February 12, 2009

THE COURIER
THE GENEVA
SCHOOL
NEWSLETTER
FEBRUARY 12, 2009
What do you
Love About Geneva?
It’s happened to all of us—a surge of emotion now and then
that reminds us of our love for The Geneva School and our
gratitude to God that we are a part of this community of faith
and learning. You may have been a mom crying as her son
plays the lead in Beowulf or a grandfather trying to hide the
tears of joy as he watches his granddaughter walk across the
stage on graduation day. You may feel touched during Geneva’s Celebration of Lessons and Carols, realizing that God is
sovereign from eternity past to eternity future.
With love being a popular theme for the month of February,
we asked a few of our families how they
felt about their school. What follows are
their expressions of love for TGS.
Gretchen Roberts; Ashley (6th),
Andrew (2nd)
From the moment we came to Geneva, we knew there was something
special about this school. The love,
kindness, respect and spiritual guidance that the teachers and administrators have provided to our children
over the last seven years has well exceeded our expectations. When my
son misses a day of school and walks
into his second grade classroom and
the students cheer and run over to him to see how he
is feeling, I am proud he is a part of this school. When
my sixth grader walks through the hall and gets a hug
and an “I love you” from her second grade teacher, I
am proud she is a part of this school. When I see our
headmaster playing four square or the teachers playing
kickball with the children at lunchtime, I am proud
my children are a part of this school. When I see the
upper school children interact with the lower school
children in a positive manner, I am proud we are a part of
this school family. Pride is truly how I feel when I think of
The Geneva School. We are so proud of who our children
have become and attribute their personal growth in part to
the guidance provided by the wonderful faculty at Geneva.
Mark and I feel grateful to have our children in this fine
school.
Larry Belcher; Cameron (9th), Landon (7th)
We live in Deland, Florida, a beautiful small Florida town.
Every morning our kids get up at 5:30 am to start their day
and leave for the 55 minute drive to Winter Park at 6:45
am. Although we car pool with two other Deland families,
we usually make 4–5 trips a week to The Geneva
School. Why, one might ask? Are we preparing
our kids to be adult commuters, or are we all just
“morning types” in the Belcher household?
The answer is neither. We as parents are following the biblical mandate to get our kids ready to
“leave and cleave” as adults. This means preparing their intellects for further study and vocational
activity and preparing their character to be godly
young men. If you think about those two things,
they are challenging and difficult enough, especially alone. That is why
we drive to The Geneva School and why
we love it. Where
else can our children
and other students
be challenged to see
real beauty and timeless truth interwoven
into a curriculum that
stresses the interrelationships of all knowledge as well as seeing
that through the lens of an infinite, loving God? Where
else can they be challenged to demonstrate real character
to a waiting world? Where else is as much attention paid
to their spiritual as well as their academic development?
Where else can they be challenged to not only clarify their
own world view but be able to happily and yet forcefully
defend it to anyone who asks?
There are few places where any of these questions can be
answered individually, let alone any single place where they
are all answered at one time. The Christian classical curriculum is a method to answer all of these at once and The
Geneva School is one of the finest examples of a school
using that curriculum in the country. Our children have
grown up in Christian classical schools since the beginning
and we would not have them anywhere else. But the curriculum is not the whole value we see. The Geneva School
has not only prepared them academically, but also has
shown them the value of true community, whether from
teachers, coaches, administrators, support staff, or other
parents. Our children were both sick this week and missed
school so we emailed their teachers. We got responses
that not only told us their assignments, but that they had
prayed for them by name that day! When they ran crosscountry last fall, the coach worked with them individually,
recognizing their own unique, individual talents—just like
their teachers have done the whole time they have been at
The Geneva School. It’s a big, fuzzy world out there full of
moral relativism and situational ethics where real truth is
devalued. We want our kids to not only see that, but to be
a positive force to help change it. The Geneva School has
been a great learning and growing experience for all of us
as a family, and we feel blessed that we can be a part of it.
Cheree Foreman; Drew (4th),
Cole (2nd), Anna (K)
Dinner just completed, I am
washing the dishes and smiling. Smiling not because I
am washing dishes. Smiling
because I am being serenaded
by the sweet voices of my three
children singing their school
song. See, we just watched The
Geneva School on Fox News
35 Cool School of the Week.
As part of the clip, the students
sang the school song which
says in Latin, “Not unto us, Lord, but to thy name give
glory.” The lyrics remind me once again how lucky our
family is to be involved with The Geneva School. The Geneva School is a special place. It is a place where children
Page 2
are loved and nurtured so that their minds can absorb all
the greatness the world has to offer. Our family has experienced this love and support first hand and as a result
we are watching our children grow into their full potential
mentally, physically, and spiritually. As a parent, it puts a
huge smile on my heart for my children to be able to receive an education that is not only for the mind, but for the
soul. The big kicker in all of this is that my children love
The Geneva School, too. They know it is a special place.
They can feel it, too. So tonight as I wash the dishes, I am
smiling and thanking God for providing a wonderful place
called The Geneva School.
Jennifer Knight; Sam
(9th), Thomas (7th), Victoria (3rd), Kate (1st)
I just wanted to take a
minute to tell you how
much I love our school.
Daniel is my four year
old and loves sharks. He
studies his shark encyclopedias everyday and
is trying to learn about
each species.
Yesterday he had some questions about the shark anatomy
that were over my head. I happened to see Vanessa Schaefer in the hall after school and asked her for some information. She stopped what she was doing, went out of her
way to go and find Daniel, who was on the playground,
and brought him to the upper school science lab. There
she arranged for him to watch
Robbie Andreasen (rhetoric
anatomy & physiology teacher) dissecting a shark with a
rhetoric student. I was leading the Brownie meeting while
all this was happening, so she
also arranged for Daniel to be
supervised by an older student
to ensure his safety. He was on
top of the world. He could not
stop talking about it last night.
I am so touched that these two very busy adults took time
out of their day yesterday to foster a true and deep love of
learning in a four year old. Geneva is an exceptional place!
