Gator Aid: WHS Students Patch Up Groves’ Beloved Gator

When the Wylie ISD Communications department borrowed a few elementary mascots to film a Wylie Way Christmas & Holidays promotional video, they didn’t expect to stumble upon a "tail" of holiday mischief. The Groves Gator, Gus, was hanging on by a thread and in desperate need of a little TLC.

Poor Gus’s tail was falling off and needed mending.

“We wanted to send the Gator back to Groves in tip-top shape,” Communications Coordinator Casi Thedford said. “After recently reporting on Wylie High tech theatre students hand-sewing homemade quilts, this group of students was the first to come to mind to see if they could help us out. They were excited to lend their skills and kindness, once again.”

Gus was whisked away to Wylie High’s scene shop for what might be the most heartwarming emergency room visit in mascot history. The moment he arrived, the students snapped into action!

“After being asked to help repair the Groves Gator, my advanced tech theatre students jumped at the chance to sew him up,” Natalie Elderbroom, theatre arts teacher, said. “They were so excited to be able to fix up their old elementary school mascot. I am very proud of my students, Madeline Taylor and Isabella Gonzales, who are always so eager to help others!”

For Taylor, a Groves alum, the moment was nothing short of full-circle magic. With years of self-taught stitching and three years of tech theatre under her belt, she felt like a celebrity surgeon giving her childhood mascot a second chance.

“This is so fun and brings back memories; it’s nostalgic to work on my elementary school’s mascot, Gus,” Taylor said.

As Taylor and Gonzales pieced Gus back together, the class swapped stories about their own elementary school adventures. Gonzales shared that her love for sewing took root when her grandmother taught her to make Halloween costumes.

In just 15 minutes, Gus went from worn-out reptile to runway-ready gator, stitched up and ready for his big holiday debut, thanks to Taylor and Gonzales.

We love seeing students use their talents to lend a hand, and in this case, help a gator get his groove back. It is sew the Wylie Way!

See Gus and his friends’ promo video about how you can help with the Wylie Way Christmas and Holidays