Briar, a husky who is serving as the new Briarwood Elementary Schools mascot, got to visit the school on Thursday. The pupils will get to meet Briar on Aug. 12. Photo by Clinton Lewis

Thursday was Briars first day at Briarwood Elementary School. Like many kindergartners on the first day of school, Briar went to the door, paused, then, in sheer terror, ran back outside. Principal Debbie Richey Stracener had to coax the 12-week-old light-colored husky to go inside the newly built 73,113-square-foot school on Lovers Lane. Briar is the schools mascot and the countys first living symbol. Stracener came up with the idea shortly after Natcher and Cumberland Trace elementary school pupils, who will attend Briarwood in the fall, voted in the spring to make the husky the official mascot. I wanted something the kids could relate to and learn about, said Stracener, who says shes an animal lover. And we all need to have an appreciation for animals. Stracener then bought Briar from an Austin Tracy family after seeing an advertisement in the Country Peddler. Though Briars home will be at Straceners Smiths Grove farm, he occasionally will make an appearance at the school, she said.The pupils wont meet him until the school has its first assembly Aug. 12. During the meeting, one pupil will talk about the history of the husky. Afterward, Briar will visit each classroom. But some of the teachers got to meet the schools newest member Thursday and thought having a live mascot was a wonderful way to introduce pupils to the new school. Its original, said Kim Davis, who will be teaching fifth- and sixth-graders at Briarwood. It adds more of a personal touch instead of having someone in a costume. Stephanie Martin, the schools elementary curriculum coordinator, agreed.Were combining two different schools, so this would be new to the students, she said.Rene Minyard thinks it will especially be exciting for the smaller children. The younger kids are going to grow up with the dog, said Minyard, who will teach fourth grade at Briarwood. It will be neat for them. Parent Jennifer Adams loves the idea of having Briar as the school mascot. On the other hand, her daughter, Jessica, 8, thought the idea was good, so long as Briar doesnt come into her classroom. Shes allergic to dogs, Adams said. Besides meeting the teachers, Briar was able to see contractors putting the finishing touches on the $7.6 million 600-pupil school in time for its Aug. 9 opening. The one-story building is divided into two wings that are separated by a grand hallway. The intermediate section, which houses fourth, fifth, and sixth grades, is in the front of the building; primary classes are in the back of the school. Along with a computer lab, each classroom will contain four computers. Every primary room will have bathrooms. The cafeteria and gymnasium are located off the major hall.At the end of the month, teachers will start preparing their classrooms for the school year and will receive parental help Aug. 2-3, Stracener said. To celebrate the new school, the district will sponsor a welcome picnic at Basil Griffin Park on Aug. 6, but Stracener doesnt know if Briar will drop by.