• You will not be asked to make a donation or
pledge on the spot—rather you will be invited
to think and pray about an opportunity to
pledge or otherwise participate financially in
this Kingdom Legacy.
Goal of 100% Participation
It’s not too late for local grandparents,
new families, and employees to sign
up for a Legacy Evening dessert party!
Running February 17–March 10, these
in-home parties have been designed as
fun and informal venues to learn the
details of the new building project.
What can you expect during a
Legacy Evening?
• To socialize with other Geneva
parents, grandparents, faculty, and
staff
• To enjoy good food and fellowship
• To hear an informative presentation from the Headmaster or a
Board Member on where we have
been and where we hope to go as
a school; gain insight into the “big
picture” of the project and campaign; and have an opportunity to
ask questions.
Cam
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all:
Our goal of 100% parent, faculty, and staff participation shows solidarity to one another and those
outside the school who may consider a donation to
the campaign. Your gift of any amount
shows your support and is greatly valued! For every dollar raised, the school
receives a matching dollar. Help us
raise the remaining $782,940 of the
$6.25M goal from within the Geneva
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If you absolutely cannot attend a Legacy Evening, please contact Kelley Jain
at [email protected] or 407332-6363 x 217, and she will send you
a campaign brochure and pledge form.
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The Geneva School • A Christian Classical School
Three Ways to RSVP for upcoming
Legacy Evenings:
• Register online at
www.genevaschool.org/rsvp
• Email Kelley Jain at
[email protected] or call
her at 407-332-6363 x 217
• Return the RSVP card enclosed
with your invitation
Legacy Evenings from 7:00–8:30pm
Feb 17
Feb 21
Feb 23
Feb 24
Feb 25
March 2
March 3
March 4
March 9
March 9
March 10
John & Laura Riley, Winter Park, 32792
Larry & Susan Belcher, DeLand, 32724
Kirk & Michelle Solberg, Longwood, 32779
Robin Candeto, Maitland, 32751
David & Anna Manuel, Casselberry, 32707
LG Alexander & Crosland Stuart, Winter Park, 32789
Todd & Patti Rader, Winter Park/Orlando, 32803
Jim & Nancy Reynolds, West Orlando, 32835
Tom & Debbie Halloran, Oviedo, 32765
Bob & Marjean Ingram, Apopka, 32712
Dan & Tinna Pugh, Winter Park/Orlando, 32803
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The Knight has Something for Everyone
Saturday,
y, March 7
5:30
0 pm
Main Campus
Come one, come all to Castle Geneva on
Saturday, March 7, for a regal, rollicking
time! First, beginning at 5:30pm, bid
on fantastic treasures in the Marketplace
(aka Silent Auction) followed at 7pm by
a grand medieval banquet. The live auction will
feature many new—once in a lifetime—opportunities! This is the one time this year that you,
your friends, and family can really demonstrate
your full support for the students and teachers
of The Geneva School.
There is something for everyone…
Plan your bidding strategies now—bidding
alone or with friends. Families can combine to
bid on trips; win a party for several students; or
ladies, get your girlfriends together for a special
outing. Lots of possibilities here! Plus the famous champagne raffle for a spectacular prize!
Live Auction Highlights
Marketplace Highlights
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•
Vera Bradley
Brighton
Children’s DVDs and Books
Gift Baskets
Victorian Dollhouse
Handmade “Smiley the Snail” Rocking
Horse
Restaurant Certificates
Spa Goodies
Signed Sports and Movie Memorabilia
Designer Jewelry
Valentino Shoulder Bag
RSVP
Page 4
• Kentucky Derby 2009 for Two
• 2009 Dove Awards Trip
• Pair of 2008 Sea-Doo GTX 155 Jet Skis
with Tandem Trailer
• Travel America in Renagade Camper for
Six
• Custom Oil Painting by Heather Wayne
• Deluxe 1611 King James Bible, 400th Anniversary Edition
• Gilchrist Club Hunting Trip with Rifle
• New Smyrna Beach Condo Vacation
• Deer Valley, Utah, Vacation
See more items online!
Don’t delay, reservations are limited. RSVP by February 20.
You can now conveniently RSVP online
www.genevaschool.org/auction
Live Auction Highlight
Kentucky Derby 2009 for Two
Unbridle the racehorse within you and take off for the
most thrilling and greatest two minutes in sports at the
135th Kentucky Derby. Witness the world’s fastest and
most graceful thoroughbreds race for the prestigious trophy and famous Garland of Roses.
The Oaks and Derby have been held at the national
landmark of Churchill Downs since 1875. The original
1895 structure has undergone multi-millions of dollars
worth of renovations and state-of-the-art additions leaving the symbolic Twin Spires intact. Sights and sounds
are abounding in their allure for you. The horses prance
onto the track during the playing of “My Old Kentucky
Home” ridden by jockeys in their notorious colorful
silks. Revel in the sights of the post Derby Hat Parade
and catch a glimpse of Millionaire’s Row with many celebrities in attendance.
Your Race to the Roses begins on Thursday, April 30, with
accommodations for four days and three nights at the only
hotel on the Ohio River, the historic Galt House. Genuinely gracious Louisville hospitality will greet you with a
welcome reception. Enjoy complimentary breakfast each
morning with boxed lunches on Friday and Saturday.
Transportation to and from Churchill Downs is provided
for the races. Exclusive third-floor grandstand box seats
322-323 are reserved for your personal enjoyment during
the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby. These seats
are sold by invitation only and denote the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of this trip. On Friday evening you will
attend a private post Oaks cocktail party and dinner. To
commemorate this unprecedented affair you will receive
an official Kentucky Derby 2009 souvenir.
Be sure to dress to the nines and women should wear a
hat in proper Derby tradition. If it suits your tastes try
the famed official drink of the Kentucky Derby, the Mint
Julep. Discover for yourself why Kentucky is known as
the state of unbridled spirit with a trip to the unparalleled
horse race event in the world.
