Regarding our mascot, the “hippocampus”…

Merriam-Webster defines "mascot" as "a person, animal, or object adopted by a group as a symbolic figure especially to bring them good luck." The word comes from the French mascotte, meaning “witch” (one thought to have magical powers). Many schools have mascots that help build school spirit, identity, and camaraderie among students. Though Foundations Classical Academy is not a “school” in a traditional sense, it is an organization that brings together groups of students for the purpose of working toward a common goal: the adquision of knowledge and the development of virtue. As our students come from all areas of the United States, we thought it helpful to choose a mascot that would “represent” FCA in its purpose and values that we hope all students will share. What we came up with is the bit unconventional, but unique “hippocampus”. The hippocampus is a seahorse that takes its name from the Ancient Greek ἱππόκαμπος (sea monster). The hippocampus embodies the spirit of Foundations Classical Academy as it remits to a figure from Greek and Roman mythology (a hybrid being, half horse and half fish), but at the same time refers to the hippocampus, the part of the human brain associated with learning and memory. Thus, the FCA mascot, the hippocampus (plural: hippocampi), represents memorization and the Greek and Roman traditions (some of the key components of classical education) and learning (a goal of all educational institutions). We hope the hippocampi bring you good luck as a student!

The hippocampi (plural of “hippocampus”) are the mascots of Foundations Classical Academy.