The Geneva Quarterly, Volume 9, Issue 1 by Geneva Quarterly

Geneva Quarterly The Sunrise Edition Volume 9 Issue 1

Concept

Following along with the concept of time for the Sunrise Edition, we took an early morning journey to Diamond Ridge in the rolling hills of the Boerne countryside. Looking to showcase the morning light, we chose fabrics in this issue’s color scheme. Senior Hannah Gray stepped in as the model while senior Editor of Photography Gwyn Lewellyn styled the photo that senior Editor of Photography Nicolas Siller captured in the morning light.

Mission Statement

Rhetoric School, serves to provide Geneva and the surrounding community with relevant and accurate news, opinions and entertainment centered around our student culture. Our staff strives to instill boldness, creativity and excellence through our published work. We aim to discover truth laced into our community with integrity and to write all pieces from a biblical worldview to the glory of Jesus Christ.

THIS PUBLICATION IS FOR: Geneva School of Boerne 113 Cascade Caverns Road Boerne, Texas 78015 830.755.6101 genevaschooltx.org

SCHOOL INFO: The Geneva School of Boerne exists to provide a classical education from a biblical worldview, to equip students for a lifetime of learning, service and leadership to the glory of Jesus Christ. Rhetoric School Population: 230 Rhetoric Faculty: 31

COLOPHON: All verbal and visual content is solicited and selected by the Quarterly staff. Approval is garnered from our adviser, Christina Hammock, and from our headmaster, Dirk Russell. All bylined writers are held accountable for their work.

CONTACT: To purchase a subscription or advertisement, contact: chammock@genevaschooltx.org For questions or comments, contact: chammock@genevaschooltx.org

AFFILIATIONS: We are proud to announce our seven-year membership with the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, where we have won a silver Crown Award and four gold Crown Awards and received a Gold Medalist Rating. We are also members of the Texas Interscholastic Press Association, where we have received the highest rating of Distinguished Merit. In addition, we have been members of the National Scholastic Press Association the past several years and have been named a Pacemaker Award finalist. This is our third year to be members of the Quill & Scroll International Journalism Honor Society.

MAGAZINE SPECS: Created in Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator and printed by Bright Printing, School Division. Font Families: Minion Pro, Cormorant and Milkman.

Dear reader, As life goes on all around us, it’s important to pause and take note of the little moments as they happen. Because time is fleeting, it’s easy to let it pass by unnoticed. It is our hope that our readers will take a step back with us to truly value what comes with each coming day. This year, we hope to discover and examine our use of time and appreciate all the little things that make it special. As we dive into the different times of day, as a staff, we hope to bring you along with us on the journey of finding the meaning in each passing moment. To start off this year, we are incorporating the idea of sunrise into the design and creativity behind this first issue. Just as the sunrise hints at the possibilities of each new day, we are inspired to start off this school year with the hopes of all that is yet to come. The beauty and vibrant colors in a sunrise can be seen in the colors and thoughtfulness in each page of this issue. We are so excited to present Issue 1 of this year’s Geneva Quarterly. In each story idea for this issue, we have attempted to incorporate aspects of sunrise in the designs and creative photographs of each page. We hope you all enjoy reading this issue as much as we have enjoyed creating it and the issues still to come!

From our hands to yours, AINSLEY PLESKO NICOLAS SILLER GWYN LEWELLYN LAUREN ABELL SARAH COULTRESS

I’m Thankful

We’re Perfecting the Program

Rethink the Drink

Opinion

Feature

Story

Will You Compete or Not Compete?

Writing for a Reason

The Gazette

Opinion

Creative

Consecutive

Graphic Hailey Kirchner

Global Time A glimpse across time zones

Sleep. Dream. Repeat.

Are They Worth the Buzz?

This is a Dog’s Purpose 7

I’M THANKFUL The power of a grateful mindset and how to can practice it Words Abby Bower

Processing a life experience through a grateful lens does not mean denying negativity.

s a Christian, I have always struggled with the call to gratitude. 1 Thessalonians 5:1618 says, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances…” This felt overwhelming. I wanted to fulfill this service to the Lord in my own life but soon found myself feeling as though I failed if I even acknowledged hardship. My plan was to just feel more grateful, not complain as much and count my blessings.

All of these are commendable aspirations but Robert A. Emmons highlights the difference between feeling grateful and being grateful. Emmons is the lead psychologist in the gratitude movement and has done extensive research on gratitude and the effects of living a life full of thanks. He has also published on some misunderstandings of gratitude and what it really looks like to make it a personal goal. Emmons offers advice on my issue of how to simultaneously approach tough situations and lead a life of gratitude. “...Processing a life experience through a grateful lens does not mean denying negativity,” Emmons said. I wish somebody could have told me that sooner. Gratitude is a choice. It is looking hardship in the face and choosing to acknowledge the positive that still remains. Gratitude is not tricking yourself into believing hard things are easy or that bad things are good; it is just focusing on the light that resides in the darkness. On your birthday, after receiving gifts and affectionate words all day long, there is no question as to why you may feel grateful. On your darkest day, filled with loss and disappointment and betrayal there is not a doubt of why you may not feel grateful. But, you still can be grateful. This leads to another question, “What does it look like to choose gratitude in everyday life?” This question is important because it seems simple, but our minds first reaction is not to choose gratitude. No, not at all. Our brains have been trained to first resort to sadness, comparison, self-pity, anxiety…almost anything but gratitude.

It makes sense that we would think this way because of the way our society works. But we don’t have to settle for this order of thinking. We are equipped to train our brains so that gratitude comes first and comparison is a last resort. Making gratitude your first instinct will necessitate building a habit of thankfulness. Discipline cultivates desire. The desire to choose gratitude in every circumstance will only grow with the discipline of practicing gratitude. This begs another question: “What is gratitude practice?” Well, it can look different for everyone and can be tailored to each individual. However, one particular method has been studied at length. The challenge is to write down three things you are grateful for every day for eight weeks. Through just eight weeks we can train our brains to start searching for the positive. Every day when it comes time to write down three things you’re grateful for, you will have to look back over your day and remember where gratitude can be found. Or, you can start your day with the realization that before the day has even begun, there is gratitude to be had. Maybe, every minute you can be actively searching for things for which to be grateful. The more adept we become at this search, the more places we will discover opportunities for gratitude. Nothing can be too small or too obvious to deserve appreciation. We are given the choice to find gratitude right in the middle of hardship. As Emmons alluded, finding positivity in hard times makes it no less hard; it simply allows us to recognize the good that can come through these

Our brains have been trained to first resort to sadness, comparison, self-pity, anxiety… almost anything but gratitude. hard times. We can train our brains to have a stockpile of things to be grateful for and to also seek out gratitude during tough times. This is life changing. We’re not stuck riding the ups and downs of our circumstances. If we are disciplined in gratitude practice, soon enough, gratitude will be our first instinct. When gratitude is remembered in all situations, our entire perspective shifts. Instead of looking for what is wrong or how something might mess up our lives, the search for gratitude will begin. We can see the lesson through the pain and the blessings despite the loss. We can be grateful people. A people more at peace with our present reality. A people consciously aware of the Lord’s blessings. Gratitude can alter everything.

Design Mattie Sue Arnold Graphic Sophia Baldwin

SLEEP. DREAM. REPEAT. The process and benefits associated with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Words Claire Coultress

Almost everyone can relate to having occasional sleepless nights, but for some, it’s a nightly struggle. Taking hours to fall asleep and constantly waking up in the middle of the night is the unfortunate reality for people with insomnia, and the most commonly assumed treatment is pills that have unwanted side effects. What most people don’t know is that prescriptions are not the only solution. In fact, another solution has been shown to be more effective than sleeping pills, and it’s called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy? CBT is a term that can be applied to different kinds of behavioral treatments and therapies. To some people, therapy is a scary word, but it really shouldn’t be. CBT shows patients how their perceptions directly influence their lives and teaches the patient how to control their perceptions and regulate their reactions to difficult and stressful situations. CBT can be used for a lot of different mental issues like depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, phobias, eating disorders and anger management. But, one of the most common uses for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is for dealing with insomnia. This is commonly referred to as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia, or CBT-I.

Most people don’t know that prescriptions are not the only solution. Insomnia patients will typically experience trouble falling asleep, trouble staying asleep, frequently waking up in the middle of the night, not being able to go back to sleep, waking up too early in the morning or feeling tired after waking up. CBT-I is arguably the best treatment for insomnia, with major studies showing that it improves sleep in 7580% of insomnia patients and reduces or eliminates the use of sleeping pills in 90% of patients. It is non-invasive, all-natural and has no negative side effects. Another great aspect of CBT-I is that there are two different types of this therapy. Everyone is different, especially when it comes to how their mind works, and different kinds of therapy can work better for certain people. CBT can be a selfinstructed program or led by a certified therapist. Plus, it is personalized to the patient and his specific needs. The best way to get started with CBT-I is to visit a sleep specialist. A doctor can “prescribe” a therapy and help the patient know what to do. Since CBT-I is very personalized, it is difficult to describe exactly how it works. However, there are some common factors in most therapies. For example, a lot of times, it will start with a sleep diary. The patient logs their quality and quantity of sleep for a period of time, and it is evaluated to get a good starting ground and establish a consistent sleep

cycle. After this, there are quite a few different ways to continue, but it will target specific cognitive issues, like subconscious effects on sleep. For instance, there is a common exercise that helps reverse the stigma that the subconscious may have about sleeping in bed. If someone suffers from insomnia, he inevitably spends a lot of time laying awake in bed. These people probably don’t realize it but their brain will start to associate laying in bed with not sleeping because of all the time spent laying awake and the negative thoughts surrounding it, and the patient will therefore have even more difficulty going to sleep. To try to reverse this, the patient will try to make sure he is only in bed when going to sleep. This means no more sitting in bed during the day, no more watching movies in bed, and also when not able to fall asleep, getting out of bed and maybe walking around a little bit before trying to sleep again. It can be difficult sometimes, but it is recommended that a person should not spend more than 30 minutes trying to fall asleep without success. The purpose of these exercises, and basically of CBT-I, is to retrain the brain to have a proper sleep clock and to have better sleep hygiene which will improve the quality of sleep and energy during the day.

