Let Your Light Shine
St. John's H.S. School, Barama
Estd — 1985
The Emblem
A visual identity for the school
The school emblem gives St. John's a visual identity. It visualises two lamps — one bigger, and the other held devotionally in the hand, receiving the flame of light.
It personifies humanity receiving God's light. The rays of light above the diyas represent the school motto: Let Your Light Shine.
This motto, intermingled with the logo, invites the students to be the shining light — spreading effectively all around them the inspiration, knowledge and excellence of character and personality acquired in the school.
Reading the Crest
What each element carries
Light has always been associated with knowledge. The emblem gathers that association into four parts.
The greater lamp
The larger of the two lamps stands for the source — the light of knowledge and of God, burning steadily and given freely.
The lamp in the hand
The smaller diya is held devotionally in the hand, receiving the flame. It personifies humanity receiving God's light.
The rays above
The rays rising above the diyas carry the school motto outward — light that does not stay where it is lit.
The lamp as learning
For centuries a lighted oil lamp has been the symbol of academic learning; for Christians it is also a metaphor for the gospel.
Where the Lamp Comes From
The lamp in scripture
For Christians the lamp takes on an additional significance as a metaphor for the gospel.
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
The Motto
Let Your Light Shine
The motto was tuned into the school anthem in 1986, and it is sung at assembly to this day.
A crest is only a drawing until a school lives by it. At St. John's the motto is the standard held up at assembly, on prize day and in the classroom — the reminder that what is learned here is meant to be carried out into Barama and beyond.
Using the crest
The emblem belongs to the school
The Johnian crest identifies St. John's H.S. School, Barama on documents, uniforms and publications. Alumni associations, printers and event organisers should write to the office before reproducing it, so that the proportions and colours stay true.