Spunky, energetic and effortlessly cool are just a few of the ways we could describe our beloved Arco Iris Spanish Immersion School mascot, JJ the Jaguar. JJ perfectly captures the imaginative and upbeat spirit of our small tuition-free charter school. His antics and unending support for our K-5 students have earned him a special place in our hearts, not to mention he looks fabulous in tie-dye.
The life of a mascot is jam packed with parades and fútbol matches (or, so we thought–see answer #2 below), so we were thrilled when JJ agreed to answer a few behind-the-scenes questions about life as the Arco Iris mascot. And he didn’t hold back. We knew he was a talented animal, but Cirque du Soleil?!? Wow!
Why are you the best jaguar for the job of mascot at Arco Iris?
Well, I'm a pretty good dancer if I do say so myself…
Walk us through a day-in-the-life as the Arco Iris mascot.
I do a lot of resting....sometimes I meditate...sometimes I do yoga.
Salty or sweet snacks?
Is swalty a thing?
What was your job before coming to Arco Iris?
Cirque du Soleil.
What’s your favorite sport?
Fútbol, of course.
How many languages do you speak?
Speak? None. You will never hear me speak. I can't do that…it's code.
What does a school mascot do on a day off? Or summer vacation?
I go to mascot training camp. I also like to play at the beach with my other mascot friends.
Who is your mascot role model?
Blaze from the Portland Trail Blazers.
How can we tell the difference between you and a leopard?
It's in the spots.
Tell us about a good book you read lately.
I'm pretty into graphic novels these days.
What is your favorite thing about representing Arco Iris?
Even if it's just for a short time, I get to be a part of these kids' stories. They are all amazing and so smart. It's such a privilege to be able to represent them…in animal form.
JJ can usually be spotted at school events and sometimes stepping in as a substitute when we need him. He never fails to offer a helping hand and he loves meeting new students. If you want to join in the fun, we’re enrolling new Kindergarten through 5th grade students for Fall 2023.
About Arco Iris
Arco Iris Spanish Immersion is a small tuition-free public charter school providing a rich, immersive Spanish language experience and robust academics in a true multicultural setting. Centrally located off 217, between SW Portland and Tigard, we serve K-5 students in the greater Beaverton area to become bilingual and biliterate leaders of the future. Come see why we’ve earned the title Oregon’s #1 charter school. We’re enrolling for Fall 2023-24.