About

Building Picture of Mohawk Trails
Toby the Turtle

Mohawk Trails has been serving the community since 1972.  It is one of eleven elementary schools in the Carmel Clay School District.  Carmel, Indiana is situated north of Indianapolis in Hamilton County. 

Mohawk Trails is the neighborhood school for about 600 students in grades K-5.  The teachers, administrators, and staff work closely together to develop a program that meets the needs of all students.  Special area classes including Art, Music, Physical Education, STEM, and Media are offered to students in kindergarten through fifth grade. 

The Legend of Anowara

An old Native American legend tells of the Mohawks, a tribe of farmers who joined their many talents together to create a harmonious nation.  They adopted the great, wise turtle as their symbol.  The stories handed down by the Mohawk tribe members tell that "Anowara" the turtle carried on her back the seeds of the three sisters - corn, beans, and squash.  She dropped the seeds along her path as she traveled over the earth.  Harvesting these crops created unity among the Mohawk people and provided enough food for the long winter.

As we prepared for the renovation of our building in 1997, we felt the time was appropriate to choose a new school logo.  Research about the Mohawk people led us to the legend of "Anowara."  The traits demonstrated by the turtle and her importance in tribal culture reflect the position we hope Mohawk Trails Elementary holds in the lives of our students and families.  We can plant the "seeds" of knowledge, but it takes the community working together to nurture academic growth.