A fifth mascot has joined the roster of the Falls Church City Public Schools, it was announced at a school board work session Tuesday night. Gertie the Giraffe has been selected as the mascot for the new Jesse Thackrey Preschool that will open on Cherry Street this fall. Gertie joins Danny the Hippo, the mascot of Mt. Daniel, TJ Tiger, the mascot of Thomas Jefferson Elementary, Tito the Husky, the mascot of Henderson Middle School, and Mustang Sally, the mascot of George Mason High School.

An invitation to citizens for mascot ideas was sent out in late March and the Architectural Selection Advisory Committee chose from among the submissions. It was also announced last night that costumes to represent Gertie do exist. It was suggested in jest Tuesday that the reason for the selection of a giraffe is because of all the budget pressures on the schools, there is no more proverbial “low hanging fruit” to be had.