Enrichment
New Covenant started iHistory to provide a forum for folks in our community to tell their stories. There’s no more vivid way to learn about history than from those who lived it. We have found that many of our own parents, grandparents and friends have experienced dramatic events and lived through notable historical moments. From service in WWII, Korea, or Vietnam to personal stories of the Holocaust and immigration from other countries, or fascinating careers that took them to different parts of the world, our guests have captivated our students, young and old. The purpose of iHistory is to acquaint our children with first person narratives, to open their imaginations and increase their appreciation for events in the not-so-distant past that have shaped the world in which they live.
Each year on the Friday nearest the Feast of St. Francis (October 4) we hold the annual Blessing of the Animals. Students and their parents bring a variety of pets to school as we emphasize our commitment to the care of nature, and of the creatures we keep as pets. It’s one of the highlights of the student experience in the grammar and middle school each year.
No animal is too small or large. As long as the animal is one for whom the student gives primary care, we invite it to the Blessing of the Animals. Over the years we’ve had many dogs and cats, but we’ve also had pigs, chickens, goats, horses, iguanas and fish!
The Gryphon Garden was added to our program in the fall of 2018 with a generous grant from a friend of the school. It is a working garden in which we grow seasonal crops. There are fruit trees, a grape trellis, and an outdoor classroom for instruction. The garden is located on the south east side of the campus near the campus woods.
The school is situated on 50 acres, about half of which is developed. The remaining 27 acres lies in a growth of hardwood forest and is home to deer, fox, squirrel, skunk, coyote, and many kinds of birds, including turkeys, hawks, owls, crows and woodpeckers.
New Covenant is committed to providing education and resources for parents and the broader community. We sponsor the Community Lecture Series, which is a bi-annual lecture on contemporary issues understood from a liberal arts perspective. The series offers something for young adult students and is advertised widely to the Lynchburg community. Click here to see our next guest in the series.
The Encomium is the official yearbook at New Covenant. It is published by students under the supervision of the Yearbook and Newsletter Publisher. High school credit is offered for the yearbook production course which includes instruction in graphic design and programs such as Canva and the yearbook page layout software.
