April 2025

Colonial Williamsburg: Before America’s “first freedom”

Daniel Gibson
April 30, 2025

Head of School, Morning Reflections

One of the most interesting things about colonial Williamsburg is that it is preserved as colonial Williamsburg. What you see and experience is Williamsburg as it existed in 1775—the year before America declared her independence from England. That is why, when we got to...

Jamestown: The original American underdog story

Daniel Gibson
April 29, 2025

Head of School, Morning Reflections

One of the things that I learned while visiting Jamestown was that its eventual success was not just uncertain…it was downright unlikely. Sure, the settlers were bold adventurers. But they were also what you might call clueless incompetents. Many of...

The founding of America: Good is hard

Daniel Gibson
April 28, 2025

Head of School, Morning Reflections

Welcome back. I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter and spring break. Whether you traveled or stayed home, it is good to be back with you all. Our family spent the better part of last week down in the Commonwealth...

“The corner has been turned”

Daniel Gibson
April 17, 2025

Head of School, Morning Reflections

Holy Thursday, or Maundy Thursday, is in Christian tradition the day of Holy Week on which Jesus’ Last Supper with the disciples is remembered. It immediately precedes Good Friday, which marks his crucifixion and death; followed by Holy Saturday, and...

Holy Wednesday: “You must make your choice”

Daniel Gibson
April 16, 2025

Head of School, Morning Reflections

Wednesday of Holy Week is, for many Christians, known as Spy Wednesday. It commemorates the betrayal of Jesus by his disciple Judas. Matthew 26 records: “14 Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said,...

Holy Tuesday: “Have faith in God”

Daniel Gibson
April 15, 2025

Head of School, Morning Reflections

Today Christians around the world celebrate Holy Tuesday in the lead up to Easter. It is often also referred to as Fig Tuesday, referring to the gospel accounts of when Jesus cursed the fig tree. Mark’s narrative reads: 12 On the...

Holy Monday: “You must accept or reject the story”

Daniel Gibson
April 14, 2025

Head of School, Morning Reflections

For Christians around the world, this week marks perhaps the most important week of the year: Holy Week. Beginning yesterday, with Palm Sunday and continuing through Holy Saturday, the days of Holy Week follow the story of Jesus’ entry into...

How can a young man keep his way pure?

Daniel Gibson
April 10, 2025

Head of School, Morning Reflections

We memorize to fill our travel bag; we memorize, because it preserves the past; and we memorize, because it lets us walk a mile in someone else’s words. But ultimately, we memorize, because it changes us. And that is why...

Walk a mile in someone else’s words

Daniel Gibson
April 9, 2025

Head of School, Morning Reflections

Have you ever heard the idiom, “walk a mile in someone else’s shoes”? It means that we should first imagine what it is like to be someone else, to experience life from their perspective, before we pass judgment. It is...

Memorization is preservation

Daniel Gibson
April 8, 2025

Head of School, Morning Reflections

You’ve probably heard people talk about the importance of teaching “critical thinking” in schools. They’re not entirely wrong. But critical thinking is often presented as an advance or improvement over “rote memorization”—and its why so few of your peers in...

Veritas et Virtus