So That the Good Life May Abound
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St. David's will help children grow in the wisdom, stature, and grace of Christ by providing a Lutheran, classical education rooted in Holy Scripture, the Western heritage, and the pursuit of excellence.
The school takes its name from King David of Israel: beloved child, godly warrior, accomplished psalmist, and forgiven sinner. Growing up in the cradle of the ancient world at a time when the liberal arts were first developing, David exercised a mastery of language and poetic expression, contemplated the wonders of creation, employed the soothing balm of music, and served his neighbor in the faith of God’s promised Messiah. He serves as a worthy namesake for the long tradition of Lutheran classical education. His life provides a pattern for the journey every student walks at St. David’s.
Three emblems adorn the crest of St. David’s, each drawn from the life of David and each confessing Christ. Encircling the shield is the Latin motto, Sapientia et Aetate et Gratia — Wisdom and Stature and Grace — beneath the Crown of David. This motto of the school comes from the Gospel according to St. Luke and captures our Lord's own development as a child: "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and the grace of God and man" (Luke 2:52)
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A golden harp stands for the wisdom by which St. David composed his poetic psalms, prayers, and hymns that continue to grace the Scriptures today.
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A slingshot recalls the stature exhibited by St. David when he faced and felled the giant Goliath, citing his confidence in the Lord of Israel.
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A jar of anointing oil symbolizes the grace shown to St. David when God anointed him to be His king, as dear to Him as a beloved son.
Growth in wisdom and stature and grace is the goal for each student at the Academy, boldly inscribed in its Latin motto, Sapientia et Aetate et Gratia, encircling the shield.
Atop the shield rests the Crown of David, each of its horns bearing the image of a Davidic king: Sts. David and Solomon on the left, and Sts. Hezekiah and Josiah on the right, with the King of Kings, our Lord Jesus Christ, at the center.
Each of the three emblems makes visual confession of Christ, as well: the harp bears an image of the Lion of Judah, a name for Christ; the slingshot holds a stone, as Christ is our Cornerstone; and the jar of anointing oil carries the classic Chi-Rho symbol of His name.
The Christ-centered nature of the Academy’s work appears throughout the crest, an emphasis reflected also in its coloring. Scarlet reminds us of Christ’s cross, where He shed His royal blood for sinners, and gold is the color of the eternal crown He inherited upon rising from the dead.
At the Lutheran Classical Academy of St. David the King, students will be taught to bear the cross and wear the crown through faith in God and love toward their neighbors.
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The Lutheran Classical Academy of St. David the King is governed by the congregation of Zion Lutheran Church in Wausau, Wisconsin, and is a member of the Consortium for Classical Lutheran Education (CCLE).
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