Dr. Kelly Smith, a sleep specialist and uncle of sophomore Alexandria Bussey, recommends the self-paced program designed at Harvard Medical School called ‘The Conquering Insomnia CBT-I Program.’ “The CBT-I is basically retraining your brain with a certain set of associations so that you start to associate certain things with falling asleep and falling back asleep. The program is a five or six week self-paced course that is divided into five sessions. You download each session and practice it and get really good at it for a week or two, and then you move on to the second lesson. They really build on each other and it teaches you these techniques that you can use to retrain your brain to fall asleep,” Smith said. This particular program can be found at cbtforinsomnia.com. The lessons are easy and self explanatory and the directors of the program are also available to answer any questions that come up via email. For those who might be interested in trying CBT-I, the best way to get started is by visiting a sleep specialist.

Design Mattie Sue Arnold Graphic Kate Evans

ARE THEY WORTH THE BUZZ? The role these pollinators play in our ecosystem and how we can help them stay Words Sofi Treviño

ees. What thoughts do these striped insects bring to mind? Fear? Annoyance? Just-leave-me-alone-please-oh-goodness-it-landed-on-me? Unless for some reason someone really loves bees, they probably don’t conjure up fond thoughts. However, scientists around the world discovered that 90% of the world’s crops would disappear altogether if not for the little pollinators! Taking this into consideration, how does it feel to know the bee population is at a steep and steady decline? It seems alarming, but it’s the scary truth. The fact is, from the 1940s to 2015, the US went from an average of 5.7 million to a mere 2.74 million honeybee colonies. That’s nearly three million hives gone! So what can we do to help save the hives?

Plant Pollinator Gardens You may be thinking, “Hey! I already garden!” However, there are some requirements that make a bee garden particularly bee-friendly. 1. Choose plants native to your region. Native pollinators have a long, evolutionary history with these plants. 2. Have your plants flower in a staggering pattern to ensure there are always some blooming—no matter the season. 3. Go for diversity! Get as many colors and types of flowers as possible, making sure they are all rich in nectar and pollen. 4. Stay away from modern hybrids. These flowers have been selectively bred to be larger and more “showy,” but their flamboyant nature makes it hard for bees to access the nectar. 5. Rather than planting in spaced-apart rows, pack flowers as tightly as possible. This forms a barrier of sorts that becomes a safe haven for bees, and the bright colors will also make the garden alluring from afar. Avoid Pesticides This one may seem obvious, because by now most of us know pesticides harm the environment. What a lot of people don’t realize is how detrimental they are to bees. Many agricultural workers rely on pesticides to make a living, but there are still ways to lessen the damage caused. 1. Choose natural, rapidly degrading pesticides. These will probably have a higher cost and seem unsustainable to many people, but if you also have livestock, this will be beneficial for them as well.

kills because bees forage during daylight hours and turn back for home once temperatures drop below 55-60 degrees Fahrenheit. 3. Remove or cover water sources bees are known to frequent, or avoid them altogether if appropriate. Whole hives can be wiped out because the bees drink from a contaminated water source. Raise Money for Charity There are many charities doing nonprofit work to benefit bees around the world, from global organizations like Pollinator Partnership and the Honeybee Conservancy to smaller, more locallybased organizations like the Purple Hive Project in Australia. This particular charity works to prevent invasive mite species, and Under The Mango Tree in India helps both bees and small farmers by teaching them the trade of beekeeping. There are a lot of ways to raise money for organizations like these, and if you can dream it, you can do it! Build “Bee Boxes” For this one, if you are squeamish of bees or don’t want them around your yard or garden, probably skip it. There are a lot of other ways to help that don’t involve inviting bees to live in your yard! However, if you are interested, there are many internet tutorials ranging from simple to complex, depending on your skill level and how intricate you want your bee box to be. Some even involve plexiglass, so you can see the bees inside! End note: Sorry. Despite knowing all these statistics, we still don’t know if they like jazz.

2. If you must apply pesticides, do so in the evening. Researchers at the University of Georgia states that this lessens chances of mass pesticide

Carry a bee revival kit! Now, this one is more of a “tiny act of kindness” and certainly won’t save the world’s bee population. But by carrying a “bee revival kit” with you, one can make a bee’s life a whole lot better. The basic premise of the revive kit is a small vial containing a sugary solution that will “revive” bees that appear to be exhausted or dying. Who knows, maybe if more Geneva students started carrying these kits, the world would look a little brighter for our buzzing friends.

co Club leaders Ashlynn Lavezzari (senior) and Bailey Lyons (senior) share what they are doing to help our pollinator friends. Treviño: What is Eco Club currently doing? Lavezzari: We strive to inform people about environmental issues as well as bond with other people of shared interests! Treviño: Would you consider doing something for pollinator conservation efforts such as planting a bee garden? Lyons: Yes! If we had the funds we needed, it would be an amazing project to aid our environment. Eco Club meets during lunch once a month on Thursday in Galileo 4.

Design Mattie Sue Arnold Graphics Kate Evans

WHEN YOU’RE DEALING WITH DESPAIR Humans tendencies in the midst of their sorrow Words Ava Ayers

rief. Even the word itself carries a certain weight. A simple experience that launches itself at us anytime something unplanned happens. Grief is a personal and complicated experience, which affects each person differently and there is certainly no black and white set of rules for how to properly express it. Grief can make life feel as if time has suddenly come to a stop; leaving us wondering why the people around us continue day after day as if nothing happened. Everyone is aware of the pain we are feeling, but no one quite understands it.

Junior Ava Ayers

Stage 1: Denial

There isn’t a way to prepare yourself for grief. No one ever expects the worst situations to occur so when they come, it shocks our system. Denial is one of many coping mechanisms we use to minimize the pain we are experiencing. If we are unable to absorb and understand these emotions, then we automatically default to attempting to avoid the situation and the feelings associated with it all together. Denial allows us to not become completely overwhelmed with our grief and process the reality of the situation at a much slower pace.

Stage 2: Frustration

When we recognize that our denial can no longer continue, we tend to resort to frustration. We let ourselves reside in doubt—questioning the reason behind our frustration. “Why did this have to happen to me?” This frustration is our emotional escape as we battle with finding the balance between expressing our emotions and worrying about the fear of judgment or rejection. It is unhealthy to suppress these feelings of frustration or to disregard their existence altogether. Though frustration oftentimes leaves us feeling isolated, it is a beneficial way to remain grounded and connected. By directing that frustration towards someone or something, we find something to grasp onto in order to help us fully heal. The unfairness of loss is a burden that we are unable to hold by ourselves, so the sooner we allow these connections to re-enter our lives, the more grounded and hopeful we will become.

Stage 3: Bargaining

Finding ourselves focused on what we could have done to prevent the loss or change we are experiencing, we dwell on how wonderful life could have been if not for this unpleasant situation. We often feel desperate, willing to do anything to alleviate the pain we are feeling. Bargaining grants us a sense of control as we navigate how to change what is causing us so much grief. Guilt is usually a large contributor when it

Junior Ava Ayers

comes to bargaining. As it brings the endless “what if ” statements, guilt convinces us to try and bargain with our pain. It is important for us to remain aware of our emotions during this time and understand the value of communication.

Stage 4: Depression

As the weight of loss begins to settle in around us, the reality of the situation sinks in, making it seem as if there is no way for us to escape the pain. Though this is a natural response to grief, it is one that feels as though it will last forever. Depression can cause us to withdraw from life into complete isolation, making our distress much worse. Whereas the prior three stages of grief might have felt very “active,” depression can feel like a “quiet” stage in the grieving process. Faced with overwhelming amounts of emotion and attempting to sort through them all can leave us feeling drained and hopeless. The idea of depression can feel very daunting at times, especially if we attempt to tackle it all on our own.

Stage 5: Acceptance

When we finally begin to accept the pain associated with loss, it does not mean that we have moved on altogether from our grief. This stage isn’t the normalization of the situation you have experienced but rather the assurance that everything will be ok with time. Acceptance allows for a very gradual acclimation to a new way of life and hope for the future. We grant ourselves the opportunity to grow in a relationship with ourselves and those around us once again. In taking time to appreciate progress and in continuing to heal, we will find how to slowly transition into our new reality.

Design Ava Ayers Graphic Kate Evans

THIS IS A DOG’S PURPOSE The ins and outs of being a service dog Words Ella Dillinger

These dogs provide emotional support to the people around them. The main purpose of a service dog is to aid its own handler, while a therapy dog’s job is to offer help.

ogs. We often think of them as the sweet, lovable pets that live in our homes, but they can be so much more. Service dogs are a huge help to many people. Unfortunately, they are often overlooked in today’s society. I believe it is time we give these dogs and their handlers the recognition they deserve. The main reason why someone may own a service dog is to help with a disability or impairment. This could be visual or hearing difficulties, mobility impairment, seizures or low blood sugar. Some dogs are even trained to help people who struggle with mental health. Service dogs not only serve as physical and emotional help to many people, but as a companion and best friend. These devoted pups are generally allowed access to most public places, but not all. Sadly, some stores and businesses do not allow service dogs. This poses a problem for owners who need their dogs with them at all times. In order for a dog to become a service dog, it must undergo a good deal of training. It is necessary that they understand all basic commands as well as be adept in following commands unique to its owner’s disability. Certain dogs are trained to sense seizures and alert help, while others learn how to pull a wheelchair and open doors.

Most people confuse service dogs with therapy dogs, but there are a few important differences. Service dogs are trained to perform specific tasks to aid their owners. On the other hand, therapy dogs play a different role. They provide emotional support to the people around them. The main purpose of a service dog is to aid its own handler, while a therapy dog’s job is to offer help. While the terms are not interchangeable, both types of dogs assist those around them in many ways. A key piece of information is how to interact with service animals. The most important thing to know is to always address the owner, not the dog. You should never pet, feed, or talk to the dog, no matter how tempting it may be. The service dog is working and distracting them will cause them to lose focus. Always be respectful to the dog and their owner As you can see, service dogs are an enormous aid to society. They are loyal, smart and sweet companions and are always there for their owners. Dogs are truly man’s best friend!

Design Mattie Sue Arnold Graphic Kate Evans

Freshman Chloe Caulfield Photo Mazzy Horn-O’Brien

Local Time The boardwalk around the clock

Following the Russell Principles

Finding out about the Fishies

Faculty Face-Off 23

THERE’S A NEW MAN ON THE BOARDWALK Getting to know new head of school Dr. David Corbin Words Ainsley Plesko

avid Corbin, Ph. D. was named the new Head of School in early 2021 and officially began in his new role in July. I was able to sit down with him for a brief time during his busy day to learn a bit more about the new leader of Geneva School of Boerne.

