Covenant Commentaries are 17-minute talks from a sampling of Covenant’s thought leaders on important and timely topics relevant to our thriving community.
Commentaries are held at the Covenant Parent Connection Open Meetings, usually taking place on Friday mornings after drop off, about once per month during the school year.
Join us for the next Covenant Commentary
Friday, April 26th | 8:45 am | CCA Cafeteria
Executive Functioning: Breaking It Down
by Jennifer McKernon, USLR Director of Academic Support
What is Executive Functioning? How does it relate to child development? Are we born with these skills? Why do executive function difficulties become more prevalent in middle and high school? USLR Director of Academic Support Jennifer McKernan will explain six key executive function processes, dispel popular misconceptions, and share methods you can employ to build your child’s executive function skills.
Past Covenant Commentaries:
Commentary 1:
Gender Identity Through the Lens of Scripture
by Jason Lawrenz, CCA Chaplain
What does God say about gender in His Word? What is a person’s “gender identity,” and where does it come from? How does God’s Word provide Christians with the perspective and vocabulary to speak truthfully and graciously to ourselves, to our children, and to our neighbors about what it means to be male and female?
Recording: click here (Password: Commentary)
(Please note this is an audio-only file using still photos to fill the space)
Transcript: click here
Commentary 2:
The Healed Heart of Christmas
by Esther Baird, Author and CCA Parent
Christmas is supposed to be joyful, it’s supposed to be a celebration. So why do we feel like we are slipping ever faster towards the edge of a cliff when the calendar flips to December? Is it just the longer to-do list? Is it a scheduling problem? Or does Christmas bring to the surface something that actually hasn’t been right all year long? Something that is broken. Because something has gone wrong, and much as we’d like to blame society, schools, churches, families, or each other, what’s really broken is our hearts.
Recording: click here (Password: Commentary)
Get the book: click here
Commentary 3:
Investing in Mental Health
by Jillian Isabella, LMHC, CCA Counselor, and CCA Parent
“What are the lifelong benefits of prioritizing mental health care for our children?”, “How can we, as parents, invest practically in our children’s mental well-being?”, and “Why should we invest in this alongside academic, athletic, artistic, and faith education?” are all questions Jillian addresses in this commentary.
Recording: coming soon
Resources: coming soon
Commentary 4:
Technology and Our Children: A Conversation We Can’t Afford to Ignore
by Andrea Bergstrom, Grammar School Principal and Tracy Bennett, USLR Dean of Academics
As the prevalence of smart technology increases, so does its impact on our children’s development, raising concerns about their well-being and safety. Grammar School Principal Andrea Bergstrom and USLR Dean of Academics Tracy Bennett explore the potential risks and challenges posed by smart devices and platforms, urging for a balanced and informed approach to the role technology plays in our children’s lives.
Recording: click here (Password: Commentary)
Resources: click here
Commentary 5:
Turning School Inside Out
by Alex Miller, USLR Faculty, Classical Roots Program Director, and CCA Parent
Following on the heels of Andrea Bergstrom and Tracy Bennett’s commentary about technology, anxiety, and the developing mind, USLR Faculty Member and Classical Roots Program Director Alex Miller presents an unexpected solution to the anxiety epidemic: green spaces and hands-on work here on our campus. It’s been three years since The Classical Roots Program began and, since then, our community has seen profound benefits from this humble program. In this Covenant Commentary, Alex Miller makes the bold suggestion that these gardens are not an addition to our mission and identity but an essential part of them, since they provide the best possible solutions to the next generation’s most urgent needs.
Recording: click here (Password: Commentary)
Q&A: click here (Password: Commentary)
Resources:
To read: “The Fruitful Ground, the Quiet Mind” from Alex’s Substack click here
To watch: “Outdoor Learning Environments” by Dekker Perich Sabatini click here
To listen: “How Gardening Makes Learning Fun for Kids” by Gardener’s World Podcast click here
If you have questions about Covenant Commentaries or would like to suggest topics for future Commentaries, please contact Nicole Wise Williams, Chief Advancement Officer, at nicole.williams@ccamail.org.