Includes:
• 4 days/3 nights accommodations at the Galt House
• 3rd floor grandstand box seating, sections 322-323
for Derby & Oaks
• Transportation to and from Churchill Downs on
Friday & Saturday
• Breakfast each morning at Galt House
• Complimentary boxed lunch on Friday & Saturday
• Private post Oaks cocktail party & dinner on Friday
• Official Derby 2009 souvenir.
Itinerary:
•
•
•
•
Thursday, April 30: Check-in
Friday, May 1: Kentucky Oaks
Saturday, May 2: Kentucky Derby
Sunday, May 3: Checkout
N.B. Airfare is not included. Winning bidders must
submit names 10 days prior to event.
Mentor Moments are Back!
Once again, we offer a rare opportunity unique to Geneva: a moment for students to meet with mentors and learn
about careers from the experts. This year, Mentors will be raffled off, giving more chances for each student. Discuss
careers with your dialectic and rhetoric students; this is a valuable, affordable investment in your child’s future.
• Kim Lopdrop: President, Red Lobster
• Dean Cannon: Speaker of the House for Florida
• Des Cummings: President of Florida Hospital
Foundation
• Dr. John Gernert: Anesthesiologist
• Ron Hines: Studio Director, Nickelodeon (Engineering of Theme Parks)
•
•
•
•
•
•
Dan Johnson: Attorney
Commander Dave Manuel: Law Enforcement
Lindsay Oyewale: Attorney
Rich Crotty: Mayor, Orange County
Dave Robinson: Ministry / Missions
Dan Taylor: Fireman
Page 5
Geneva
A Unique Opportunity,
A Unique Education
On January 13 and
23, Heather Wayne
spoke these encouraging words to the
parents of seventh
and eighth grade
parents.
I decided to “shadow” at Geneva the semester before entering high school.
At the time I was a student at another local private school,
and as a quiet, relatively well-adjusted eighth grader disinclined to change, I stepped through the doorways of
Geneva’s former Fern Park campus open to—but not yet
convinced by—the merits of classical education. Lest
you think I was won over by such superficial (but not unimportant) factors as the appearance of the building and
the classrooms, I can assure you that the tiny campus—
which, to say the least, was not nearly so attractive as our
current location—did not factor into my decision. Amenities that we now enjoy—like a gym for sports events,
individual rooms for both art and music, two libraries, a
science lab—simply did not exist. And yet, I was dazzled.
Never before had I encountered students so eager to
learn—was this an alien race? When had it suddenly become “cool” to know the answer in class? I don’t mean to
disparage other schools, or to suggest that middle-schoolers care only about how “cool” they are, or to imply that
learning isn’t usually so highly valued—but to see teenagers, who are typically so painfully self-conscious, fighting
over who can define the word “pedantic”? It was, for me,
little short of extra-terrestrial.
Needless to say, that fall I enrolled as an official student
of The Geneva School. You should know that I am not
prone to sentiment or cliché, and thus it is in all sincerity
that I say that this was one of the best decisions I have
ever made. While at Geneva, I dined at the table of Macbeth and his wife, and watched Banquo’s ghost confront
Page 6
Macbeth with his crimes. I calculated the circumference
of the various round confections we ate in math class on
Pi Day (and that’s 3.14 Pi, not grandma’s apple pie—
although there was plenty of both). I engaged in one
of the oldest debates of all time in apologetics class, and
realized how hard it is to argue that God does not exist. I
ate turnips with Vladmir and Estragon while waiting for
Godot to arrive. I estimated my physics teacher’s rate of
acceleration while he drove his car in circles around the
parking lot. I delivered the acerbic pronouncements of
“Gamalielese” with as much disdain as H. L. Mencken
himself. In short, I did not just learn history, science,
mathematics, literature. I lived them.
Upon graduating from Geneva, I started at Furman University, confident that I would be prepared for the rigors
of college study, but I could never have anticipated how
well Geneva had prepared me. It was not until my freshman Humanities class that I realized exactly how Geneva’s integrated curriculum works. As we traced the entire
timeline of Western Civilization from its beginnings up
to modernity through history, literature, philosophy, and
religion, I was suddenly aware that this year-long class
was but a microcosm of my Geneva experience. At Furman, we spent a mere hour a day for a few months connecting the ideas, events, and works that have shaped
our thoughts. At Geneva, we spent six hours a day for
four years making precisely those connections—and even
longer than that, for those lucky enough to have been
at Geneva as dialectic, or grammar school students. It
should have come as no surprise to me that I would relish
and excel at tracing threads of thought through various
disciplines. And yet the marvels of my Geneva education
continued to delight.
And they still delight me today, as a teacher at Geneva.
I was blessed enough to be hired by the very school for
which I have so much affection—an affection which you
may now be able to detect. If I valued the integrated
curriculum as a student, I value it even more as a teacher.
Because my students study the same time period in their
history class as we study in English class, I can ask them
what happened in 1649 that might have influenced John
Milton’s writing, and they can tell me about the English
Civil War, the execution of Charles I, the rule of Oliver
Cromwell, and how the fact that Milton followed Cromwell indicates that he was maybe a bit of
a rebel. Because my students study philosophy, I can ask them what philosopher
Shakespeare is alluding to when he writes
to the woman he loves that flowers “were
but sweet, but figures of delight, / Drawn
after you, you pattern of all those,” and
they can answer that Shakespeare is undoubtedly alluding to Plato’s Theory of
the Forms. At Geneva, learning is never
isolated; it is always placed in a greater
context. Students often note with glee
that they had just studied a certain topic
in another class; little do they realize this
is not mere serendipity, but careful design.
So what makes Geneva different from my
Humanities class at Furman, or from any
other school that follows a simple timeline? At Geneva,
students do not simply connect the philosophies of Plato
and Aristotle to art, literature, science and history—they
must reconcile these ideas to their faith. Theological
principles are not spoon-fed, but are introduced, struggled with, dissected, assembled, and digested. Just last
week my students broached the problem of evil while
reading Paradise Lost, wondering why God ever allowed
sin into the world. Not a question that is easy to answer
in an hour-long class. However, we spent the time wrestling with the question—one
that I had wrestled with as
well while a student at Geneva—and though the students
found no neat and tidy answer, they were allowed to explore, debate, and ultimately,
to develop an ownership over
what they believe. In “Satire
Landon Belcher, Calli Bigham, and Will Dvorak
climbing Parnassus at Aiguille Rock Climbing Center in Longwood.
