Geneva Quarterly, Volume 8 Issue 2

GENEVA QUARTERLY reflection and creativity

volume 8 issue 2

CONCEPT

To illustrate the ideas of reflection and creativity we spent a beautifully clear and crisp afternoon on the field in front of the Geneva School of Boerne. Standing in the clearing, junior Gwyn Lewellyn holds a circular mirror to reflect the radiant blue color of the sky and the hints of yellow sun as junior Nicolas Siller creatively photographs the scene in the blustery winter air.

MISSION STATEMENT

The Geneva Quarterly, a student-led publication of 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: 225 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, Rob Shelton. 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 three gold Crown Awards and received a Gold Medalist Rating. We are also members of the Texas Interscholastic Press Association, where we have the highest rating of Distinguished Merit. In addition, we have been members of the National Scholastic Press Association the past three years and have been named a Pacemaker Award finalist. This is our third year to be members of the Quill & Scroll National Honor Society.

MAGAZINE SPECS: Created in Adobe InDesign and printed by Bright Printing, School Division. Font Families: Acumin Pro Condensed, Quattrocento Sans and Mauritius.

dear reader, Welcome to the second issue of the Geneva Quarterly! In this issue, we delve into the themes of reflection and creativity. One of the most important things to do this holiday season is to look above ourselves and see the bigger picture. With hardhitting stories, we challenge the reader to self-reflect and be creative, as only through this can we move towards better things. This issue’s content is personal and authentic, with the hopes of inspiring our readers to open up and be proud of their journeys.

Even though self-reflection can be an arduous journey, it’s a crucial part of understanding who we are and growing to be the best version of ourselves.

With creativity, we invoke different parts of our minds, creating new things that reflect our ideas and perspectives. Life is a series of choices. If we choose to look into ourselves and take creative risks, we choose to make life fun and meaningful. This issue’s brighter colors, graphics and photos reflect the pops of creativity sprinkled throughout every person’s individual journey. At the end of the day, no two people are alike, but it’s our individuality that brings us closer together.

Our staff is proud to present the Geneva Quarterly Issue Two, full of stories, graphics and photos that we hope will inspire you long after you’ve set it down.

Always remember that your story matters– it’s only our job to tell it.

from our hands to yours, ALEXA GEORGELOS PAULINE RAHAL SYDNEY DENNIS JACKSON YOUNG

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INSIDE

INSIDE

INSIDE

OUTSIDE

OUTSIDE

OUTSIDE

Age is Just a Number

You Will Survive

Alumni Find a Mission

Alum Faces the Conservation Crisis

When You Need a Hand

God Doesn’t Make Mistakes

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26

20

16

08

Interview 38

Article

Feature

Feature

Story

Feature

FLIPSIDE

FLIPSIDE

FLIPSIDE

COURTSIDE

COURTSIDE

COURTSIDE

Who’s Feeling Crafty?

We’re Crazed for Coffee

Dress to Impress

Pro Sports Go Woke, Go Broke

Athletes Fuel Up

TAPPS Unlocks a New Level

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64

54

50

44

Creative 76

Review

Story

Feature

Opinion

Story

out side

Shedding light on the big ideas that influence our realities

Graphic Hailey Kirchner

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16

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God Doesn’t Make Mistakes When You Need a Hand Alum Faces the Conservation Crisis

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GOD DOESN’T MAKE MISTAKES PUTTING TO REST COMMON VIEWS REGARDING SELF-WORTH Words Ava Ayers

It’s hard to love yourself when all you want to do is change...

With negative thoughts like this swirling around our brains, it’s hard to like anything about ourselves, let alone love ourselves.

We are compelled to compare the way we look, talk and behave to others and we successfully do this every single day. Every. Single. Day. We all feel the same way.

“I think body image is a common issue for teenage girls and boys. I know I have compared myself to people I see on social media without even realizing it. I wanted to be happy with my body, but I couldn’t be because I didn’t look like her. I was not the ideal skinny person or the drop dead gorgeous girl that would make people’s jaws drop. Well, at least that is how I felt,” senior Sydney Dennis said.