What major did you pursue in college and why? My father ran for Congress at a very young age, and we always had great conversations at our dinner table. We were all teachers and we came from a family of teachers. So there were really two majors I was thinking of, education and international politics. I got to the University of New Hampshire, ... and opened Plato’s Republic. As I began to read it, I was just blown away. I knew that politics was something that I had an interest in because I had an interest in what justice is. But then what I began to do over my time as an undergraduate is that I honed in on political philosophy as a subset within political science. I love the fact that it asks the big questions and gets straight to the heart of the matter.

Where have you taught? I began teaching at my Alma Mater, the University of New Hampshire. I taught there for 10 years, then taught at a community college for a year when I was in D.C. working for a nonprofit. I then taught at The King’s College in New York City because I’d always wanted to teach at a Christian institution. My final teaching gig, so to speak, was at Providence Christian College in Pasadena, California.

How would you describe your teaching style? My teaching style is centered on what brought me to love ideas in the first place. When I was sitting there as a 17-year-old, I had a whole bunch of distractions. I distinctly remember a teacher who took what could have been a very complex text and made it come alive for me. I think that you have to take sometimes difficult questions or thoughts and you have to refine them and distill them in a way to become accessible to people.

What is the most influential book you have read? Alexis de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America. Being a Rhetoric School student, you [students] have spent the last 10 years of your life studying these epics—ancient, Christendom, modern and now where we are today. And oftentimes the question is how did the ancients understand their world? How did those living in Christendom understand it? How do we moderns understand our world? Tocqueville’s Democracy in America takes a look back and assesses where we’ve come from, takes a glance at the present, but then also looks forward to where we may be going with a spirit of liberality. All my favorite books are books in which the author (the thinker) knows the questions that are being asked in the text that are important. So when we’re reading from that person, we’re won over by the fact that I would want to have coffee with Alexis de Tocqueville. I think that would be an amazing experience. I would be face-to-face with an individual who was honest, who was good and who knew some of the challenges that we’re going to have. I found that even though it’s big, and even

though it’s long, and it has two volumes, when you can open it up to people and to an audience of 17 to 21-year-olds, it just lights them up because they see writing that parallels their own lives.

What interested you most about Geneva? Everything [laughingly]. This place is unique. I start off every day in devotion with somewhere between 40 and 80 colleagues thinking about what God has given us, thinking about the opportunity that we have that day, praying together and praying for one another. Geneva seeks to use the time that we have in this world for his glory by encouraging young men and women. I just find that an absolutely interesting thing, because that’s what it’s about. What it’s not about is, “Oh, I’m going to make a fortune being here,” or “I’m going to gain celebrity status or fame being here,” or some of those other things that drive us when we go out into the professional world. That’s not what’s driving folks who are here. They just care absolutely about what they’re doing. I find that interesting because that’s not at many places. And I think to the degree that all of you who see that and know that it’s a real thing can then go out and do whatever you choose to do and express yourself the same way with others, that people are going to be made better by what happened at Geneva. And I’d just love to see that continue. I’d love for us to have opportunities to have that growth. I was drawn here because I knew that something awesome was happening here and when you see something awesome, you want more people to share in it.

Head of School Dr. David Corbin

People are gonna be made better by what happened at Geneva. And I’d just love to see that continue. I’d love us to have opportunities to have that growth. Design Ainsley Plesko Photo Chantel Bellamy

FOLLOWING THE RUSSELL PRINCIPLES Uncovering the true Rhetoric headmaster Words Ainsley Plesko

hetoric School Headmaster, Dirk Russell, has done it all throughout his 17 years at Geneva. Five years after the school was founded, Mr. Russell began teaching Bible and humanities to Logic students in 2004 and in the time since then, he has had the roles of Logic Bible teacher, senior humanities expert and Academic Dean. “In those early years on this campus there were just a few portables out in the field. There wasn’t all that we have today,” Russell said.

Students attend an assembly led by Mr. Russell each Monday morning. Using catechisms to explain Christian doctrine, Mr. Russell seeks to further infuse God’s Word into his students’ lives. Once a month, the headmaster even joins Mr. Aaron Southwick’s Bible class to answer questions students may have about their faith. As an advocate for a Christ-centered education, Mr. Russell believes this type of education is important. “We have teachers who love Jesus, love students and love what they’re teaching. So really if you have faculty who love Jesus and love their students, then you can figure out the curriculum,” Russell said.

At the start of the 2021-2022 school year, Mr. Russell began his new role as Rhetoric School Headmaster. Often spotted greeting students at the beginning and end of each Mr. Russell is optimistic for the future of school day, Mr. Russell loves interacting with Geneva as new faculty arrives and the students on the boardwalk. school develops and maintains traditions. “When I was teaching twelfth grade, I was pretty much confined to the seniors, so it’s been good to get to know everybody,” Russell said. “I love being able to be out in the mornings and in the afternoons interacting with the students. Especially in the mornings, I’ll sit out on the boardwalk and we’ll have a great little conversation,” Russell said.

“I look forward to being able to continue doing what we’re doing, and to learning ways to do it better. What I’m excited about in the future is Geneva not only doing a really great job here of educating and training students, but to be also used more broadly, helping other classical Christian schools to stay on mission as well,” Russell said.

Mr. Dirk Russell & Senior Abby Russell

We have teachers who love Jesus, love students and love what they’re teaching.

ehind the scenes is Mr. Russell’s child and only daughter, Abby Russell (senior). Some would theorize Abby is a sort of ViceHeadmaster. If questions ever arise in class about something school-related, eyes usually turn their gaze to Abby for answers. She claims to be unaware, yet is she really telling the truth? Could Abby be the secret headmaster of Rhetoric? Have you ever seen Abby turn in homework assignments? Some report seeing Abby turn in a blank piece of paper, receiving a perfect grade days later. Has anyone seen her receive a tardy to class? Theories float around the school at times before mysteriously vanishing as quickly as they begin. Could Abby be a clone of the perfect Geneva student? Is Abby a hologram in class while she attends to her headmaster duties elsewhere? The legend of secret headmaster Abby Russell remains unsolved as future students are left to investigate the Geneva folklore.

Design Ainsley Plesko Photo Kate Travis

TYLER TAKES FLIGHT Finding out about Geneva’s pilot Words Alexis Livingston

ould you consider becoming a pilot before you have even graduated from high school? Senior Tyler Syring did and recently became a licensed pilot.

Then he took the flying part of the exam which included maneuvers, emergency procedures and various landings. He officially got his license in September.

“I’ve been fascinated with planes from a very young age and when I realized I could take lessons to fly them I jumped on that opportunity,” Syring said.

The procedures of flying a plane are difficult, but Tyler tried to simplify it down to a few easy steps.

As a kid, Tyler would go to air shows in Washington, D.C. and watch as the planes flew in formation overhead. He was inspired to become a pilot by seeing the planes in action and getting to talk to some of the pilots. Becoming a pilot is no easy feat. It took Tyler two years to become one. He had to do a minimum of 40 hours of flying before he could get his license. This included student solos,

cross country flights and night flights. He also had to pass a written test and a check ride test with an examiner who evaluated him on theoretical knowledge.

Becoming a pilot is no easy feat. Senior Tyler Syring

“Once you start the plane you start taxi-ing by using the foot pedals (known as rudder pedals) to steer on the ground. Then once you’re ready to take off, you apply full throttle to get the plane moving. Once you hit about 60 knots, you gently pull back on the yoke (basically the steering wheel) and that’s how you climb, descend and turn while you’re in the air.” Syring said. “My career goal is to be an airline pilot so that was also something that got me interested,” he said. Tyler said he hopes to one day fly internationally, but first fly commercially with Delta Airlines or with UPS for cargo within the U.S.

Design Alexandria Bussey Photo Kate Travis

FINDING OUT ABOUT THE FISHIES Getting to know our new freshmen Words Mazzy Horn-O’Brien

o far high school is fun! I enjoy my teachers and my classmates. We have a very tight knit community who cares about helping you stay involved, yet things are pretty laid back. We have more freedom and many opportunities to participate in extracurriculars and house activities! Although I feel this way, I know others’ opinions may differ. Some people only like school for the social aspect or sports. Others only like school for their education. So, I thought we would ask the freshmen some questions to get to know them better and see how they are liking all the new experiences and possibilities that come with Rhetoric School.

We have more freedom and opportunities.

Favorite class:

Mr. Harrild’s Humanities

One thing freshmen wish was different: The dress code

Something the freshmen can’t live without: Food and friends

Favorite thing about high school so far: More freedom

Design Sophia Baldwin Graphics Jacob Goodman

FIND THE FIB How well do you really know our faculty? Words Alexandria Bussey

01 Mr. Ray Bradshaw AP Chemistry

a. I have wrestled a bear. b. I have ridden in three different types of helicopters. c. I have played collegiate soccer.

02 Mr. Brian Odom 9th/10th Grade Bible; 9th/10th Cultural Analysis and Current Events

a. I know five languages. b. I have been to over 15 countries. c. I live one minute away from Sea World.

03 Ms. Suzi Rocha Fine Arts Executive Assistant; Vocal Music a. I have been hit by a truck and pinned under it. b. I like to do carpentry, photography and sewing. c. I have played the accordion in a polka band.

1. A, 2. A, 3. C, 4. B, 5. B, 6. C

04 Dr. Eric Covington Bible Department Head a. I have been to Iceland. b. I have climbed an active volcano. c. I have a pet a live cheetah.

05 Mrs. Julie McPhail Geometry

a. I have been face-to-face with a bear in the wild. b. I swam with sharks. c. I have eaten crickets.