III,” a poem I read as a student and now teach to my
tenth graders, John Donne tells us to “doubt wisely; in
strange way / To stand inquiring right, is not to stray; /
To sleep, or run wrong, is.” It is easy to believe that if you
have questions, or doubts about what you believe, that
you are somehow being unfaithful. However, Donne encourages us to ask such questions, and affirms that doing so will make us stronger.
Geneva provides such a place for students
to doubt wisely. It was here that I was first
able to understand and articulate why I
believe what I believe, and that is a gift
far more valuable and lasting than all the
integrated curricula in the world.
It is, perhaps, a testament to my Geneva
education that I can’t seem to stay away
from school. I am now pursuing my Master’s in English Literature at the University of Central Florida, and loving every
minute of it—partially thanks to the love
of learning that was
instilled in me while at
Geneva. I hope that
your sons and daughters will be imbued
with this same love for
learning, and that they
will be able to treasure
every opportunity Geneva has to offer. As
a member of Geneva’s
graduating class of
2003, I can’t wait to
be able to welcome
your students, as the
class of 2014 (read the
year your student(s) will
graduate), into the illustrious group of Geneva
alumni.
After graduating from The Geneva School in
2003, Miss Wayne went on to complete her undergraduate degree at Furman University, SC,
where she graduated in 2007 with a double major in art and English. She is currently teaching
part time at The Geneva School while pursuing
her Master’s in English Literature at the University of Central Florida.
Page 7
Boys Varsity Basketball
The boys varsity team wrapped up the season with a first round game against district
foe Lighthouse Christian, DeLand. Unfortunately the score was not in Geneva’s favor,
but the boys gave their all in a hardfought game.
This year’s charge was led by seniors Luis Perez, Kyle
Barker, and Ryan Delk. All three players logged major minutes and their hard work and competitiveness kept them in most games throughout the
season. The team will definitely miss their
leadership and ability next year.
Geneva
took a major hit this year when
6’6 center Michael Reynolds
went down with a broken foot at
Christmas and was benched for
the rest of the season. Ian Seddon, AJ Salvaggio, Hunter Fowler, and Steve Candeto pitched
in nicely and helped fill the void
left by Michael’s injury. Geneva
is looking forward to a summer
of hard work so as to be ready
to come back next year stronger
than ever.
Varsity Girls Basketball
The girls varsity basketball team
was a young, yet competitive team. Despite being mostly
eighth and ninth graders, the girls played hard and learned
valuable experience for the future. Each one of the girls on
the team improved and learned many things about the game
of basketball and about life, even though they lost more games
than they won due to inexperience. However,
their hard work will propel them forward to
come back next year and grow both individually
and as a team.
The senior leadership of Katie O’Driscoll and
Ashley Yates was apparent throughout the season. They exemplified what it is to be a true student athlete. They played with honor, dignity,
and pride despite the struggles. The supporting leadership of Janzen Harding was seen as
she not only gave her all in every game, but also
as she came alongside her fellow freshmen and
eighth graders to encourage and guide. Ashley
Dike, Michaela O’Driscoll, and Natalie Wayne
helped lead the freshman charge and each im-
Page 8
Winter Sports
proved tremendously throughout the season. Eighth graders Shannon Riley, Isabella Seddon, Erin Schaeffer, Rachel
Barker, and Kaitlyn Dike all contributed to the team in a
much needed way and have taken giant steps to becoming better players.
The future looks very bright for this young team
and there is no doubt the victories will come in bigger
numbers in the future as the girls continue to work on
their skills.
Middle School Boys Basketball
The boys middle school team completed a successful season.
They
practiced
diligently, experienced
victory,
and learned from
defeat. Overall it
was a very positive
and successful season in which all the
players grew both
in their individual
skills and in their
understanding of
being a team. After transferring from the Eastland league into the highly regarded Metro league, they played a much higher level of competition. The team responded to this with a higher level of
team play. Their season ended with the league tournament in
which they came up victorious over Circle Christian School
and then lost a hard-fought battle to St. Luke’s Lutheran in
the semi-final game. Coach Brian Shriner is very proud of the
development all the players made through the season—every
one of the boys ended the season a much better player. Such improvement bodes well for the
future of boys basketball at The Geneva School.
Well done boys!
Middle School Girls Basketball
(Royal Team)
Successful. Challenging. These are two words
that could be used to describe the Royal’s this
season. With almost a completely new line up,
they began to learn what it means to be a team
who works towards one goal together—to be
better basketball players. The girls encouraged
and challenged one another to play hard all
the time, and because of that they had plenty
Round-Up
of success on the
scoreboard. The
team was tested
with tougher opponents, injuries,
and even a leak
from the gym
ceiling
during
one of their tournament games!
The ladies won
their first tournament game with encouragement and cheering from the injured girls on the bench. Even though the girls were playing
against teams that were far more physical than they were, by
the end of the season they were learning to play just as hard.
Middle School Girls Basketball (WhiteTeam)
The White’s had
an exciting season playing in the
Eastland league.
Led by seventh
grader
Jayme
Bryant and sixth
grader
Brooke
Riley, this young
team played hard
against teams of
mostly seventh and
eighth graders. Coach John Riley set a pre-season goal of
finishing .500 and making the tournament. He was to be
pleasantly surprised by the team’s second place finish in both
the league and in the end-of-season tournament. Anchored
under the basket by Carissa Gibson and Daniella Hankey,
along with Jacquelin Sheehan, the ladies proved particularly
aggressive on the boards while Andrea Albertson and Alexa
Hussein led a very stingy defense. This only paved the way for
Jayme and Brooke and the purest shooter on the team, Sarah
Barker, who had a breakout season. Congratulations, ladies,
on your second place finishes.
Girls Soccer
With so many girls in grade 6–12 wanting to play soccer, but not
having enough to make up two independent teams, the season
included games against middle school, JV, and varsity teams. All
the girls practiced together and played on a team according to
their ability and age. Some of the girls, specifically the eighth
graders, played on all three teams.
