Symbols of Paideia
“We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us.”- Winston Churchill
You will find Paideia campuses are filled with symbolism. Our thoughtful selected use of symbolism give richness and a deeper meaning to the place your child will know as their second home. As you walk through our campus, you and your scholar will be inspired to higher whole-person living – body, mind, heart and spirit.
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The 7-Habits Tree
The 7-habits tree is our symbol of the power of living all 7 habits in a holistic way.
The first three habits are the roots of leadership and represent personal and private victories of character. Without strong roots the tree would easily topple over or would be unable to get water and nutrients resulting in sickness and death. The same holds true with us. Without strong roots of character, we will be easily toppled over by the winds of adversity or emotionally starve to death in the darkness of self-doubt.
The next three habits are the trunk and branches of interpersonal relationships and public leadership. Without a strong trunk and branches the tree would easily snap in the adversity of turbulent weather. The same holds true with us. Without a strong trunk of principles and flexible reaching branches of understanding our relationships will break apart.
The final habit is symbolized by the energy of self-renewal powered by the sun and leaves of the tree. Just as the tree requires the sun and leaves to energize photosynthesis for renewal, we require regular self-renewal powered by principle centered living. Our renewal must include body, mind, heart, and spirit.
The Lighthouse
The lighthouse is our symbol of principle-centered guidance to peace and safety in a world choked with contradictory messages, hidden moral dangers and storms of adversity.
Lighthouses are normally built to tower above a dangerous and rocky shoreline. The light from the lighthouse guides sailors caught in the midst of storms past rocky dangers safely to shore.
The lighthouses of old required constant care and were often tended by a lone lighthouse keeper. This keeper had to frequently fill the oil, trim the wick, and wash the sea salt from the glass windows and reflector. The keeper stood watch day and night and during times of storm for boats and ships in danger of crashing on the rocks. Sailors and captains of boats anxiously strained through rough seas and wind for the guiding light of the lighthouse and keeper.
The same holds true for us. We are in times of hidden moral dangers, ferocious winds, and waves of moral confusion. There are principle-centered lighthouses and keepers all around us as well as false ones. The lighthouse of Paideia strives to guide our scholars, educators, staff, administrators, and families to follow principle-centered lighthouses and become principle-centered keepers of lighthouses guiding others to peace and safety.
The Synergy Tree
Working together to achieve more.
The synergy tree is our symbol of the entire Paideia community working together for whole-child education: Body, Mind, Heart, Spirit.
In nature, green plants use the process of photosynthesis to harness the energy of sunlight through their leaves to create food and energy from carbon dioxide and water. The result of plant photosynthesis is food for the plant and oxygen for the planet. It is a perfect system of synergy – working together to achieve more.
At Paideia we use the process of synergy to harness the energy of love, kindness, patience and understanding to create a culture of whole-person learning for the scholar and principle-centered leadership for the planet. It is a perfect system of synergy – working together to achieve more.