUNTY, Va. — Quioccasin Middle School celebrated their new name Thursday evening by officially unveiling their new marquee in front of the school.
The Henrico Middle School was formerly named for controversial Virginia Governor Harry F. Byrd who, among other things, fought to keep Virginia schools segregated.
The school officially adopted its new name July 1, but PTA members passed a symbolic vote Thursday before the unveiling ceremony.
Henrico County Schools spokesperson Andy Jenks said the unveiling was a celebration of the future of Quioccasin Middle.
“It’s a chance to come together for the first time and publicly mark the change that a lot of folks advocated for over the course of the school year,” he said.
In March, the Henrico County School Board voted unanimously to rename Harry F. Byrd Middle School.
The name Quioccasin is derived from a Native American word meaning “gathering spot.” It was also the name of a historically black community located where the school now sits.
Whereas Byrd Middle School’s mascot was the Senators, Quioccasin Middle School’s mascot was changed to the Griffins, named for late Henrico Police Officer Neil Griffin who was the school’s resource officer.
Griffin passed away in March after a battle with cancer.
CBS 6 was told there’s still more work to do inside the school associated with the new name like a new rug and a fresh coat of paint.