Girls Varsity Soccer
This team was very young, with the core of the team comprising eighth and ninth graders. Despite that fact, they were
competitive in every game except one—and that game came
at the end of a long week. Coach Coleman was very proud
of all the girls—not only because they are good athletes and
good soccer players, but because they are outstanding young
women.
Senior leadership was provided by “tough as nails” defender
Samantha Cowan and newcomer Lauren Padgett. Both were
invaluable to the team. The defense was anchored by sweeper
Kassie Abercrombie and stopper Lydia Meadows. Special
mention goes to first year goal keeper Amanda Boyle who
had never played soccer before—let alone goal keeper. Her
progress over the course of the season was amazing. The midfield was led by a pair of eighth graders, Alana Parish and
Lily Cloke. Alana and Lily also shared the captains’ duties.
Alana was a threat to score whenever she had the ball in the
attacking third. Lily held the whole team together—her work
ethic was phenomenal. She was outstanding defensively and
a legitimate threat to score as well. Speed on the wings was
supplied by Rebecca Wise, Caroline Gray, Sarah Brodrecht,
and Ellie Dreyer. Sydney Feliciani led the front line with one
speed—fast! Her energy was outstanding.
Highlights of the season included two solid wins over Riverbend Academy and going the full 80 minutes against a very
good, and very well coached, Masters Academy team. Coach
Coleman is confident that the future is bright. He can’t wait
until next year and states, “If the core eighth and ninth graders stay together, this team is really going to be something in
a couple of years.”
Girls Middle School/JV Soccer
The girls middle school/JV team had an outstanding season
finishing with five wins and two losses. Highlights of the season included great wins over the Trinity Prep JV and the First
Academy middle school team. The eighth graders gave leadership to the team and were wonderful role models to the solid group of sixth grade players. The defense was anchored by
sweeper Ashton Roberts and stopper Lydia Meadows. Sarah
Warner, Kristen Gray, and Hannah Black were also solid defensively. The midfield was led again by the duo of Alana Parish and Lily Cloke. Width was provided by Natalie Blue, Alison O’Donoghue,
and
Savannah
Harding. Sydney
again led the team
up front and Moira
Cloke showed that
she knows how to
score.
Page 9
Geneva shares its Vision and its Passion for
Christian Classical Education
by Ravi Jain
The last week in January sparks flew off a very old anvil
in a small island town in Georgia. A band of leaders
from across the Southeast had gathered and the ideas ran
hot. Luckily we were all on the same side as we marched
through the great conversation of Western Civilization.
From January 29th through the 31st The Geneva School
hosted a Christian Classical Colloquy on St. Simon’s Island, Georgia. Some of the finest leaders in the movement attended and spent three days as iron sharpening
iron. Although we discussed our past, we focused on
Christian Classicism’s future. Geneva’s headmaster, Bob
Ingram, blew the proverbial ‘Ram’s Horn’ to unite the
heads of school, academic deans, and leading thinkers
together for an extended vision session. Thirteen men
and women from Trinity Academy, North Carolina; The
Westminster Academy, Tennessee; The Caldwell Academy, North Carolina;
The CiRCE Institute,
North Carolina; and
The Geneva School,
Winter Park rallied to
tackle the complex issues facing our institutions.
Our first topic, the narrative of western civilization, began slowly
on Thursday night but
culminated with fascinating discussions on
Friday and Saturday.
The identity around
which the group united was the concept of “Christian
Humanism,” a historical movement undergirding the
Reformation. This term eventually became the controlling paradigm for the weekend. This perspective and
terminology was helpful because Christian Humanism
values real faith and real learning, a central theme for
Christian Classicism. Geneva’s Kevin Clark also suggested that a cohesive narrative using Augustine’s categories, which traced the City of God and the City of
Man throughout civilization, would help our students
to feel at home in historic Christian Orthodoxy.
Page 10
But once we dug into the narrative itself many complexities arose. Although the various schools differed in the
relative importance they placed on the Ancient Near
East and the Modern period, we agreed on a high view
of the Classical and Medieval eras. Dr. Edward Chandler of Geneva extemporaneously delivered a rousing
apologetic for studying the history of the Ancient Near
East. (And well he should have, given that his PhD is
in Ancient Near Eastern Studies!) Besides forming the
backdrop for the Old Testament, he explained other
aspects of Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Canaan that merit
attention. He highlighted Sumerian civilization not
only as the birthplace of cities but also as one of the
originators of writing. Later, continuing the classical
narrative, Andrew Kern from CiRCE emphasized the
importance of Homer in laying the foundation for Plato’s thought.
Transitioning to the
Medieval period, all
agreed that the debate over universals
was crucial. But some
thought that Ockham’s nominalism led
to serious problems in
modern science while
others considered it
merely an influence.
This seemed to be at
the core of disagreements over how to approach the modern era.
All participants concurred that modernity has not been
the utopia that its early philosophers promised. Dr.
Grant Brodrecht (Geneva) provided some particularly
insightful comments on the problem of modernity.
James Daniels of CiRCE commented that Christian
Classicism as a whole must devote more attention to
math and science. Precisely because of Geneva’s emphasis and expertise, this led the Circe Institute and
Geneva’s Ravi Jain to explore the idea of hosting a conference to do so later this year.
Friday the conversation sizzled as we discussed integration. Dr. Robert Littlejohn highlighted how the Trinity Academy’s seventh and eighth grade classes focus on
the themes of imperialism and revolution. This allows
the various subjects like literature and history to unite
around these ideas, affording students time to delve
into them more deeply. Andrew Kern then unpacked
his perspective on the liberal arts as the methods used
to understand all other subjects of inquiry. Although
he reflected many of the themes in Dr. Littlejohn’s
book, Wisdom and Eloquence, he also suggested further
hypotheses regarding the nature of particular arts in the
quadrivium. Ravi Jain’s scientific training led him to
conclude that some aspects of the liberal arts are underutilized. He argued that this sets the pattern for
modern science as traced through the rise of physics.