In an age of constant exposure to social media, it always feels as though we’re falling behind. Today’s ‘beauty’ standards for women, as well as for

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men, are being hurled at us from all directions, and with this comes the traps of comparison. Luckily, when we fall short or fail to see our worth, God is always there to catch us. With that being said, if we are immensely valuable in our Creator’s eyes, then why is it almost incomprehensible for us to imagine ourselves in that way? Blinded by our own sin and shame, we continue to hide behind masks of our biggest insecurities. We find ourselves unable to shake the prior negative notions we had regarding ourselves, which come flooding back every time we question our self image.

“It makes me so sad because having a poor view of your body is somehow seen as normal in our generation. This isn’t ok, and, frankly, it’s disgusting,” Dennis said.

“Realizing that in God’s eyes I am perfect and worth more than what the world could offer was much more comforting than believing my value was in being skinny or pretty.”

When struggling with feelings of rejection and disapproval, it might seem as if little can be done to reverse these negative effects. God calls us His sons and daughters, His creations, and ultimately, in His eyes, we are without blemish. As it is written in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Despite the countless affirmations that are found sprinkled throughout the Bible, we continue to choose to latch onto the sharp words of others instead.

“Many people can tell you that you may look good today, or that you are so pretty, but no matter what, when you look in the mirror the next chance you get, nothing that anyone has ever said seems to matter.

It’s like an everlasting trap,” a Geneva student said.

Over time we become desensitized to the negative thoughts that occupy our mind, even though it was never our true intent. Every day we are reminded of how we “should” look and how we “should’’ act in order to be accepted. It seems almost counterintuitive to allow our minds to become so enamored by negative thoughts when they are poisonous to our self image. We are all aware of the dangers of our critical thoughts pertaining to our personal image, but there is still a question that remains: What can be done to alter this negative perspective?

“This is something I have struggled with, especially coming into high school. But what I came to notice over time was that every single comment I made about myself in the past year was negative,” a Geneva student said.

Our brains are naturally wired to focus on the negative, which makes flipping our mindset a painstaking task. But if we were to simply take time out of our day to lift others up rather than dragging ourselves down, it could help increase our self-esteem. By focusing on boosting others’ self-confidence, we are actually benefiting our own confidence as well. As Christians, we are called to be Christ-like in our speech and actions, so when we view ourselves in a negative light we are acting in opposition to the standard Christ called us to. God views us as worthy from the inside out. We must begin focusing only on how God views us and allow His light to outshine our negative thoughts.

“Realizing that in God’s eyes I am perfect and worth more than what the world could offer was much more comforting than believing my value was in being skinny or pretty,” Dennis said.

If we open our eyes to the real beauty that God has bestowed upon us, no comparison or negative belief will be able to trap us again. “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” (1 John 3:1).

It becomes easier to love yourself when you see yourself through God’s eyes. With the affirmation and confidence of who God says we are filling our thoughts, loving ourselves becomes a lot less daunting.

Layout Sarah Coultress Graphics Ainsley Plesko

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HOW TO CONNECT WITH CHRIST WAYS TO DISPLAY CHRIST-LIKE DEEDS THROUGHOUT THE HOLIDAYS Words Sophia Dacy

Christmas is the “most wonderful time of the year.”

Christmas carols playing on all radio stations, cozy fires, receiving gifts, spending time with family and friends and experiencing the warm feeling from all around. However, we often get distracted by the physical things of the holidays, whether it’s a new pair of sneakers or a new gaming set. Everyone always looks forward to Christmas morning–the joy of opening gifts with new things all around. But through this, one can forget what Christmas is truly about.

All that we celebrate would not exist if it weren’t for a little baby born in a manger on Christmas Day. No one would have suspected that this tiny baby would have so much endless love and power that would continue to be shared several centuries later.

Ultimately, Christmas has a larger meaning than just presents and hot chocolate. Christ shared so much throughout his life–healing the blind, talking to people he had never met as if he knew them a whole lifetime. He cared for his children like a shepherd does his flock, he taught crowds of thousands and was never afraid of what might approach Him. Just as Jesus shared so much throughout his lifetime, think this holiday season about how you can share and give back to those around you.