06 Ms. Clara Cliver Physics; AP Calculus a. I took a selfie with a cheetah. b. I walked a lion. c. I rode on a giraffe.

Design Alexandria Bussey Graphics Jacob Goodman

STUDENTS GET BACK TO BASICS Getting back into the swing of dress code Words Nicolas Siller & Mattie Sue Arnold

BOYS

“I like the he unpleasant yet comforting humidity of Rhetoric August wafted around my front porch as I School un iform sat there thinking about starting my summer better tha n the Logic reading. Suddenly Dr. Melissa Siller, Senior School on e.” Thesis teacher and my mom, stormed out and Jackson M said, “You better know where your blazer itchell (9) and Lewis tie are or you’ve had it!” A blazer? A Lewis tie? At first, I thought that she was joking Target, Walmart and Old Navy were thinking to because as I thought she already knew, I had my themselves, “Wow, I think this is the first time in “school uniform” ready to go. company history that we’ve gone out of stock of Through the 2020-2021 school year, I perfected my light blue polo shirts.” rotation of jeans and Geneva spirit shirts and was In all seriousness, I believe there was a legitimate very excited to continue to show off my awesome shortage of khakis and polos in the last two weeks Geneva Cross Country t-shirts to Rhetoric School of August, so for all of you gentlemen feeling once again. Yet, in that same moment I realized that ashamed of your night-before-first-day-of-school there was a time not too long ago when Rhetoric Target runs for a pair of pants, you are not alone. School students wore these things called khakis and tied their own house ties. In fact, I think we’ve all come back strong, uniform-wise. Yes, there have been casualties in So, in disbelief, I strolled over to my closet to the form of our lush summer locks of hair or the find these lost treasures. Some digging (both opportunity to wear our aesthetic Vans every day metaphorical and literal) was required, but I to school, but it’s been alright. finally found my trusty Sperry’s from freshman year and a couple of pairs of khakis that were just about ready to be passed on to my sixth grade brother. I’m sure the owners of

Instead, we can rock trendy polka dotted socks like sophomore Will Muck and senior Brooks Fessler do on many days or wear your favorite pair of Sperry’s that you somehow still fit in. I conducted a survey of the freshman class and I found that 70% liked our Rhetoric School uniforms better than Logic School’s uniform in every way. “On Mondays, we get to represent our House,” Jake Roberson (freshman) said.

Sophomore K.P. FitzGerald

“ The Rhe tor uniform is ic a strict and little less m the casua ore on l side.” Logan Frit cher (9)

GIRLS

hen little kindergartners enter the world of Grammar School, they are hit with many rules and dress code restraints. For example, the traumatizing rule of “nude nail polish only” and the allowance of only certain types of jewelry. However, once Geneva students graduate into Logic and Rhetoric, the dress code takes a dramatic shift. Starting in sixth grade, girls can wear their hair how they prefer, and knee-high socks are for Mondays only.

“It’s sad y mean, su ou know. I r have to p e, I don’t lan my o anymore utfits , confiden but I felt more t wear wh when I could at I want e (for the most par d t Everyon ). e looks th in a uniform e got to ex same. I really press my self last year .”

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Rhetoric School students were given what some have been dreaming about since Grammar School—an insanely relaxed Ellie Led oux (11) dress code. Some may even say free dress. Girls were allowed to wear any jeans, sweatshirts and shoes they wanted so long as they had a Geneva shirt on somewhere in there. This change was only supposed So how are our girls feeling? Do they miss the “free” to last until Christmas, but for some unknown reason, our headmaster allowed this dress exception dress or love the uni? What about the freshman girls? What trends need to die with COVID? Well to last all year. This special time was great. But now, we are back to this is what they had to say.

the mundane. Our female students are back While some of the Rhetoric girls wore the same to the white box blouse and a plaid skirt to match. jeans for a week straight, some thought this was a But some feel like they truly cannot express great chance to express their inner fashionista. themselves while others feel as if the There was a very mixed uniform is better. Some students are “I strong reaction when I talked to even finding creative ways to sneak ly lax dress disliked the some of the Geneva girls pop culture trends into code. Lis I t k e n n , o w a about new and old dress code their uniforms. loved th lot of people rules. But there were a few e d ison but it felt li ress last year, r a p m things that some could agree o c everyday ke Christmas chill in lot less r e p u s on. Some trends need to go. . Like it “It’s ool. A .” w s h u a c p s S e r c i f g u With the new restricted dress n to Lo ike the polos ple of we the first coul I . t code, girls resort to sneaking pop e c i k r s but, afte st awhile, I (9) r w o r r culture trends into the uniform. ju a st ran o B clothes. Merrick It was a ut of As much as we love our sisters in rotation of the sa m Christ, sometimes they wear some entire ye e jeans for an ar.” questionable pieces. I talked with some freshmen (who wish to remain Hailey S mith (11 anonymous) about some things ) that should be left in the past. These freshman girls said, “The banana claw clip needs to die.” Design Alexandria Bussey Photo Gwyn Lewellyn

FACULTY FACE-OFF Teachers fight it out to grill the best burger Words Sydney Griffey

The first round consisted of the Science Department and the Humanities Department pitted against each other with 30 minutes to craft the perfect burger.

Senior Sydney Griffey, Sophomore Ford Elizondo, Mr. Dirk Russell & Freshman Mia Cohoon

our teachers. Two Teams. One Goal. Who would make the juiciest, most mouth-watering and cooked to perfection burger? Each team received a combined score from the judges based on presentation, taste, execution and ingenuity. There were five judges, one from each grade, representing each journalism staff and led by our Rhetoric School Headmaster and foodie, Dirk Russel. The four other judges included Photo Team member Mia Cahoon (freshman), Yearbook Sales staffer Ford Elizondo (sophomore), Cinematography staffer Hailey Smith (junior) and Magazine editor Sydney Griffey (senior).

The Science Department was represented by AP Chemistry teacher Ray Bradshaw and AP Physics and Chemistry teacher Dodd Naiser. The Humanities Department was comprised of freshman and sophomore Rhetoric teacher Debbie Wheeler and senior Humanities teacher Aaron Southwick. Grills heated, knives sharpened and taste buds ready, the four contestants began to cook as judges and guests looked on with eagerness. First, we take a look at how the Science Department seemed fully prepared. Across their station, an array of diverse tasty ingredients were set. As you turned your head to the right, the first thing in sight was Mr. Naiser at the cutting board. He used his careful and precise knife skills to prepare beautifully shaped designs made to complement the delicious food to come. Behind

him stood Mr. Bradshaw who took the creative liberty to carefully toast the buns to a crisp and buttery perfection. The aroma of sweet chocolate was sensed as a tray of homemade brownies, courtesy of Mr. Bradshaw was seen. Team Science made sure no detail went unnoticed. On the Humanities Department’s side, there was Mrs. Wheeler and Mr. Southwick cooking up a Mexican-style burger. Wheeler started out strong by chopping up refreshing-looking corn salsa and poblano peppers. Mr. Southwick was seen by the grill carefully watching that the burgers are cooked to perfection. The Humanities Department decided to take a creative risk and mix in chorizo with the hamburger meat to ensure the Tex-Mex theme was apparent. As the sweat glistened on the contestant’s foreheads and their meals started to come together, it was time for a curve ball. Avocado! An avocado must now be incorporated into each team’s dish. Each team took on the challenge.

Wheeler/Southwick

Thirty minutes passed; time to judge. First up, Team Science. They managed to whip up an avocadomushroom-Swiss burger complete with caramelized onions, Worcestershire Sauce and ketchup. Mr. Bradshaw and Mr. Naiser paired it with a side of candied jalapeños, an array of multi-colored chips and a beautifully-shaped brownie covered in powdered sugar, a drizzle of strawberry jelly and surrounded by meticulously sliced strawberries and star fruit. Next came Team Humanities with their Mexican-themed chorizo and cheddar burger topped with homemade sweet coleslaw, avocado, cotija cheese and grilled onions. The team paired the chorizo burger with a roasted poblano pepper stuffed with light corn salsa and crispy tortilla chips.

Four teachers. Two teams. One goal.

Bradshaw/Naiser

Judging began with a taste of the mushroom Swiss burger prepared by Team Science. Most judges were pleasantly surprised how well the juicy burger’s sweet and savory flavors of caramelized onions and mushrooms harmonized perfectly with one another. On the plate, the attention to detail was apparent with the carefully crafted placement and shaping of the elements. The plating was completed with the judges choice of real sugar Dr Pepper or Cherry Limeade. While most of the judges were delighted by this dish, junior Hailey Smith was less than pleased with the flavor combination and even described them as “absolutely disgusting” and was “embarrassed to be served this dish.”

Both burgers were great. If it was just based on taste, it would be hard to choose a winner.

Mr. Dirk Russell

“It was so fun to be a part of the judging squad and trying the different burgers! I enjoyed being a part of something so different! Both meals were really good. I liked how the Humanities Department stuck to a theme and the Science’s burger had so much flavor,” Mia Cohoon said. Next, the judges moved on to the Mexican-themed chorizo burger crafted by Mrs. Wheeler and Mr. Southwick. As they took their first bite, a kick of spice was instantly detected. This burger was definitely packed with flavor and elicited a strong response from judge Hailey Smith. She was so appalled by the flavors present in the burger, she stood up and violently flipped her chair. Mr. Russel had quite the opposite response. “I was very impressed with their execution of such risky flavors,” Russell said.

Finally, the votes are in. Who would be named the Geneva Master Chefs and receive the coveted Golden Apron? By majority vote, the winner is...

Team Humanities.

Mr. Aaron Southwick, Mrs. Debbie Wheeler, Mr. Dodd Naiser & Mr. Ray Bradshaw

“Both burgers were great. If it was just based on taste, it would be hard to choose a winner. Team Science won the presentation in my book. They not only made the burger but they told a story with their plate as well. Both teams did well with the execution, the food came out when it was supposed to and it was hot. For me it came down to ingenuity. Team Humanities added chorizo to their burger and that made a big difference in the flavor. It was risky but the risk was worth it,” Russell said. Stay tuned for the next edition of Teacher Cook-Off which will be returning next quarter.

Design Sophia Baldwin Graphics Sophia Baldwin

WE’RE PERFECTING THE PROGRAM Making the grueling process of thesis smoother Words Sarah Coultress

here are now not one, but two new thesis teachers this year. Dr. Melissa Siller and Mr. Logan Ward (Class of 2014) are co-teaching the current senior class in Thesis for the first time in Geneva history. With the introduction of two teachers, a new curriculum and overall class-flow have been implemented. First, I would like to introduce Mr. Logan Ward, son of College and Academic Counselor Mrs. Shelly Ward. Mr. Ward came to Geneva his sophomore year of high school and participated in cross country, track and basketball. I asked him if he had noticed any major changes upon his return to campus.

I’m excited to get to know everyone on a personal level. “It’s actually a funny thing. Everything is pretty much the same, like sports and thesis, except I am jealous that we now have a Tolkien and Lewis class,” Ward said. Mr. Ward is an avid Spurs fan, has a German Shepard named Charlie and is a brand-new father to his newborn daughter Alia. Mr. Ward said he is excited to now experience the other side of being a senior by helping the students to create and deliver a thesis. He relates that since he has been through the exact process the current seniors are trudging through, he can lend a hand in a way that is special because it comes from his own experience.

