Mission Moment

Dear Covenant Families,

Our children came to Covenant when they were each in the 5th grade. They are now a Junior and a Freshman—and just a little less than two years ago, I finally stopped calling us “new to Covenant.” I think I held onto that label because I wanted to feel like our family truly knew all the ins and outs of the Trivium and the community—before I allowed myself to believe we were fully integrated into it.

What I ultimately realized—and what finally allowed me to stop saying “we are new to Covenant”—is that knowing and being known isn’t so much dependent on time as it is on how you spend the time.

From the very beginning, our children felt as if Covenant was their home. But for my husband, Travis, and me, that sense of belonging came through embracing the opportunity to serve. In our second year at Covenant, in an effort to live out all that the school embodies, I said yes to the first volunteer opportunity that came my way—not because it was the perfect fit, but because it best fit my desire to get involved. I had been praying for a way to serve, and while the opportunity wasn’t something I would have normally raised my hand for, my desire to become truly integrated at Covenant challenged me to follow Isaiah’s humble example. I adopted a “Here I am, Lord—send me” mindset and trusted the Lord to do the rest.

Covenant itself began with several brave families who raised their hands in that same spirit—saying “Here I am, Lord—send me.” They took their mustard seed, the vision of a Charlotte Mason-inspired classical school, and planted it—trusting in faith and sowing with hard work and prayer. What they sowed, the Lord has grown into the flourishing community our children now enjoy and are being transformed by today.

I originally raised my hand simply because I wanted to get involved in my children's school and get to know the community. What I received in return was far more meaningful—an opportunity to take part in the decades-long intentional work that continues to shape and support the mission of our school. I came to understand that every event, every tradition led by parent volunteers was founded with purpose: to enrich the experience of our children and equip them for a lifetime of learning. It has been an incredible privilege to contribute to that legacy.

Events like Spring Fling, Living History Days, Shakespeare Festival, and the Auction all have a heartbeat: the behind-the-scenes work of countless parent volunteers. Just as the church is made up of many parts, so too is our school. Each part is vital to the flourishing of our community and its continued transformation through the Lord’s work.

As parents, we are invited into this cultivation as well—first through our commitment to support the school and its mission, and also through our efforts to preserve the like-minded community we’ve come to love. Part of that preservation is found in our volunteer work—the traditions and service that make Covenant rich in purpose and spirit. Volunteering has given our family the opportunity to support the school while forming lasting friendships as we worked shoulder-to-shoulder toward a common goal.

The commitment to volunteer will look different for every person and every family, but I encourage you to prayerfully consider what it might look like for you. In doing so, I pray that you experience the fruit of the seeds you help to sow and the beauty of what the Lord will grow through your willingness. There is a hidden joy in joining the journey, and I am certain that when our children are grown and these school days are behind us, I will treasure the memory of having been a part of such an incredible community—and the abundant harvest we trusted the Lord to bring as we worked together, side by side.

Non Nobis,

Ashley Blakeslee
PTF President