Mark 16:15 reads “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.’” During this holiday season, think of ways you can help share the gospel. Whether you volunteer to read to children at your church or study and discuss the book of Mark with your family, there are many ways you can be a better disciple of Christ this Christmas season. Another idea would be to print out verses from the Bible of encouragement and on the life of Christ, buy some snacks, put it into a little gift bag and pass it out to those in need around your community. Sharing your faith with others can make such an impact that you might not ever be aware of on someone’s life. Psalms 96:3 says, “Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!” This Christmas, help make others aware of Christ’s love by sharing the gospel with your neighbors and friends. Being a Christian does not just mean going to church every Sunday; there is so much more. Giving back to your community and helping those in need such as by donating food or some clothes to Hill Country Daily Bread is a great

way to help others this holiday season. Write letters of motivation or good news and share them with your friends, or help your mom around the kitchen on Christmas. There are so many ways to help spread kindness and joy to others.

Another way to be a good follower of Christ is to pray. As simple as it may seem, prayer is so powerful and often overlooked. Ephesians 6:18 reads “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” Not only can you pray for yourself and your family, but you can also pray for those in the community, for those who are fighting for our country and for those who are in need of a good home or family. The power of prayer is seriously overlooked. Through prayer, one is able to talk to God and connect one-on-one. This holiday season, think of ways to help contribute to those around you, whether it’s reading a Christmas story to your neighbor or donating food to those in need.

“As simple as it may seem, prayer is so powerful and often overlooked.”

Photo Gwyn Lewellyn Layout Sarah Coultress

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DOES HALLMARK JINGLE ALL THE WAY? WEIGHING WHETHER HALLMARK MOVIES ARE WORTH THE WATCH Words PRO Nicolas Siller CON Abby Bower

PRO

‘Tis the season to enjoy one of the most elevating holiday productions of the decade.

Year after year the Hallmark Channel never fails to grace us with its Christmas rom-coms.

Whether you like them or not, everyone can admit the holidays just aren’t the same without them. The Christmas season can’t “really” start until you find yourself walking into your grandparents’ house while being simultaneously hit with the smell of about 10 peppermintscented candles and just about the cheesiest Christmas tree lighting ceremony ever imaginable showing on the Hallmark Channel.

Actually, that might just be me. But everyone can still agree that the Christmas spirit is truly enhanced by these movies. Their cheesiness allows you to soak in the joy of Christmas. The classic wreath-making, Christmas tree-picking and spontaneous Christmas parties are just some of the many Hallmark inspired activities that can really enhance one’s holiday spirit.

Though we live in Texas and can hardly call 32 degrees and no snow adequate weather for Christmas frolicking, these movies just hit differently. Sophomore Abby Bower added that Hallmark movies tend to make her “giddy with holiday spirit.”

CON

‘Tis the season to fantasize about an unrealistic, unattainable holiday experience. You might be surprised over how many people include Hallmark movies as an essential part of their Christmas tradition. This means that a large percentage of people spend the holidays watching fictional characters enjoy and participate in holiday activities.

The biggest flaw of Hallmark movies is that the cheesiness is stifling. Overused one-liners, instrumental Christmas Pop, a never-changing cycle of the same actors and the exact same plot only located in a new picturesque mountain town. This is only the beginning of the excruciatingly repetitive tendencies of Hallmark movies. Films where the love story is always happily ever after and the local Mom and Pop shop never seems to close. How can anyone sit through a movie knowing exactly what will happen at every point of the plot?

Nicolas Siller denounces these movies by noting that, “These films provide fake realities of attempted romance that I could barely hope for.”

Not only are the aesthetics of Hallmark

For a student stressing over midterms or a parent panicking over buying Christmas presents, the Hallmark holiday movies provide a comic stress relief. However, not all people see eye to eye on this. Some think that the movies’ predictable plot lines undermine the holiday spirit that can be gained from watching them.

Interestingly enough, isn’t the celebration of Christmas predictable as well?

In other words, predictability isn’t always bad.

“They always end beautifully and give me a sense of satisfaction,” sophomore Jacob Dishongh said.

A big reason that they are so relaxing and fun to watch is their virtually unlimited supply of happy endings. Throughout these staple happy endings, we are reminded of the value of family and community during the Christmas season.

“I realize how much family means to me,” my grandma, Vickie Nickel said, So maybe, just maybe, Hallmark holiday movies carry some value underneath their cheesy titles. There’s only one way to find out. Join me and thousands of other Americans around the country as we tune in to the Hallmark Channel’s holiday movies airing from Halloween all the way to mid-January to really dive deep into the holiday spirit.

movies dangerously appealing, but so is the “no one leaves disappointed” storyline. If there are times during the holidays where you find yourself dissatisfied by your entire Christmas experience, I’m willing to bet that Hallmark movies are the first suspect. When we don’t find true love in our local coffee shop after a complicated seven years in the city and then save our grandparent’s Christmas tree farm, we can’t help but feel let down.