The other half of our thesis department is Dr. Melissa Siller. She is the mother of three boys, Nicolas (senior), Samuel (freshman) and Christopher (sixth grade). “It’s so fun to see Nicolas with his class. I’m excited to get to know everyone on a personal level and be able to share the experience of writing a thesis with my son,” Siller said. Dr. Siller attended 10 different schools from kindergarten to her sophomore year of high school. Her family was a military family and they moved a lot. Later, she joined the Peace Corps and lived in Ecuador for three years. Dr. Siller originally went to college to become a doctor, but decided it wasn’t for her. “Once I delivered a baby for the first time, I realized that maybe it was time for a career change,” Siller said. In high school, she also participated in cross country. Nicolas and Samuel can thank her for the skills she undoubtedly passed on to them. When the seniors heard whispers that there were going to be two people teaching thesis, there were many questions about what that would look like. Now all of their questions have been answered. However, for those that have not witnessed a thesis class in session, allow me to shed some light on the new structure of the class.

Dr. Siller and Mr. Ward explained that the main advantage to having two teachers is that they can be much more thorough while editing papers since it is divided between them. They also emphasized that they are now available to spend more time with each student in their individual walk through the thesis process. Another tactic they have implemented is smaller class sizes. Each class contains around eight students in the hopes the size will be comforting. They said they hope to encourage seniors to be vulnerable and open to sharing their thoughts when it comes to tough topics that might arise while preparing their thesis. Each class starts with a gratitude circle which is brought to us by Dr. Siller. Everyone goes around and shares what they are grateful for that day. Dr. Siller explains that this exercise helps to put things

in perspective and minimize stress. Next, we go over the agenda and carry on with whatever tasks are set before us for the day.

I’m excited to experience the other side of being a senior. At the end of the period, everyone is given a sticky note to share any concerns, questions or fears that surround their thesis. Dr. Siller says that this process helps people to actually ask for what they need because the odds of them asking during class are slim. Both Dr. Siller and Mr. Ward have worked hard to prepare a safe and fun environment for the challenge that is the senior thesis.

Design Sophia Baldwin Graphics Sophia Baldwin

Photo Abby Bower

Game Time Before the clock runs out

Will You Compete Or Not Compete?

Stick to the Routine

F is for Foundation 41

DIVING BACK INTO SPORTS Students share their thoughts about the return of support from the stands Words Guy Kohler

magine it’s a Friday night, you are sitting in the bleachers underneath the lights and your team is winning. You turn around to talk to a friend but you are suddenly interrupted by the roar of the crowd. You turn your head back towards the field to see that your star quarterback just threw a touchdown pass. This is the expectation for the high school sports experience. However, in March of 2020, everything changed. With coronavirus spreading rapidly throughout our country, it shut down almost everything, including sports. Even though sports returned relatively soon, there was something off. There were no fans. The return of sports was great news to everyone, but much to our disappointment, fans were not yet allowed to return, or only allowed in small numbers in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus. However, this year we are allowed to have fans back at full capacity and we can look forward to cheering on our sports teams. Whether it’s Geneva or your favorite college or professional team, almost everyone is allowing fans back in the stands. As sports are underway this fall season, some of our student athletes like junior football player Ethan Brunsvold and junior volleyball player Avery Eggerss, share their thoughts about the new season and the impact fans have on their experience.

Ethan Brunsvold (junior) Does having fans packed in the stands affect how you play? “Yes, having fans in the stands affects how I play. The energy of the crowd gets me amped up for the game.” What is your favorite thing about having fans back at full capacity? “I like having the fans back at full capacity because I love hearing the student section get rowdy and hearing all the chants that they yell.” Is there a difference between this year and the games last year? “The only real differences are the games are much louder and we don’t have to wear a mask to every game.”

I personally like having a lot of fans at away games because it makes me play better. With fans back at full capacity, does it make away games tougher than last year? “I personally like having a lot of fans at away games because it makes me play better and want to beat them more.”

Avery Eggerss (junior) Does having fans packed in the stands affect how you play? “Having a big student section doesn’t affect how I play personally, but if anything, it helps keep the energy up on the court!” What is your favorite thing about having fans back at full capacity? “Having fans back at full capacity is the best because the student section gets super crazy and fun and is sort of intimidating to the other team and gets us excited!” Is there a difference between this year and the games last year? “Last year was definitely a little more difficult not having many fans because when we would get down, we wouldn’t have a student section to hype us back up so it was very hard to keep the energy up.”

Having fans back at full capacity is the best because the student section gets super crazy and fun. With fans back at full capacity, does it make away games any tougher than last year? “At away games it is a little difficult because there have been some teams with some crazy fans that are either yelling at us or yelling at the refs or just cheering very loudly. But I think our team has learned to navigate it well because we have our student section cheering for us, too!”

Even though COVID-19 is far from gone, we are all finally adjusting to a more “normal” life in a time that has been anything but normal. During quarantine, sports was one thing we all missed and now we have the chance to go to games and we should take advantage of it.

Design Ella Dillinger Graphic Hailey Kirchner

RETHINK THE DRINK

Shedding light on the dangers of many popular energy drinks Words Kate Travis

nleash the Beast!!!!!!!! the classic slogan of Monster Energy drinks. The labels claim it, “Increases energy! Increases endurance! Improves concentration! And helps you deliver that powerful punch!” But is there something they are not telling us? Frequently there are ingredients and an unhealthy dose of stimulants that are not promoted in the commercials. Surveys in 2018 showed that 40% of American teens are energy drinkers. And this is mostly for sports. The main threat of these hyped up drinks is caffeine. According to Healthline, “caffeine when consumed in large quantities of more than 400 milligrams per day can cause heart palpitations and increased blood pressure.” Some energy drinks have six times as much caffeine as sodas. This is extremely dangerous, especially for those aged 11-19. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, “energy drinks should not be marketed to kids or adolescents” due to the dangers and future problems it can cause in the body. Immediate side effects include heart rate increase, shaking, muscle twitches, stress level rise, trouble sleeping and stomach irritation. These can seem minor but the real issue is the effect on your future health.

The real issue at the core of these health problems is addiction. Addiction is a psychological condition that involves an ongoing desire to use a substance or engage in behavior, despite negative consequences. The caffeine, sugar and artificial sweeteners in each can are highly addictive, especially for younger ages.

In 2011, there were 20,783 emergency room visits that doctors believed had to do with excessive intake of energy drinks. A study in 2017, showed that elevated blood pressure, from the caffeine and sugar in each can, increased one’s risk of heart attack or stroke.

Energy drinks may have some positive ingredients and even good intentions, but we still cannot ignore the danger that comes with them. This is a reminder to consider what one consumes and weigh the future consequences that may follow.

Design Ainsley Plesko Graphic Hailey Kirchner

WILL YOU COMPETE OR NOT COMPETE? Analyzing the costs and benefits of participating in club sports Words Lindsay Lee (Pro) Emma Malkowski (Con)

Pro

here are many pros to being involved in a team sport, especially a club sport. While it can be overwhelming at times, it can often improve both mental and physical health. We frequently hear about the effects that sports have on us physically, but rarely hear about the positive effects they have on us mentally. Those involved in team sports are proven less likely to have mental health issues and depressive symptoms. Newsroom Cleveland Clinic states that “engaging in team sports at a young age can ward off depression in years to come.” Team sports improve physical health by keeping us in shape. Keeping our bodies healthy is very important and can also affect day-to-day life. Participating in social activities such as sports improves social skills which is helpful because we talk to people in everyday life. Mental health is just

Engaging in team sports at a young age can ward off depression in years to come. as important as physical health, and both need to be given equal attention. Being involved in a club sport can also increase your chances of getting into college. Many colleges give sports scholarships to help athletes continue with the sport they love. Being dedicated to this sport can look good on resumes. Club sports can drastically increase skill level due to experienced coaches and other players elevating the play around them. Being involved with club sports and school sports at the same time can help athletes exceed those around them skills-wise. The higher the skill level, the more one can help improve those around them, making the team better as a whole. How is it possible to juggle club sports in addition to school? While it can be challenging, most players find a way to handle both if they truly have a love for the sport.

Con

ports have the potential to shape much of a child’s mindset and life. A positive experience can encourage hard work, teamwork and exercise. However, just as a positive experience can teach children good lessons, a negative experience has the potential to do more harm than good. Though this is not the case for all, when children are in a situation where competition has become too much or is unhealthy, it can be detrimental to their mental health. Some factors, like overly harsh coaching, or a parent’s intensity about their child’s performance can impact what they will get out of their sports experience and maybe even damage their mental state and overall relationship with athletics.

When children are in a situation where competition has become too much or unhealthy, it can be detrimental to their mental health.

they should be pushed, but their drive for getting better should be a product of their genuine love for the game, not out of fear of messing up. Now, this may not always apply. For example, college, professional and Olympic athletes are all part of an industry. Because of this, the competition is more focused on winning, and these athletes conform to this notion when they sign onto a team. But for many kids, sports are so much more than a record of wins and losses. It’s how they exercise, interact and learn valuable life lessons. Taking all this into consideration, society should aim to create a sports culture that welcomes growth, so that all children can receive the valuable benefits of sports.

Of course, every child is different, and not everyone will have the same response to the pressures faced in competitive sports. But, it is important to make sure that the culture created through sports is one that encourages growth through mistakes and the natural process of learning. It is completely fine to push kids, and Design Ella Dillinger Graphics Hailey Kirchner

STICK TO THE ROUTINE An ideal daily schedule for some of Geneva’s finest athletes Words Sophia Dacy

tudents. School. Sports. Three very important things here at the Geneva School of Boerne. What happens when a student is more than just a student? Going above and beyond to become: a student athlete. What is a student athlete you ask? I would say: students who not only work hard in school, but spend countless hours in the weight room, on the court or out on the field. Sure,

Cross Country star, Isabella Godoy (junior): 4:45 AM: I wake up, do some yoga and Pilates. 5:00 AM: I drink two gallons of electrolyte water. 5:30 AM: I run to school with all of my stuff. It’s just a slow 5 mile warm-up. 6:00 AM: 2 mile warm up with the team. 6:30 AM: I lead dynamic warm-ups and do some pre-workout lunges and squats. 7:00 AM: Workout time: 7x1 mile at race pace, so an easy 4:45 mile. 7:45 AM: I’m done early so I go to the weight room and roll out. 8:00 AM: I eat raw beets because they’re good for oxygen and I drink more water. 8:30 AM: I’ve got Spanish first period and I can’t eat or drink in there, so I have to down more water after class. 9 AM–12 PM: More classes. 12:00 PM: My lunch consists of a super nutritious beet salad with quinoa, and then I drink another three gallons of water with NUUN electrolytes. 1-2 PM: More classes. 3:00 PM: I have a study hall, so I go to the weight room to get in one last workout and roll out. 4:00 PM: I run home and eat a load of carbs.

completing an essay for Mr. Southwick is important, but so is making sure the football team makes it to the infamous sandpit on time. Obviously, turning in your science homework to Ms. Daniels is crucial, but so is making sure your volleyball team stays #1 in district. Now what does a full day of a student athlete look like? You are about to find out through four extremely dedicated student athletes.

