Welcome to Fort Worth Country Day’s web site. For years I have had the privilege to welcome prospective families in person. Today we search the web and we e-mail our thoughts electronically. How things have changed.

As a school we change every day. We are always looking for new and exciting ways to engage our students. We are searching for ways to bring their world to them in the classroom and beyond. Our students learn to explore and to ask questions. They learn that life is a series of events that make up the whole and learning is central to that process.

I invite you to search and learn about Fort Worth Country Day. Ask questions and look for facts. I believe that your journey will lead you to the same place that so many have traveled before you, to the understanding that FWCD is one of the finest independent schools in the country. That what we do here everyday makes a difference. That our children find themselves in a place where learning is fun and where people care far more about you as a person than a number or a grade, and that exploring the future is rewarding, and exciting.

Thank you for visiting. If you find questions that you have trouble getting answers to please feel free to contact me. Oh yes, I have an e-mail address…epeterson@fwcds.org. How things have changed!

Evan D. Peterson
Designing the Country Day Crest


The following is taken from a letter dated October 4, 1984, written by founding Headmaster Peter A. Schwartz, to Edmund Schenecker ’79, Alumni Council President, 1983-1985.

“… In 1962-63 we were all pretty much concerned with raising money, building buildings, hiring teachers, finding furniture, buying books, and worrying about books to build a library. Some things were left to the Headmaster. The school crest was one such matter. I gave it a lot of thought. We were starting a traditional school in a place that had never had one. We were only eighteen years away from World War II, were in the jet age and just beginning the space age. We wanted to preserve the sound principles upon which our country was founded, and the educational principles that made us great and had enabled us to forge ahead in transport, electronics, and space. Furthermore, we were living at a time when all sorts of educational experimentation was taking place. Without going overboard, our school was going to at least recognize all of these things. What sort of a crest could we dream up that would express both our principles and our recognition of the sign of the times?

I ruled out traditional symbols and instead looked for a symbol of jet age and a symbol of traditional learning. The result was the jet wing breaking the traditional ruler. This left us with the traditional destroyed by the modern technology symbol. I decided that could be handled by the Latin motto “Humanitas per disciplinam.” Humanitas means human nature, mankind, kindness, compassion, courtesy, culture refinement, civilization – the things a traditional school tries to implant in its students’ way of life. FWCDS was to be a traditional school that was going to use untraditional methods to achieve traditional ends.

Our first art teacher, Mrs. Arthur T. (Jane) Clemen and mother of Chuck ’67 put the ideas into graphic form. Jane did a pretty good job with the ideas I gave her and came up with something highly distinctive, dynamic and moving. There’s no confusing FWCDS’ crest with anyone else’s.

The graphic form was presented to the Board of Trustees and the founding parents for approval. The art and motto were accepted and became official. I think the original ideas represent a unique event in the history of education, in a unique time, and in a unique place; and I hope that what they represent would not be lost to undue acceptance of traditionalism …”