Hallmark movies set our minds on replicating something that completely dilutes the true meaning of Christmas. Once the expectations are set, it’s often hard to focus more on praising God for his perfect gift than creating a Hallmark-worthy Christmas. In the films, the mission is to find joyous love and it leads people to believe that this is done by breaking up with your workaholic boyfriend in New York to be with your high school sweetheart. It seems that Hallmark missed out on where truly joyous, pure love comes from: Jesus.

Layout Ava Ayers Graphic Hailey Kirchner

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WHEN YOU NEED A HAND BRINGING LIGHT TO THE UNJUST STIGMAS SURROUNDING COUNSELING Words Sydney Dennis

I felt as if my chest was sinking in, growing tighter and tighter. I couldn’t breathe. Was I dying?

In that moment it sure felt like I was. I tried fighting whatever had come over me, but it only made things worse. I was left with the question, “What is wrong with me?” I now know that I was experiencing anxiety, but at the time I had no knowledge of what emotions were other than sadness and happiness. I had my first panic attack in 8th grade at a neighbor’s birthday party and can still recall every little detail of what happened and how it felt. At that moment, I wasn’t sure what was happening to me and ended up walking home.

After that, I wasn’t sure what to tell my parents and friends. They asked me why I left and what was wrong with me, but instead of asking for help in fear that they would think I was weak, I held back. In my mind it was a one-time thing that I would never have to deal with again.

I was wrong. After that day, anxiety began to rule my life and panic attacks crept up

on me frequently. I wasn’t happy with who I was and how I was letting this fear of asking for help keep me from becoming free.

Until the day I decided enough was enough. I had done some research and figured counseling would be beneficial for what I was dealing with. Even though I was scared about how my parents or others would react, I finally asked them if I could go to therapy. In that moment, I realized that getting help was more important than how others viewed me.

That realization is something I wish I was told years ago. There seems to be a stigma behind asking for help and going to counseling. I thought going to therapy was something serious that only adults could do until I went and experienced it myself. People have a common misconception that seeking out others for help or guidance makes them look weak or problematic. This is in no way the case.

Truthfully, I am no longer ashamed to say I have been attending therapy for five years now. If I hadn’t sought help, I’d be a completely different person than I am today.

“I wasn’t happy with who I was or how I was letting this fear of asking for help keep me from becoming free.”

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Now, what exactly has therapy done for me? The first thing I learned were tools to use when I feel anxiety creeping up on me. One of these tools taught me how to rewire my thoughts (a special kind of therapy called cognitive behavioral therapy). In it, my therapist would make me write down what I thought was true and what was actually true. Through this therapy, I am now able to recognize when I’m falling into a rabbit hole of negative thoughts and am able to catch that nasty thought and shake it off.

I was taught breathing techniques for when my nervous system kicks in. I’ve learned that my feelings are valid and that I matter. To be honest, by attending therapy I was able to find myself, know myself and now, ultimately, love myself.

Through my journey, I have strengthened my relationship with God, myself and others. Bettering one’s self is not something to be embarrassed about.

If anything, recognizing that one needs help and guidance should be seen as an accomplishment. Growing and finding one’s self is important and it’s not always something that can be done alone.

Senior Gracie Janse opened up about her journey in asking for help and admits

it was not something she was able to do alone. “I am not ashamed to say I’m anxious or have panic attacks, but I also didn’t want people to see me as two different people-- one day smiling and then having a panic attack. I wanted to come off as confident and the goal of counseling was to become that person,” Janse said.

Janse shares that her ultimate goal of counseling was to gain the confidence and happiness she hadn’t been feeling genuinely. Like many, Janse felt she wasn’t able to seek others for help which made her feel more alone, one of the main reasons she believed counseling was the most suitable option.

In one of her conversations with her therapist, Janse revealed that “sometimes when I’m around people I love, I just get paralyzed, and I freeze. I’m not myself, and I don’t know why.” In response, her therapist gave her “affirmations to say in the mirror every morning. She’d give me things like that, just a reminder that everything’s going to be okay. I would talk to her about my fears of the future and she was really helpful in reassuring me that I don’t have to have everything picked out and planned right now and that things

will go back to normal and that it isn’t permanent” Janse said.

