THE NORTHWOOD NORTHSTAR
Our work will be guided by the Northwood NorthStar and our three pillars: Educate. Elevate. Innovate. The NorthStar captures who we are, what we believe, and where we are taking our student-scholars. For generations, the North Star has symbolized guidance and direction. At Northwood, it represents our commitment to ensuring that every student has a clear path to success—academically, socially, and personally.
What the Three Pillars Mean
- Educate. Rigorous instruction and a strong academic foundation remain a top priority.
- Elevate. We are intentionally building a culture rooted in respect, responsibility, leadership, and high expectations for every child.
- Innovate. We prepare students for tomorrow’s world by encouraging creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and responsible use of technology.
What the Design Represents
- Our students in action. The photographs show that these values are already visible in daily learning and school life.
- Our Philadelphia roots. The city landmarks and our school building reflect our deep connection to Philadelphia and our responsibility to develop its next generation of leaders.
- Our shared vision. “Rooted in Tradition, Rising to Excellence” honors the values that built Northwood’s reputation while calling us to evolve, improve, and meet the needs of today’s scholars.
THE BULLDOG JOURNEY
At Northwood, everything we do is connected to a shared purpose. We want every student to leave us educated, empowered, forward-thinking, and prepared to make a positive difference. The Northwood NorthStar represents that destination. Like a true north star, it keeps us focused on where we are going—even as our students, programs, and community continue to grow.
Our NorthStar Answers an Important Question
What kind of students are we working together to develop? Our answer is clear; we want to develop students who have the knowledge, confidence, character, and vision to lead meaningful lives and contribute positively to their communities.
How Our Students Live the Vision: The Four Teams
Our classrooms on each grade levels are divided into four teams: Beacon, Summit, Horizon, and Legacy; each grade level will have one beacon class, one summit class, one horizon class, and one legacy class. The four Bulldog teams make the Northwood vision concrete and student-friendly. They translate broad ideas such as education, leadership, innovation, and character into actions students can understand and practice.