This is best exemplified by the history of the Scientific
Revolution in which Galileo and Newton’s Principia
Mathematica usher the world into a new era.
Later on Friday night, Geneva’s Bill Wood, who previously lived on St. Simon’s, finagled access for the thirteen of us to Sea Island, an exclusive and historic hotel resort. Sea Island hosted the G8 summit in 2004.
As we exchanged turns relaxing in the chairs used by
George Bush, Jacques Chirac, and other world leaders,
we imagined what we would have seen when staring
The Merely Players Junior
present
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
February 27 & 28
7:30 pm
Aloma United Methodist Church
Tickets purchased before February 20 are $5.
All tickets purchased after February 20 are $7.
Tickets will also be sold at the door.
Join the TGS Merely Players Jr. in the woods of Athens
as they present what Shakespeare himself called, “the
silliest stuff that ever I heard.” Treat yourself to a magical evening of humor, music, and spectacle. Star-crossed
lovers, warring fairies and the local craftsmen rehearsing a
tragedy all become hopelessly entangled in the Athenian
woods. From these threads, Shakespeare weaves a hilarious romantic tale, guaranteed to touch the hearts of all!
The show is suitable for all ages.
into the eyes of Vladimir Putin seated nearby. Our
classical conversation continued there late into the
evening amidst the beauty and historic setting of this
grand hotel.
On Saturday morning Bob Ingram led the dicussion
as we tackled alumni issues, questions of scholarly articles, and the path forward. Westminster’s Peter Baur
suggested an aggressive approach to relationship building with our parents and alumni. The duo from the
Caldwell Academy, Mark Guthrie and Lucie Anderson, highlighted the centrality of the church in the full
preparation of students for college and the need for our
schools to work more closely together. Dr. Grant Brodrecht of Geneva echoed this sentiment, encouraging
us to avoid the autonomous habits with which our age
has imbued us. To this end we reaffirmed the roles of
both the Society for Classical Learning and the CiRCE
Institute in fostering the growth of Christian Classicism in concert. After a hearty lunch we parted ways,
both filled with the fellowship of the previous days and
with our minds racing. Just down the road, the camellias in full bloom at Charles and John Wesley’s old
church reminded us of the beauty of the civilization
which we are striving to protect. They repeated to us
all: it is God’s work in Western culture, not our own,
which we are preserving.
Mark your Calendars for the Annual
Student vs. Faculty
Basketball Game
Thursday, March 12
Ladies Game at 5:00 pm
Free Throw Contest at 6:00 pm
Men’s Game at 7:00 pm
Admission to Games is Free
BBQ by Four Rivers Smokehouse
will be available for purchase
Page 11
The Liturgy
of Lent
From the Desk of the Dean of Students, Dr. Edward Chandler
If you were asked
the survey question, “What is
the most important day of
the year?,” how
would you respond? Undoubtedly the answers from people in such a
survey sample would be many and varied: some might
opt for a level of objectivity by answering “Christmas”;
others might personalize it by giving their birthdate,
their child’s birthdate, or their anniversary. All such answers are salutary in their own way, and as far as they
go, are indeed “correct” answers to the question if one
interprets it to mean “what is the most important day
to you?”
But what if the question were this: “What is the most
important day in all history?” Minds would scan over
remembered history, perhaps to VE or VJ day, maybe
to the signing of the Declaration of Independence, or
to October 31, 1517, when Martin Luther nailed the
Ninety-Five Theses to the door of the Castle Church in
Wittenberg. Perhaps some might mention Christmas.
Based on personal experience talking to many people in
a number of cities, I expect that even among professing
Christians we would find disappointingly few people
who would name “Easter” as the most important day
in history. It is a day largely without fanfare, other than
Easter eggs and baskets in the gift shops. It seems that
in many sectors of Christendom, the resurrection story
of Easter has been overcome by the Easter bunny, if not
by the Masters golf tournament, or whatever sporting
event might happen to fall on that day.
Now I am not trying to pit one Christian holiday
against another. Clearly Christmas and Easter are indissolubly linked. Without the birth of Christ, there
would be no resurrection of Christ. Neither am I casting aspersions on Easter egg hunts or sporting events.
What I am doing, though, is calling special attention
to the anniversary of what I believe the New Testament
Page 12
considers the greatest event in all of cosmic history:
the resurrection of Christ, which will be celebrated a
mere 53 days from the publication of this edition of
The Courier.
As a classical and Christian school, The Geneva School
seeks to rediscover those great inheritances that, for one
reason or another, have been lost, misunderstood, and/
or de-emphasized as our culture spirals more deeply
into secularism and our churches struggle to maintain
their witness without compromise. One of those inheritances that Geneva has consciously latched on to is
the liturgical calendar of the church. Perhaps the word
“liturgical” has some readers scratching their heads.
The adjective “liturgical” comes from the noun “liturgy,” which has been borrowed from Greek and means
“public service.” Originally a secular Greek term, it was
borrowed by ancient Old Testament translators and by
the New Testament writers to refer to the Temple service and then, ultimately, to what we know as “Sunday
worship.” But not only can it refer to the Sunday “order
of service,” it can also apply to the order of service of
the entire Christian year, which begins on the first day
of Advent, the season leading up to Christmas.
Right now in our yearly liturgy, we are in the season
after Epiphany, which always falls on January 6, and
which celebrates the epiphany, or appearance, of Jesus
to the Gentile wise men who came to visit him while
he was still a young child. Upcoming in our yearly
liturgy is Ash Wednesday, which always falls 40 days
before Easter (not counting any intervening Sundays).
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, which is
traditionally a special time of repentance, prayer, and
fasting in anticipation of celebrating Jesus’ death and
resurrection during the week from Palm Sunday until
Easter, also known as Holy Week.
While there is certainly a real sense in which we ought
always to be in repentance and prayer, and while there
are occasions for fasting that may present themselves
at any time during the year, there is a real benefit to be
derived from keeping the yearly liturgy of the Church.
