THE GENEVA SCHOOL TTHEHE COURIERCOURIER NEWSLETTER Student Edition MAY 21 2013 The Geneva School Class of 2013 By Anthony Hooks, 10th Grade In just a few short days, Th e Geneva School Class of 2013 Th ey went through the fantastic freshmen year, the shape- will walk across the stage at Willow Creek Church to receive shifting sophomore year, the jarring junior year, and the super their diplomas. Th is moment will mark for all of our seniors senior year. Th ey made it and are now about to graduate. Th e the beginning of an exciting new chapter in their lives. Th ree class has faced many struggles in their journey and worked of our seniors have been at Geneva since kindergarten (Jordan incredibly hard to achieve their goals. We will miss our seniors Stewart, Lily Cloke, and Shannon Riley) and, for the most dearly, so before they go on to college, turn the page to read part, the class has spent the bulk of the last four years together. some of their refl ections on their lives together at Geneva. Commencement Exercises • May 24, 2013 • 2 pm • Willow Creek Church, Winter Springs Th e entire Geneva community is invited to attend. Dr. Phillip Donnelly will give the commencement address: Dr Donnelly joined the TGS Advisory Board in 2013. He is director of the Great Texts Program in the Honors College at Baylor University. Before Baylor, he taught at the University of Ottawa and at Texas Tech University. TGS Class of 2013 Rachel Barker ~ Daytona State College ~ Nursing Keller Bright ~ Baylor University Honors College (TX) ~ English Sarah Brodrecht ~ University of Central Florida Th e Burnett Honors College ~ Undecided Edward Chandler, Jr. ~ University of Richmond (VA) ~ Chemistry and Physics Lillian Cloke ~ Grove City College (PA) ~ Biochemistry Ellie Dreyer ~ College of Charleston (SC) ~ Communications Michael Kester ~ University of Central Florida ~ Nursing Megan Miller ~ Florida Southern College ~ Nursing Anna Meyer ~ Flagler College ~ Deaf Education Timothy Michaud ~ University of South Florida Honors College ~ Mathematics Gabriel Pederson ~ Baylor University Honors College (TX) ~ Classics and Chemistry Wesley Reynolds ~ University of Oklahoma Honors College ~ Engineering Shannon Riley ~ Furman University (SC) ~ Health Science and Poverty Studies Jared Rivers ~ Samford University (AL) ~ Business Management Isabella Seddon ~ Rollins College ~ Marine Biology and Music Kaila Stairs ~ Pensacola Christian College ~ Illustration Jordan Stewart ~ University of Alabama Honors College ~ Undecided Blake Trent ~ University of Central Florida ~ Aeronautical Engineering Trip Tressler ~ University of North Florida Honors College ~ Undecided If you could sum up your Geneva experience in one sen- • It has given me a strong foundation in both academics tence what would it be? and my Christian faith. ~ Michael • Geneva has been a wonderful, enriching, fantastic, • Geneva = academics + sports + friends + God = a great blessed experience! ~ Ellie thirteen years of my life! ~ Lily • A roller coaster with lots of ups and downs, but in the • I have loved going to school here and I will miss all of end one that I wish I could do again. ~ Kaila the students, faculty, staff , and even the building next • God will provide! ~ Blake year. I will also miss the family feeling that comes with • Geneva is a strong, loving family that soars in faith. ~ Megan Geneva’s smallness. ~ Gabe • Geneva has not always been easy, but it has been one of What advice do you want to give to the rising seniors? the best things that has happened to me. ~ Anna • Don’t procrastinate. ~ Ellie • Geneva has been the rock upon which I’ve begun to • Don’t take your time here for granted, the time goes build my house. ~ Shannon faster than you’d think. ~ Kaila • I took the road less traveled and it was completely worth • Stay focused on what matters, and not on passing fancy. it. ~ Trip ~ Blake • Geneva has truly been an infl uence on my mind, heart, and • Seniors, senioritis is REAL! Do not let it get to you. Ignore soul; it has taught me how to be a whole person. ~ Wesley it and strive to the end, fi ght to the fi nish line. ~ Megan • “He’s not our hero. He’s a silent guardian, a watchful • Complete all available parts of college applications dur- protector. A dark knight.” ~ Jared ing the summer. ~ Shannon • Better than I could ever have imagined. ~ Isabella • Work hard, play hard, and really work at being humble • Since I have been here for thirteen years, there is no way servant leaders to those in the grades below you. ~Trip to say it other than that Geneva has been my entire life. • Appreciate who and what you have in your life. ~ Isabella ~ Jordan • Enjoy