The Rev’d John Heaton is New Covenant’s second headmaster, following the founder of the school, Dr. Robert Littlejohn. He has served since 1998 and is in his twenty sixth year of service. He established the school on its permanent campus at Fleetwood Drive in Lynchburg, VA, and led the development of the school through five successful capital campaigns, providing the facilities which now serve more than 450 students through grade 12. Fr. John is an ordained minister in the Reformed Episcopal Church and has served a parish in his home state of Florida. He currently serves as the Associate Priest at All Saints Church which meets in the Marie Macdonald Chapel on the campus of New Covenant. Fr. John holds the BA and MA in theology, and the MA in liberal studies. He teaches intermediate Greek in the School of Rhetoric, and he writes routinely for this blog below.
Five Essentials of the New Covenant Community—Part 1: Shared Authority
The following is part 1 of a series adapted from the Headmaster’s address to the school community at Convocation, August 15, 2021. New Covenant Schools represents a layer of community,
Time To Say Goodbye
Almost every morning I speak to little Kathleen. She is not in school yet, but she rides along most mornings with her older brother who is in kindergarten. Buckled securely
Senior Thesis: The Capstone Project
New Covenant is well-known for its emphasis upon reading and writing. From preschool through the earliest years, our students are given a strong foundation in language skills, not only in
Predictability and Support: Two Keys to Community Success
Research from Independent School Management (ISM) shows that the two factors that correlate most closely to long-term academic success for students are a predictable environment coupled with support. Predictability means
November is for Readers
There’s been a quiet little revolution going on over in first grade. Students there are learning to read! That’s right. November is the month that written language comes together for
The History Timeline
It’s endearing and amazing to see five-year olds reciting the Timeline, but the magic of this learning tool doesn’t fully reveal itself until our students become our graduates. If you’re
Turning 30: Four Keys to a Superior Education
Exactly 30 years ago this month, 16 students had enrolled in the newest school in Central Virginia. It was called New Covenant, and for that first month the children were
Why We Like Gardens
It is very good to be back together in school. As students returned I was excited that Jessica Simpkins and other volunteers were able to tend the Gryphon Garden over
Fear is Not the Companion of Caution
The military flyover at a football game makes us stand tall, and leaves us awestruck as kickoff approaches. Not so when I was a kid. Growing up in the early