Cheerleader Naiya Swientek (junior): 6:00 AM: I wake up with hot pink lipstick smeared on my face and my hair up in a high ponytail from cheer practice the day before. 6:15 AM: I finally decide to roll out of bed and hop in the shower. I let the water roll down my face and take the three-dayold mascara off my lashes. 6:45 AM: After my shower, I look in the mirror and sing the fight song while brushing the knots out of my hair. 7:00 AM: I start my full game day makeup routine. I finish it off with some glitter and a smile. 7:15 AM: I go downstairs and hug my mom. I tell my little sisters that we need to go because I have to run by Starbucks and the line is really long in the mornings. 7:30 AM: I arrive at Starbucks and order Sophia Baldwin and myself some drinks. I always ask for sprinkles in my Frappuccino with extra whipped cream. 7:50 AM: I drop off my little sisters at school. 8:00 AM: I sit in the car and drink my Starbucks before school starts. 8:30 AM: I say good morning to my teachers and make sure my Geneva cheer spirit shines through me. 3:35 PM: I grab my sparkly cheer backpack and head into the locker room to put my cheer bow on top of my head before practice starts. 3:50 PM: I arrive at cheer practice and chill with my cheer sisters. Since cheer isn’t a sport, we don’t practice or anything. We just sit there and smile. Occasionally we will get up and learn a dance for the game on Friday. 6:30 PM: I leave practice and head home. I yell the cheers while I drive home...practice makes perfect.

#1 in district Volleyball Team Co-Captain: Avery Myrick (senior): 6:40 AM: I wake up and open my curtains, look outside and tell myself: “What a beautiful day the Lord has made.” 6:45 AM: I walk into my bathroom and look in my mirror and say my morning affirmations: “You are beautiful, you are special and God has made you in the image of a perfect person.” 6:50 AM: I get dressed, specifically in my volleyball uniform, but I put on the Geneva uniform over it so I don’t get dress-coded. 6:57 AM: I walk downstairs and get some breakfast. Every morning I have a piece of toast with Nutella and bananas. 7:30 AM: I leave for school so that I can come to the parking lot and pass my volleyball around. 7:53 AM: I give my morning hug to Chaz. 8:17 AM: I listen to my daily Christian bops, specifically “You Say” by Lauren Daigle. 8:30 AM: Every morning I walk through Mr. Southwick’s door for first period, and he immediately congratulates me on my amazingness from the game last night, as he should. But since we are a grinding team, we have games everyday, so it’s game day today. No pain, no gain. Full send. 942. 8:31 AM: Then my day goes on. I have some classes. I do the normal stuff. 10:05 AM: I have some off periods so I go home and lay in my bed. I watch TikTok, make TikToks and edit my team’s latest videos. We are always keeping up with the newest trends and we call it ‘Teamtok.’ Specifically 11:28 AM: I eat lunch; usually a hardy lunch—carbs, fruit, veggies and meat, specifically turkey. 11:45 AM: I make my way back to school for fifth period AP Stats. This is the most important class of the day because it gets my mind ready and awake for

the volleyball practice/game that is to come. 1:17 PM: I have an off-period so I roam around my beloved school, looking for my fellow volleyball teammates so that I can say hi to them, and I usually look for teachers to pray for. 1:25 PM: I run to Mr. Dirk Russell’s office so that I can pray over him because he’s important. Then, I walk to Mrs. Ward’s office and pray for her because she does so much. Then I walk around the whole Geneva campus and put my hand on every teacher’s door and I say a prayer: “Mrs. Greenlees, I pray that your day is as amazing as watching you fall over a hay bale. That was awesome. Amen.” 2:30 PM: I go into the bathroom and look in the mirror and say my afternoon affirmations: “You are strong, you are super smart, everyone wants to be me.” 2:45 PM: I always have an eighth period. It’s either Mr. Grover or Ms. Daniels. Grover vs. Daniels? I hate to admit but the end of my school day is better when I have Ms. Daniels. She is just the sweet soul that adds to the amazingness of the day. No offense Mr. Grover.

3:35 PM: The most important part of the day: Volleyball Time. I sprint out of class to get to practice immediately because there is no time to waste.

my veins, I just know there’s nothing else I would rather be doing.

3:45 PM: I start stretching to get warm for practice as I watch my little sister practice volleyball. Being a good athlete runs in my family.

6:00 PM: Practice ends, but the best part of practice is just seeing sweet Coach Vaughn’s face and learning to love doing hips to the ground. I love getting to cheer on my teammates because that’s really what matters: the love and the heart we have for each other. #942forever

4:00 PM: Practice starts and I couldn’t be any more excited. The adrenaline rushing through

5:30 PM: We do some drills, play some Queens, maybe some 6v6, but I really enjoy the game USA.

Football Middle Line Backer Grant Mowery (senior): 6:05 AM: I wake up and get ready. I stare at myself in the mirror and tell myself I’m a monster and that nobody can out-work me. I manifest success. 6:30 AM: High protein breakfast and high caffeine intake. I begin to itch as the preworkout hits. 6:50 AM: Weight room baby. I fight my demons while destroying my ears with Coach Rexrode’s music. 8:00 AM: Shower and get ready for school. I admire my massive muscles in the mirror. 8:30 AM: That thing required before football practice. 9:00 AM: Hydrate. 12:00 PM: Hydrate. 1:00 PM: Hydrate. 3:35 PM: Leave that thing called school. 3:37 PM: Inject excellence into my veins. 3:40 PM: Best part of my day begins. 4:00 PM: Scream at George Viña for making a good play. 4:17 PM: Lay out Ethan Valdez and tell him he’s small. 6:30 PM: Team bonding/practice ends.

7:15 PM: Take a cold shower because we do hard things here at Geneva School of Boerne. 8:00 PM: Admire my muscles again while watching Ronnie Coleman lift sessions. 10:30 PM: Sleep and repeat.

Our student-athletes here at Geneva School of Boerne are #dedicated. Design Sarah Coultress Graphics Hailey Kirchner Photos GSB Photo Team

F IS FOR FOUNDATION Coach Kroeker’s new philosophy for the athletic department

Words Jacob Goodman

Coach Duane Kroeker

uane Kroeker has been coaching in athletics for 30 years, and is now the most recent coach to join the Geneva Athletics Department. He has developed an idea where he wants all the coaches going in the same direction which can be explained in his three F`s. Faith, family and fundamentals. Coach Kroeker`s idea for team culture is a team that

His idea for team culture is a team that comes together, believes, loves and encourages one another.

comes together, believes, loves and encourages one another. His plan is to build this culture across all sports at Geneva. FAITH The first of the three F’s is faith. As a part of a team where all glory should go to God, you do everything to the best of your ability to honor Him and service others. Coach Kroeker also mentions that the body is a temple, so the way you treat your body should also be to the glory of God. FAMILY The second of the three F`s is family. “Family brings groups of young men and women together into a team who have nothing but brotherly love and commitment to each other,” Kroeker said. He wants each team to feel like a second family with

He wants each team to feel like a second family with people you can go to for anything. people you can go to for anything. Coach Kroeker stresses the importance of self-sacrifice and encourages us to realize that we will do much better as a team instead of just ourselves.

FUNDAMENTAL The final letter of the 3 three F`s stands for fundamental. “We want our students to leave Geneva with fundamentals including work ethic, leadership and character, and overall life lessons we can share with them,”Kroeker said. Coach Kroeker`s three F`s are a way to bring the entire Athletic Department into one cohesive way of thinking. Teams who honor God in all things, who make you feel like they are a second family and who ultimately leave Geneva with a firm foundation in the fundamentals is the goal.

Design Sydney Griffey Photo Lindsay Lee

NAGY HAS A FREAKY FRIDAY

Coach Madison Nagy tries out being a Geneva student for a day Words Kate Evans

Madison Nagy. You may have seen her on the sidelines of a volleyball game, but what about in a classroom? Nagy (as most volleyball natives call her) has been at Geneva for three years, coaching many Logic School sports, JV volleyball, assisting Coach Vaughn with varsity volleyball and teaching Logic P.E. But the real question is, did she know much about our classes? For that matter, did any of our coaches really know about our typical day? I took it upon myself to inform Nagy of what really happened before our practice, and even gave her a glimpse of a day in Rhetoric School.

Coach Madison Nagy

First, I had to get the inside scoop of what Nags thought we did in a day. To sum it up, she didn’t seem to be too educated on what goes on inside of our classes, but she had heard tales about the multitudes of work we received.

I showed her some work we had been assigned. Let’s just say Coach Nagy was glad she teaches P.E. and not Humanities. All the dreadful rumors of three projects and two essays assigned in one week were now affirmed. My goal of this excursion was to hopefully open up coaches’ eyes to our schoolwork and homework, so they could be a little more understanding next time we are slacking during conditioning. Personally, I would like to believe I was successful, and now Nagy was informed about what a Geneva school day looks like, and the work we strived to complete. Although Nags may blend in with your average Logic School student, she just learned what it truly means to be an Eagle student!

Design Sydney Griffey Photo Lindsay Lee

SIGNING UP Student-athlete shares the process of training for D1 Words Spencer Yarbrough

“She’s a freshman!” This is what the student section chanted after one of Karynn Garrow’s point winning plays her freshman year. The fans had to let the opponents know that the girl who just burned them so badly was a freshman. It was entertaining and exhilarating to watch her play then, and her skills have only increased over the past two years. Now a junior, Geneva’s very own Karynn Garrow is committed to a D1 sand volleyball program. Let’s see what she has to say about this big decision.