For example, keeping the calendar keeps us balanced:
it forces us, who are wont to emphasize certain truths
at the expense of others, to consider the whole counsel
of God—every year. The calendar also schools us over
and over again on the life of Christ, from birth to ascension, and on the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on
Pentecost. Lent itself forces us to spend time focusing
on those unpleasant aspects of our lives that we would
probably rather not, but that are necessary to dwell on
and understand, and which cast the resurrection of
Christ in its full brilliance. But in order to gain the
fullness of this Lenten benefit, a number of conditions
ought to be sought out. I would like to discuss three.
have achieved a state of silence we may fill that newly
created void with that which is truly good. Be still and
know that I am God.
Third, Lent is a time for active self-denial. For the
modern American with 300 television channels, a
cutting-edge cell phone, an MP3 player, and a host
of other distractions, self-denial as a principle will often be identical to a search for silence. But self-denial
means more than just turning off the television set. It
may take many forms. A common question asked at
this time of year is “What are you giving up for Lent?”
This reflects the practice common in the history of the
church to deny oneself foods or other things one otherwise considers indispensable as an act of devotion to JeFirst, we need to seek silence. As Alexander Schmesus, who fasted for 40 days in the desert and ultimately
mann, author of the book Great Lent, has pointed out,
gave up his life on the cross for our salvation. Fasts are
we live essentially “schizophrengood things, and they are quite
ic” lives. We believe the Gospel
appropriate to Lent. Fasting is
Lent
itself
forces
us
to
spend
and we seek to order our lives in
something that can be done to
accordance with it, but we have
time focusing on those unpleas- the level the person is physically
two problems: our personal sin
able: it could be as little as one
ant
aspects
of
our
lives
that
we
and the sensory overload of secitem, one meal per week or per
would probably rather not, but day, or as much as a days-long
ularism that is constantly overwhelming us from the televithat are necessary to dwell on fast. On the other hand, some
sion, billboards, the office, and
people advocate taking on adand understand, and which ditional “service” as an altera thousand other sources. The
latter is a problem that is fairly
cast the resurrection of Christ native to fasting. This seems
unique to the modern world;
consistent with the principle of
in
its
full
brilliance.
past generations did not have
self-denial, in that one is giving
this problem, and westerners of
up their time and energy in beearlier ages lived in societies that
half of others, just as our Lord
ordered themselves explicitly by this yearly public litalways did. The form that self-denial takes is not the
urgy of which I write. In those ages there were constant
important thing. What is important is denying oneself,
reminders of the liturgy; in our age, there are constant
actively, and with accountability to others for one’s selfdistractions from it. Lent is a time to consciously and
denial. I dare say these two principles—self-denial and
persistently shut out those distractions, that we might
spiritual accountability—are perhaps the biggest chalfocus our thoughts and prayers on who we really are in
lenges for Americans.
Christ: sinners saved by a gracious Savior.
The goal of these basic Lenten disciplines is not for the
Second, Lent is a time to be silent. It is not enough seek
sake of doing them. Empty liturgy is an affront to God.
silence, that is, to silence those outward sources of noise
Rather, we seek by means of them to be able to pray
and confusion. We must silence ourselves or our shutauthentically with St. Ephrem the Syrian:
ting out the noise of the world is useless. May we never
point the finger accusingly at the world for the noise it
O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit
generates, for how we contribute to that noise! Thereof sloth, despondency, lust for power and idle talk. But
fore, it is more important than ever that we consciously
grant unto me, Thy servant, a spirit of chastity, humility,
be silent, so that we might contemplate and anticipate
patience and love. Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see
that momentous day of resurrection by which we are all
mine own faults and not to judge my brothers and sisters.
justified in the sight of God. In other words, once we
For blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen.
Page 13
Alumni News
A Student for Life
by Alyssa Smith
I graduated from The Geneva School almost
eight years ago undeclared and unaware of what
long-term plan God had in store for me. I have
spent these last several years transitioning into
adulthood, marriage, and parenting. Adapting
to these life-changing responsibilities has demanded my spiritual growth and forced me to
set aside many of what I assumed were my personal goals. Looking back I am convinced of
God’s purpose. Today, as a young mom, I feel
like a student more anxious than ever to have the
right answers and hopes of success.
and to pursue God’s favor above all else. Soon
they will become more susceptible to the voice of
their peers and be presented with many temptations. I remember adolescence accompanied by
a storm of social and academic expectations in
which I constantly desired acceptance and approval. While this pressure builds character it
can also create a defeating sense of unworthiness. I pray that my children will be confident
in their identity first and foremost before God so
that their failures will be seen as opportunities
instead of embarrassments.
I became a mother at 23 and have never felt more
challenged by my now two-and-a-half-year-old
son Daniel and his five-month-old sister Sophia.
I believe God designed women
to have this rather multifaceted
attention span when balancing
multiple children. Considering
the demands of parenting in relation to being a student they are
somewhat parallel. For obvious
reasons becoming a new parent is
the greatest test of patience and
self sacrifice. Daniel presents a
pop quiz at every corner challenging my definition of logic, reason, and obedience. Sophia has
me pulling a few late nights and
juggling my ability to prioritize.
Adjusting to this life and responsibility has completely changed
my perspective of the world and
forced me to seek a greater understanding of God’s design.
I am so closely scrutinized by Daniel’s and Sophia’s absorbing eyes as they imitate me on a
daily basis. It is a regular challenge to my pride
to be wrong or completely unversed when
attempting to be the
“wise parent.” Many
times I have to recall
that motherhood is
what God has called me
to and not something I
am facing by chance.
In that respect I feel a
great sense of purpose
and honor in response
to God’s calling. I am
a wife and a mother
now, much as I was a
student without all the
answers eight years ago.
I am reassured that the
greatest mistake I could
make is to not rely on
God to reveal the answers and pave the way toward righteousness for
both my family and myself.
I find myself more aware of the dangers of this
world when considering the vulnerable minds
of my small children. I have just a few years
to teach them how to discern right from wrong
Page 14
Alyssa with her husband Adam and
children Daniel and Sophia.
