EPISCOPAL SCHOOL OF ACADIANA SEAL AND SYMBOLISM

The Episcopal School of Acadiana crest was designed by the late Mrs. Charles (Penny) Godchaux of Abbeville, Louisiana.

Circle: Stands for eternity because it is without beginning and without end. 1

Crook: "The hooked staff is a pastoral attribute in the church and a symbol of faith. By virtue of the sigmoid significance of the hook, it stands for divine power, communication and connection; because of its spiral form it is a symbol of creative power." 2

Chi Rho: Formed by the two crooks - this is the earliest monogram of Christ 3 from the first two letters in the word for Christ in Greek.

Miter: A traditional headpiece worn by some bishops, emblematic of the highest order of the ministry. Used in this seal to denote that the Episcopal School of Acadiana is a Diocesan School and as such shares the benefit and direction of the Bishop. Jewels within the miter - there are twelve small jewels symbolizing the twelve Apostles. These are centered around a single larger jewel representing Christ. The two crosses on the miter represent the two natures of Christ.

Celtic Cross (Iona): Generally associated with the Anglican, hence Episcopal, Church. The sign of the cross was "employed by early Christians to direct special attention to the sacrifice of our Lord and the manner of His death. The cross also taught the earlier Christians, as it does us, the lesson of personal dedication to our Redeemer, who commanded His followers to take up the cross." 4

Laurel Leaf: Suggestive of eternity because the foliage does not wilt. 51 It is a Christian symbol of triumph. (I Corinthians 9:24 - 27)

Colors: Blue - signifies heavenly love and truth; "eternity, faith, and truth." Gold - "symbolizes sovereignty, the sun, love, constancy, dignity, and wisdom." 65

1 Symbols of the Church, Carroll E. Whittemore

2 A Dictionary of Symbols, J. E. Cirlot

3 Saints, Signs, and Symbols, W. Ellwood Post

4 The Sign Language of Our Faith, Helen Stuart Griffith

5 Ecclesiastical Embroideries, Beryl Dean

Alma Mater

Beneath the Oaks, Amid the Cane Lyrics by Dr. Arthur White

Beneath the oaks, amid the cane, my thoughts are always turning back again to the gentle place that formed my youth where I learned to seek and discern the truth. A place of study and a place of play; the place where I made the friends I love today, where excellence we both sought and gained, beneath the oaks, amid the cane.

We stretched our minds and our bodies too, as we sought the limits of what we could do, in lab and class, on field or court, for the love of learning or the joy of sport. At times the work was hard, the play it was intense, but as we grew, it gave us confidence that there’s no height that we cannot attain, beneath the oaks, amid the cane.

God grant His blessing on this place, guard and preserve it by His grace. In work and play His blessing give; that in His Kingdom may its meaning live. Make us gentle, generous, truthful and kind with gallant courage in both heart and mind, that our blessed fellowship may long remain beneath the oaks, amid the cane.

School Prayer

O heavenly Father, who has given us Thy Son, Jesus Christ, to be our Friend and example, help us to understand His friendship, and to do such things as will please Him. Bless us in our work and in our play. Make us gentle, generous, truthful, kind and brave. Keep us in purity of heart, and let the life of our school go on from strength to strength and have its place and meaning in Thy kingdom. All of which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.