Junior Karynn Garrow

What college did you commit to and why? Garrow: “I will be playing at Grand Canyon University. The team culture at GCU is unlike any other team community I have seen.” What does your practice schedule in high school look like? Garrow: “During the school season, I have school practice for two hours a day, and then sand volleyball tournaments on the weekend. In the off-season I have two to three hours of sand volleyball training and on my off days I lift weights for about an hour.” What are your thoughts on indoor vs sand? Garrow: “Indoor volleyball is a lot more intense, especially with all the parents on the sideline yelling and screaming. Whereas sand volleyball has a much more relaxed environment, however there is more pressure on each individual player since there are only two players.” Has the thought of quitting ever crossed your mind? Garrow: “About two years ago, when I was still playing competitive indoor

volleyball, I had a coach that was causing me to lose the love for the sport. I ended up quitting indoor and switching to sand.” What has been your biggest motivation to continue to play volleyball? Garrow: “The idea of getting to be a student-athlete in college and getting the college experience while still getting to play the sport I love. Also, my dream is to play at the Olympic level.” What is the biggest obstacle you’ve overcome in your career? Garrow: “When I was 15, I was out the first half of the season and right as I was about to return, COVID-19 hit, causing the season to come to an end. I couldn’t train for several months.” What would you say/suggest to someone wanting to play at such a high level? Garrow: “I would say to start working hard at a young age. It’s easier to develop good habits at a young age than trying to change bad habits at an older age.”

Design Ainsley Plesko Photo Lindsay Lee

Graphic Sophia Baldwin

Pastime Insight into free time

Who’s Sorry Now?

When Life Gives You Lemons

Taking a Bite on a Budget 59

SOMETHING’S IN THE AIR

The effects of different essential oils Words Lauren Abell

ave you ever walked into a room where you are hit by the scent of some unidentifiable spice or been told to rub oil on some injury or other? For most, this is a common experience that can be attributed to the use of essential oils. While essential oils might make you think of one of your mom’s favorite health trends, these oils are actually very useful in everyday life. For over 6,000 years,

aromatherapy has been used for various medicinal purposes as well as for religious and cultural settings. Still around today, essential oils can have many positive effects on our lives and overall health and well-being. The following oils are just a few that you might want to add to your home in preparation for the holiday season.

Peppermint

Aside from the strong, minty aroma, Peppermint is actually good for an assortment of purposes including the following: • alleviates headaches, nausea and various allergy symptoms • relieves aching muscles • boosts blood circulation • kills germs, which is especially helpful for preventing the spread of viruses and common colds

Lavender

While this is a very common oil, it has many helpful properties not commonly talked about including that it: • improves the quality of sleep • eases pain and helps to reduce inflammation throughout the body • relaxes the mind and can assist with issues of mental health • enhance the appearance of the skin

Myrrh

Though commonly known as a gift given to Jesus at His birth, myrrh is more than just an expensive present for the following health purposes because it: • kills bacteria within the body and works to fight off infections • supports skin health and minimizes the appearance of acne • boosts internal health with antioxidant properties • encourages gut and oral health

Cinnamon

Apart from being the perfect spice to add to your home this fall, Cinnamon also has many uses aside from its scent including that it: • is a safe disinfectant alternative • promotes hair growth and health • improves mood and overall disposition • reduces blood sugar and decreases bad cholesterol

Sandalwood

Although not as common as some of the other oils on this list, the following properties make this oil one not to be overlooked because it: • lowers stress • works as an antiseptic agent • helps to prevent scarring and wrinkles • aids with better dental health

Aromatherapy has been used for over 6,000 years.

Design Sophia Dacy Photo Abby Bower

WHO’S SORRY NOW?

An alternative to just saying “sorry” Words Hailey Kirchner

Sophomore Macy Jamison

e’ve all messed up. We’ve done or said something that hurt someone else and the result of our mishaps often leaves one or both members of the argument feeling hurt. Anyone wronged will often feel anger and a need for some kind of justice. But in order to restore a relationship, a sincere apology is typically needed. All of us have experienced situations in which we have tried to apologize and were not successful even though we gave what we thought was our best effort. This is probably because we didn’t understand the many aspects of a genuine apology. For most, one or two ways of apology speak more deeply of genuine sincerity than others, and is therefore more likely to be effective in achieving the ultimate goals of apology, forgiveness and reconciliation. According to Dr. Gary Chapman and Jennifer Thomas, the creators of both the “Apology Languages’’ and “Love Languages,” there are different ways of saying “I’m sorry,” just as there are different ways to say “I love you.” As you might guess, problems arise when an apology is given that the other feels is insufficient. This occurs when the apologizer did not use the primary apology language of the other person. The five apology languages are as follows:

Requesting Forgiveness “Will you please forgive me?”

Expressing Regret “I am sorry.”

Accepting Responsibility “I was wrong.”

Making Restitution “What can I do to make it right?”

Genuinely Repenting “I’ll try not to do that again.”

Requesting Forgiveness

When we earnestly ask for forgiveness, we’re acknowledging that the other person may need something more from us—effort, understanding or time to reach a place of resolution. Requesting forgiveness allows us to express willingness to make up the difference on the other person’s terms Example: “I know that there’s no excuse for the way I betrayed your trust, but I’m doing my best to be worthy of it now. Can you ever forgive me?”

Expressing Regret

Saying “I’m sorry” comes easier to some than others, and the need to hear it can vary, too. In some situations, an apology like this is all that’s needed, but in others, it needs to be paired with different apology languages for it to be effective. For someone who needs to have an apology express regret, attempting to make restitution, another language, without offering an apology can often ring hollow or make someone feel like one is trying to buy their forgiveness. Example: “I need to apologize for the way I ignored your suggestions. I wish I’d been a better listener.”

Accepting Responsibility

In this apology language, it’s important for the apologizer to directly acknowledge the impact his actions or words have had on the person they’ve wronged, rather than blaming circumstances. The key is to make sure the burden of apology stays with the one who is apologizing—don’t make the mistake of saying things like, “I’m sorry you feel that way” when what really needs to be said is, “I’m sorry I made you feel that way.”

Genuinely Repenting

The key component to this apology language is changed behavior. Not only must the apologizer acknowledge that what they did was wrong, but they must accompany that acknowledgment with a plan for avoiding the same mistake in the future. Example: “I want you to know that I feel terrible about forgetting your birthday last Tuesday. I have now written it down as a recurring event in my calendar, so I’ll never forget again.”

Consider these descriptions and which resonate with you as a genuine, sincere apology. Better knowing ourselves and others’ preferred means of reconciliation can help to ensure lasting relationships. Connect with your loved ones by quite literally “speaking their language.”

Example: “I know my yelling today put you on edge. I need to work on finding better outlets for my anger so I don’t upset you.”

Making Restitution

This apology language is all about finding a way to make things right. It’s important to note that in some cases, it’s not actually possible to completely rebalance the scales and that making good on the promise to do so can take time. But for those whose apology language is based around restitution, there’s no substitute for a genuine effort to repair and rebuild. Example: “Thank you for being understanding when we were late to the concert last night. I’m really sorry you weren’t able to enjoy all of it because of me. I’d love to take you to another show as my treat and make it up to you.”

Design Sophia Dacy Photo Alexis Livingston Graphic Sofi Treviño

LEMONADE WHEN LIFE GIVES REVIEW YOU LEMONS Searching for the best lemonade in Boerne Words Abby Bower and Kate Evans

emonade, your trusty friend. You have probably never been to a restaurant that did not offer lemonade. However, just because most places have this staple does mean that they should. We decided to put our local chains to the test and find out who is worthy of having this timeless beverage on the menu. While we aren’t technically lemonade experts, but we have had our fair share of sips from this delectable liquid to decipher the good from the great and the bad from the best. Our contestants for this go-round will be Starbucks, Raising Cane’s, Sonic, Wendy’s and Chick-fil-A.

Starbucks

First up to the plate is Starbucks. Known for their coffee, but are they soon to be known for their lemonade? To answer this briefly, no, they should 100% stick to lattes. It seems offensive to call this watery lemon juice lemonade because it trashes the reputation of this classic beverage. We can appreciate a good tartness to a lem, but straight lemon juice with water to try to mask the mistakes made? No, that’s not gonna fly. Dare we mention the price point too, a whopping $5 for this insult to lemonade, it’s truly offensive. There isn’t much to say about this mess, except to tell you not to waste your money on it, EVER. If you would like to know the flavor of this monstrosity go bite into one of your household lemons. Just for pity, we are rating this a 3.06/10, our pallets were not satisfied and a now wasted $5 excuse for lemonade is taking up a cup holder in the car.

Raising Cane’s

In hopes to wash away the absurd flavor of that “lemonade,” we ventured to Raising Cane’s for some trusty lemonade. At first sip it was amazing, but then our taste buds were met with a sharp undertone. Sure, it hits those salivating sour glands that a good lemonade should, but perhaps too much actually. “It is so sour, it leaves me wincing,” Abby Bower said. We would like to say it is the perfect balance between sweet and sour, but it is leaning a tad too much to the sour side. Although a lingering aftertaste of powdered lemonade, we decided that the actual taste wins over that small aspect. It has a special flavor that no other chain can replicate. And for this reason (although factoring in the tartness) its final rating is a solid 7.32/10, and we would recommend next time you find out which combo your pickin’.

Sonic

Sonic and lemonade, two words we never once considered putting in the same sentence, but were we mistaken? Many may not believe us, but this lemonade is the best we have ever tasted. It’s shocking, but true. We’re not sure why it didn’t register to us that the place known for drinks would have good lemonade but boy it did. The only way we can describe this masterpiece is blissful. It is the perfect blend of sweet and sour and oh so refreshing.

It’s so sour, it leaves me wincing.

“It’s the best of both Cane’s and Chick-fil-A, leaving all of their flaws behind,” Kate Evans said. It even made Abby tear up at the first taste. This lemonade is immaculate and gets the well-deserved rating of 9.9/10.

Wendy’s

Quite honestly this next cup of sorrow doesn’t even deserve to be written about. Wendy’s lemonade. It is simply wretched. Squeals emerged from our mouths at first sip, and not the good kind. Somehow Wendy’s managed to make water sour, and that is the only way we can describe this monstrous flavor. The slight amount of pulp is unsettling as well. It tastes like water with a bad pH and we will leave it at that. Final rating 2.1/10.