News from the Admission Office
by Patti Rader (Director of Admission)
We in the Admission Office have great
news! Join us in thanking God for reenrollments and new applications that surpass the last two year’s totals. He is the
God who is able to do far more abundantly than we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20),
and we have truly seen Him work in ways
that surpass the expectations held in our
bleak economic times.
I attended the Moms in Touch prayer
time this morning, and I was moved as I
listened to all the prayers that were lifted
up on behalf of students at TGS. Geneva’s motto, Post Tenebras Lux, means “After Darkness, Light.” In our day, where
contemporary culture and economic woes
bespeak darkness, I think of light when I
think of Geneva. We are a community of
faith and learning, where the Light of the
World is honored. As I walk the halls of
Geneva, I say to myself, “Aslan is on the
move!” (I am assuming you have all read
The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.)
We are encouraged—and we hope you
are too—as we see God answer prayer and
witness His faithfulness to the school.
You make a difference! Thank you for your
prayers and continued support of admission efforts at The Geneva School. Word
of mouth is our best advertising, and we
love to share the wonderful news about
Christian classical education with your
friends and family. If you know a good
family for Geneva, please feel free to call
any time to schedule a tour. If you would
like to host an informational coffee in your
home where your friends and neighbors
could meet members of our staff, please
call or email Patti Rader or Candy Houk.
Thank you again for praying and working together to support and grow The Geneva School. Please don’t hesitate to call
or email us in the Admission Office for
tours, reenrollment, scholarship, and related information.
Patti Rader: [email protected]
Candy Houk: [email protected]
Tolle Lege
Take it and read
Tolle Lege Discussion
Friday, February 20, at 7:00 pm
You are invited to an evening of living room conversation over coffee and dessert at the home of Geneva
parents, Dave and Rachel McDaniel. Please consider
taking advantage of this opportunity to fellowship with
other members of the Geneva family while participating in great conversation.
Each week your family receives a short article, Tolle
Lege (a Latin phase meaning “Take it and read”), written by a faculty member. This is your chance to join
with other TGS parents to dialogue with the authors
of recent articles regarding ideas and concepts related
to Christian classical education.
“Reggie and I really enjoyed our time at the last conversation. From our first Prospective Parent’s Night we fell in
love with The Geneva School and the idea of a Christian
classical education. However, whenever we tried to explain
it to others, we did not have the words to do so. The Tolle
Lege articles have given us an opportunity to hear what
this educational style is, directly from the perspective of the
faculty and staff in relation to their subject matter. Then, at
the conversation we were able to interact with them directly,
sometimes asking questions for clarification, sometimes making suggestions, and exploring how it relates to and prepares
our children for life in today’s society. We found it to be a
wonderfully fun and engaging evening out. We are looking
forward to the next one”.
Kamillia White (Kindergarten mom)
Address: 535 Genius Drive, Winter Park, 32789. Phone:407-647-5923.
Need a Babysitter: Contact Sarah Cloke if you need help finding a babysitter for the evening.
([email protected], 407-332-6363 ext. 221)
Page 15
Dates for Your Calendar...
No School (Winter Break)
Photography Field Trip to Crystal River Springs
Junior Thespian State Competition
National Art Honor Society Field Trip to Georgia
Legacy Evening at the home of John and Laura Riley in Winter Park
Parenting from the Heart; 8:30–10:00 at ECC for parents of Pre-K and Kindergarten students
Pancake Breakfast for dialectic and rhetoric students; 7:30
Fifth grade field trip to Geneva Beach (aka Legacy Park property) for battle re-enactments; 11:00–2:30
The Friday Series; 3:30 in the music room
Tolle Lege discussion evening at the home of Dave and Rachel McDaniel; 7:00
Saturday, February 21:
Legacy Evening at the home of Larry and Susan Belcher in DeLand
Monday, February 23:
Legacy Evening at the home of Kirk and Michelle Solberg in Longwood
February 23–27:
Ninth grade field trip to the Florida Everglades
Tuesday, February 24:
Legacy Evening at the home of Robin Candeto in Maitland
Wednesday, February 25: Legacy Evening at the home of Dave and Anna Manuel in Casselberry
February 27 & 28:
Merely Players Junior present A Midsummer Night’s Dream; 7:30 at Aloma United Methodist Church
Saturday, February 28:
Admission Testing
Sunday, March 1:
Rhetoric Choir travel to Tallahassee
Monday, March 2:
Rhetoric Choir sing at State Capitol
Legacy Evening at the home of LG Alexander and Crosland Stuart in Winter Park
Tuesday, March 3:
Legacy Evening at the home of Todd and Patti Rader in Winter Park/Orlando
Wednesday, March 4:
Legacy Evening at the home of Jim and Nancy Reynolds in West Orlando
Thursday, March 5:
Third grade rehearsal for The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe; 9:00–2:30 at AUMC
Friday, March 6:
Third grade presents The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe followed by cast party; 9:00–2:00
Saturday, March 7:
The Knight—The Geneva School Annual Auction; 5:30
Monday, March 9:
Williamsburg chaperone meeting; 7:00
Legacy Evening at the home of Tom and Debbie Halloran in Oviedo
Legacy Evening at the home of Bob and Marjean Ingram in Apopka
Tuesday, March 10:
Third grade field trip to the Marine Discovery Center in New Smyrna Beach; 8:45–2:30
Legacy Evening at the home of Dan and Tinna Pugh in Winter Park/Orlando
Wednesday, March 11:
Fourth Grade Printing Press activity; on campus
Concert by Geneva College Choir for students in grades 4–12; 1:00
Thursday, March 12:
Birds of Prey visit the Kindergarten classrooms; 1:30–2:30
Sixth grade field trip to the Holocaust Museum in Maitland; 9:00–1:00
STUDENT vs. FACULTY BASKETBALL GAME
Friday, March 13:
Student Holiday/Faculty Workday
March 16–20:
NO SCHOOL (Spring Break)
February 13–16:
Friday, February 13:
February 13 & 14:
February 13–16:
Tuesday, February 17:
Wednesday, February 18:
Friday, February 20:
The Geneva School
2025 State Road 436
Winter Park, FL 32792