Above is the current official Viking mascot.  Salem High School / North Salem High School has not always been the Vikings, the fall of 1929 being the first time that term was used with Salem High teams. Before that, teams were simply known as Salem High, the Salemites, or, occasionally, the "Red and Black."  In the 1928-29 year, there was an attempt to make the "Senators" stick as the mascot, but this failed to gain traction.  

The Yearbook was first called the "Clarion" before ultimately becoming the "Viking," while Clarion came to be reserved for the school newspaper.  A search of Yearbooks from 1929 to the present has turned up quite a variety of Viking images, from the ferocious to the humorous.  We thought it would be fun to share these images with you, starting with 1929, which had a nautical theme, though not exactly Viking:

                                 

1939, above right, was the first official Viking image and was used for several years.

       

1957, left, saw a new official Viking.

             

 

1982, left above, saw the next new official Viking.

 Modified 1982.

      

              

This month the class of 1966 celebrated its 50th reunion.  Their yearbook summarized what the Viking means to many who have walked the halls of North High:

We hope you've enjoyed this trip down Viking memory lane.  As we continue to add more yearbooks to the Webpage (click on link on upper left), we'll share more tidbits from North Salem's historic past.

(By the way, you'll note that only ONE of the images above is a female.  It could be hoped that the next official representation for the Vikings be BOTH male and female.)

Once again, the building on 14th Street has been extremely busy. The image of school buildings lying dormant and empty during the summer months is simply not correct.  Here are some of the things that have been going on during the summer:

Numerous repairs and renovations are taking place to the building. In addition, the custodial staff must clean, strip and wax floors, and in general prepare the building for the onslaught of 1,800 students come fall.

Two new hires are of special note:  Brodie Cavaille is the new Athletic Director.  Brodie is a North High graduate, class of 1998, a former baseball standout, a social studies teacher and coach, as well as a behavioral specialist in the District.  AD currently is a vice principal position.

Oribel Villalobos has been chosen as our new Office Manager, replacing Amy Ponder (class of 1980) who has been promoted to the Central Administration Office.She returns to North where she began as a School Office Specialist.  Oribel has further connections to the school, as her husband was a Viking.  

Fall sports officially begin on August 15.  Complete sports physicals will be offered at the High School for only $10 Thursday, August 4 in the morning and Tuesday, August 9 from 4 to 7 pm, provided by Willamette Health Partners Family Medicine and the Community Health Education Center.

The first day of school for Freshmen is Tuesday, Sept. 6, All other students begin on Sept. 7.  Homecoming this fall will be October 21.

2014 graduate Aleysa Garcia Rivas has been chosen as one of 38 interns nationwide for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Summer Congressional Internship Program.  She has been placed at the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics. 

Fundraising for the renovation of the out-of-repair weight room into an up-to-date facility is ongoing.  It has been decided to do a phase-in plan, beginning with new flooring and some pieces of equipment this year and adding as more funds become available.  A sizable grant from the Larry and Jeanette Epping Family Fund will pay for the flooring, and a gift from the North Salem Viking Alumni and Friends Association will fund much of the equipment.  You may continue to donate at the donation button in the upper left or by sending a check to "Viking Association" c/o North Salem High School, 765, 14th St. NE, Salem OR 97301.