Chick-fil-A

Last, and kinda least, Chick-fil-A. Famous for not only chicken but lemonade as well, we were underwhelmed by this mediocre mixture. So much pulp (which isn’t a good thing) and so, so sour. It instantly dries out your mouth and leaves you thirsting for more, which could just be a marketing tactic. There isn’t much good or bad to say about this sad excuse for quality lemonade. It’s simply mediocre at best and for that reason will be getting a rating of 5.6/10.

After a few hours of tasting sugared lemon water, we leave you with this. Stick to trustworthy Raising Cane’s or Sonic, and don’t waste your time with the others. These are the only two well-rounded valid lemonades, and we live by that.

Design Sophia Dacy Graphic Sofi Treviño

TAKING A BITE ON A BUDGET Affordable ways to eat in your favorite restaurants around town Words Lindsay Lee

s high school students, we are always wondering what the cheapest meals are when going out to eat at our favorite places. Well, wonder no more because we’ve got you covered! Listed below are the cheapest meals from popular restaurants. Starting off strong with a fan favorite, we have Whataburger. There are a couple of cheap options on the menu, but we will begin with the cheapest of them all. The grilled cheese is $1.79. The biscuit with bacon and the biscuit with sausage are both $1.99, and the egg sandwich is $2.39. The price of burgers at Whataburger go up. However, if you are in the mood for a burger, here are the cheapest ones. The double meat Whataburger Jr. comes at a low price of $3.79, the Whataburger Jr. with bacon and cheese is $4.24 and the double meat Whataburger with cheese is sitting at $4.29.

menu at Chick-fil-A are the original Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich which is $3.89 and the Spicy Chicken Sandwich which is $4.19. The next restaurant on the list is Taco Cabana. The Bean and Cheese Taco is one of the cheapest things on the menu with the price of $1.49. Now if you are feeling a little too hungry to only eat a taco, there’s the option of the Beyond Meat Nachos for $4.59 and the 2-Enchilada Plate for $6.19. Next up is Raising Cane’s. The cheapest meal options at Cane’s are the Chicken Sandwich at $4.99 or the Kid’s Combo for $5.19. Finally, there is Burger King. Burger King has a wide variety of cheap options and deals including a Two For 10 Deal and two different hamburgers for only a dollar. Whichever location is chosen there are options to eat on a budget.

Moving onto another popular restaurant choice, we have Chick-fil-A. The two cheapest meals on the

Design Sophia Dacy Graphic Hailey Kirchner

GENEVA JAMS Words Gwyn Lewellyn

1. You & I – Local Natives 2. Moon – Kanye 3. Funny (feat. Childish Major) – Benet 4. Song to Make You Fall in Love With Me – Toth 5. Good Days – SZA 6. Better Views – Yellow House 7. Here Comes the Sun – The Beatles 8. The Fall – Rhye 9. What Kind of Love – Childish Gambino 10. Sutphin Boulevard – Blood Orange 11. Hope – Alex G 12. Antidote – Orion Sun 13. Die Young – Sylvan Esso 14. Come Back to Earth – Mac Miller 15. Pink + White – Frank Ocean

Sunrise Edition

Best songs to get you in the mood for the fall season

Design Ainsley Plesko

PRO VERSUS PRODIGY Geneva students attempt to remaster famous paintings Words Alexis Livingston

The Song of the Lark originates from France and was painted in 1884 by Jules Adolphe Breton. A lark is a bird that is associated with dawn and is known for its beautiful voice, which is why it’s call is called a song. A photograph was recreated from this painting on the cover of a book also called “Song of the Lark” which was written in 1915 by Willa Cather.

Sophomore Alex Havranek

The Angelus is a painting of two slave workers in a field as they pray, as a bell rings announcing the evening Angelus, which was a Roman Catholic devotion remembering the Incarnation of Jesus, was said in the morning, noon and at sunset. The artist, Jean-Francois Millet, wanted to put emphasis on how rural life was in the 19th century and crafted this oil painting from 1857-1859.

Sophomores Kate Travis & Alex Havranek

The painting, Queen Zenobia’s Last Look Upon Palmyra, is a painting of Queen Zenobia of Palmyrene Empire, which was a breakaway state from modern day Syria. The empire broke away from Rome and was independent for a while, although she was ultimately defeated by the Roman Emperor Aurelian. The painting depicts her looking out upon Palmyra one last time before she gives up her empire to Aurelian. The painting was made in 1888 by Herbert Gustave Schmalz.

Sophomore Kate Travis

The Wheatfield with a Reaper was painted by Vincent Van Gogh from his hospital room. He was not allowed to leave so he painted. He described the wheat as the eternal cycle of nature and the reaper as death in the sense that humanity would be the wheat being reaped. This piece was created in 1889.

Sophomore Kate Travis

Design Sophia Dacy Photo Alexis Livingston

WRITING FOR A REASON Pieces of poetry written by Geneva faculty and students Words Sophia Baldwin

“Creative writing is an avenue to open up that love of words and language again,” Rhetoric School teacher Mrs. Debbie Wheeler said. Academic writing can seem like a drag and deter one from wanting to do so. “It taps into a completely different part of your brain and honestly, I think it’s upsetting that we draw such a hard line between the two,” Wheeler said. Creative writing and poetry serve as an outlet for emotional expression and vulnerability. “My favorite poem is The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost. I debated on saying it because I know it seems common, but it really is my favorite,” Wheeler said. She enjoys how this poem embodies the message of “no regrets” and not always taking the popular choice. “I wish there were more times in life I had not taken the beaten path.” Mrs. Wheeler originally went to Texas Tech to get a degree in Creative Writing and gravitated towards writing children’s books. She enjoys short stories and children’s tales for their brevity and weight, and the same goes for poetry. “I like the precision of words that you have to employ because you don’t have the space, so words have to be chosen carefully,” Wheeler said.

Her favorite children’s book is A Bad Case of the Stripes by David Shannon. It is about a girl who is so worried about what everyone thinks that she

“I like the precision of words that you have to employ because you don’t have the space so words have to be chosen carefully,” gets a “disease” based on whatever her classmates say. For instance, if they said stars, she would become covered in stars. The message of the book is not to let other people tell you who you are and to own your individuality. “The older I get and the more kids I teach, I want that for them,” Wheeler said. The following are pieces of poetry from Piper Hoke (senior), Mrs. Wheeler and Sophia Baldwin (junior).

Black is greedy, jealous and persistent. Black is the taste of dark chocolate and of licorice. Crackling campfires and a dragon’s lair are black. Saying goodbye to a loved one is black. Black is the sound or distant thunder and drumming raindrops. Black is the boonies under a canvas of stars. Captain Jack Sparrow treasures the Black Pearl. Black is boundless, Bold and brimming like a cup that runs over.

Boundless Debbie Wheeler

Artificial Piper Hoke

Alteration of what’s there Recreation of thoughts from air Time to reminisce Investigation without risk Following an inclination Investing in a proclamation Claiming you will be alright In time when you most wish to cry Artificial hearts and faces Loving none but staying patient

My Favorite Stranger Sophia Baldwin

We are strangers I always thought you could only get to know someone Not that one day I’d have to learn how to “un-know” a person who I once held dear How to un-listen to all your favorite songs How to forget all your favorite foods and un-watch your tv shows I didn’t know one day I’d have to pretend I never met you How do you un-meet someone? I’m genuinely asking because you seemed to do it oh so easily It’s like you have amnesia but only of me It’s like you all the sudden fell off the face of the earth, but only with me I am here You are here So why can’t you see me when I can see you? Why can’t you hear me when I can hear you? I mean I guess our parents have always told us not to talk to strangers And after all, that’s what we are now I am a stranger You are a stranger But you will always be My favorite stranger

Design Sophia Baldwin Graphics Sophia Baldwin

STARTING WITH A SUNRISE A perspective on Geneva students’ morning routines Photos Gwyn Lewellyn

Senior Chloe Higgs

Design Ainsley Plesko

THE

GAZETTE Words Sophia Baldwin

Mandela Effect

ccording to Healthline, the Mandela Effect is “an unusual phenomenon where a large group of people remember something differently than how it occurred.” While some believe it points to a parallel universe, doctors say it is an example of how imperfect memory can be. Have you ever experienced the Mandela Effect? Here are a few examples: C

Correct answers: B, C, F

Rare Genetics Some genetic traits can be rarer than you think. They can be caused by mutations, chromosome changes and even just recessive traits. From two different colored eyes to extra ribs, our traits make us unique. Here are some of our very own high school students who possess some rare traits: Hitchhiker’s Thumb (25%) – Guy Kohler (junior) Green Eyes (2%) – Naiya Swientek (junior) Red hair (>2%) – Lily Langenbahn (senior) Heterochromia/different colored eyes (>1%) – Emmy Hamilton (senior)

Movies Coming in 2021 Dune – October 22 Ghostbusters: Afterlife – November 11 West Side Story – December 10 Spiderman: No Way Home – December 17

Do You Have Curly Hair? If you have been on TikTok or social media lately, you have probably seen videos and articles titled something like, “Do You Actually Have Curly Hair?” or “Signs Your Hair is Curly.” As someone whose hair is occasionally wavy, but not curly, I have often wondered this myself. Curly hair is a genetic trait. While the shape of hair follicles actually determines if one will have curls and what kind they are, here are a few ways to determine if your luscious locks are meant to be curly. Allure magazine suggests testing this theory with a few simple steps: 1. Wash hair 2. Apply a curl serum 3. Dry with a t-shirt or use mouse and let air dry 4. Stay away from heat/styling tools for a while, stay away from brushing hair when wet and try not to touch it after putting product in. “The most important thing to keep in mind when caring for natural curls is moisture, moisture, moisture.” Keep in mind curls come in all shapes and sizes. Wavy or straight, make sure to take care of your hair and own it! Happy curling!

Marvel Show Poll An Instagram poll of students revealed their favorite. Loki 26 students voted (52%) The Falcon and the Winter Soldier 10 students voted (20%) WandaVision 14 students voted (28%)

52% 20% 28% Design Sophia Baldwin Graphics Sophia Baldwin

Explore Magazine Readers Choice Award for Best Ice Cream 2019, 2020 & 2021

8000 Fair Oaks Parkway 4.3 miles from Geneva Monday–Thursday 1pm–9pm Friday–Sunday 1pm–10pm “We are proud to support the Eagles!” Andrea & Richard Thorp, Hali Picciano & Kenneth Kovats, owners

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