every single minute of your senior year; it really is • God works in mysterious ways. ~ Tim the best. Also, RELAX! ~ Sarah • Fun times, sound learning, friendships, and godly conversations are just a few of the great things that have What is your favorite Geneva memory? infl uenced my time at Geneva. ~ Sarah • Strolling the streets of Boston with Mr. Clark and Dr. • It was thought-provoking and challenging. ~ Edward Chandler. ~ Jared • My experience at Geneva has been fi lled with laughs • Singing in choir, making music for our Lord. Oh, and (mostly by me) and it has formed me into the person I Boston. ~ Megan am today. ~ Keller • Coming back to Geneva. ~ Rachel • No matter who I talk to at this school, I always feel loved • Soccer—the games, the practices, and all the fun we had and accepted for who I really am—and I know I will as a team together. ~ Michael miss that. ~ Rachel Page 2 • Senior Skip Day; our whole class did a scavenger hunt on • God has done so much through Geneva. I’ve learned Park Avenue and hung out together—it was awesome. ~ good study habits, the importance of time management, Anna and the value of good friendships. I’ve learned how to be • Standing in the back of Mrs. Wise’s 7th grade English a good friend and what to look for in a friend. My faith class, holding her hand, and trying to hold back the tears is much stronger now and my pool of knowledge is mas- while giving my Tarzan presentation. It reminds me of sively expanded. ~ Anna how far I’ve come since then. ~ Shannon • He has used Th e Geneva School to help me attain a fi rm • Going to the Keys with my class and Miss Alexander. ~ foundation in his Word, and I know that this will help in Lily everything I do in life. ~ Trip • Driving back after singing at the Festival of Trees in my • God has used Geneva to help me become a more freshman year. Th e actual event was so much fun and then thoughtful and intentional Christian and student ~ Gabe on the drive back we picked up a cardboard McCafe that • Geneva has helped me reconcile my faith and my learn- said “Take me to McDonalds.” So we did—all dressed in ing as I was given the opportunity to be in community out tuxes. We earned free McCafe’s for a year! ~ Jordan with other intelligent and genuine Christians. ~ Wesley • Beating Th e First Academy in the district soccer semifi - • God has used Th e Geneva School to make me a thought- nal game this year. ~ Tim ful person who can on the one hand sympathize with diff erent opinions and on the other hand humbly put How has God used Th e Geneva School to shape you as a forth answers to controversial issues. ~ Lily person? • Geneva is largely responsible for every aspect of my life • Geneva has taught me how to live out my faith and how and has given me the best gifts possible: a fi rm Christian to form good relationships with my peers. ~ Kaila foundation and a passion to be a life-long learner. ~ Jordan • He has provided me people and encounters that have • He used Geneva as a means to convert me to Christiani- strengthened my faith, he has given me the ability to appre- ty and has continually helped to confi rm my faith. ~ Tim ciate hard work, and let me experience leadership. ~ Blake • Geneva has given me the tools to reason through and articu- • Th e school has taught me how to work hard and even late a position and to better know and love God. ~ Edward though the reward is not immediate or even in the fore- • Th anks to Geneva I have a good work ethic, and a good seeable future, not to give up. ~ Jared sense of humor. ~ Keller Page 3 The Geneva School Story Boards By Robert Ingram, Headmaster Here are fi ve of the twenty-two Story Boards that now adorn the walls at the main campus. Th ey are graphi- cally designed to highlight aspects of Geneva’s mission, vision, values, and distinctives. Th ey capture the es- sence of Geneva in pictures and words that inspire us to tell the Geneva story to family and friends. If you haven’t yet seen them, the next time you are at the main campus, walk slowly through the halls and take them all in. Orthodox Christianity Historic orthodox Christianity is the spiritu- al basis of the Geneva community. Spanning many denominational traditions, orthodox Christianity has held to biblical and apostolic values and beliefs since the New Testament era. Geneva’s teachers look to nurture and cultivate a deep personal acceptance of these scriptural truths in their students in and through their curriculum. We strive after re- ligious truth and the love of learning. As a practical reminder of our unity with believers through the ages we recite the Nicene Creed every Wednesday during our chapel services.