Janse has made it clear in that there is no shame in going to counseling.“I think a lot of people think when you say you’re going to counseling that you’re crazy, but you don’t have to have a mental disorder to go to counseling. You don’t have to be sick. I really recommend it for everybody. I don’t know why there’s such a stigma behind it,” she said.

Ultimately, as humans, everyone is in need of nurturing. Everyone is deserving of loving themselves and feeling their best.

Instead of shaming those who openly admit to needing help, let’s applaud and support them. In the end, the scariest part is asking, but I can vouch that it will be more than worth it. Asking for help is not a weakness, but rather a strength.

Graphics Sydney Dennis Layout Sydney Dennis

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ALUM FACES THE CONSERVATION CRISIS BRINGING FURTHER AWARENESS TO THE THREAT OF WILDLIFE EXTINCTION Words Sophia Baldwin

3,900, four and two. These numbers seem random and insignificant, but trust me, they are crucial. There are 3,900 tigers left in the wild, about four elephants are killed every hour and there are only two Northern White Rhinos left of their entire species, both of which are female.

Our world is changing. This statement probably doesn’t come as a surprise as this cliché has been said for years. But I am not talking about technological or political changes; there is something much bigger changing the world we grew up in.

When I was little, I always wanted to be a veterinarian. Naturally, growing up my favorite shows were Diego and Doc McStuffins. I would listen to my dogs’ heartbeats with a little stethoscope. I would bandage my stuffed animals’ paws and pretend to take their temperature. I always looked forward to when I would get my very own “National Geographic Kids” magazine each month. On the cover would be a majestic lion or tiger, or maybe a playful dolphin or otter. I eagerly flipped through the pages, longing to meet and help animals like these someday.

In the next 10 years, tigers will most likely be extinct, meaning my children will think of them the same way that we think of wooly mammoths or dodo birds. In the next 20 years, it is predicted that elephants will be gone as well. Without human aid and donations, they may go extinct even sooner.

The Rhino Crisis has specifically been brought to light in recent years. There are roughly 27,000 wild rhinos left as a whole. However, some subspecies, such as the Northern White Rhinoceros, have been deemed functionally extinct. The last male passed away at age 45 in 2018. Now only two females remain of their kind. While frozen sperm can be used in an attempt to regenerate the species, it will not be enough to grow and maintain the population.

“In the photos, I couldn’t show someone’s face because that face could be used to identify the reserve.”

Most people have at least heard of, if not watched, Netflix hits such as Tiger King and Blackfish that make it apparent how much isolation and cruelty are present in captivity. While zoos and animal reservations can be beneficial and care of the animals well, it is all very subjective and it’s difficult to distinguish a solid outlook or point of view on these places. However, in Tiger King, it is brought to light that there are only about 3,900 tigers left in the wild today, while 7,000 are held in captivity–5,000 in the United States alone.

According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), animals such as rhinos, tigers and elephants are in critical endangerment with some sub-species already considered functionally extinct. But what can we do about it? After all, we are only high schoolers.

Donations and volunteering are two ways teenagers can make a change. Geneva alumnus and winner of National Geographic’s “Assignment: Inspiration” photography contest, Sam Tippetts experienced the Rhino Crisis first hand in 2018. While a student at Texas Christian University, he traveled to a variety of different reserves to take photographs all over the eastern coast of South Africa for three months.

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Poaching had gotten so bad, Tippetts had to be careful about how much he revealed in his photographs. He said, “A lot of the time in the photos I was taking I couldn’t show someone’s face because that face could be used to identify the reserve and then people would know that rhino was on that reserve and it would increase the chances of poaching there,” he said.

Tippetts observed that there was a lot of overlap and blending of “the business side” and “the individual side” of saving the rhinos. “There was kind of a divide between what the wildlife vet’s full-time job was and the conservation work they were doing, sort of out of the goodness of their heart so there was a lot of overlap between that,” he said.

“In my head with conservation, I sort of imagined beforehand that ‘people (the government) won’t let this animal go extinct’ or ‘they won’t let this happen.’ I

just sort of imagined that it would be a little bit more organized,” Tippetts said. “Not necessarily to the fault of the people there, they were very organized, but I thought there would be some sort of government or some higher well-funded organization. But what I realized was that most of it was sort of ‘grass-roots’: people from their own communities that decided to do something about it and sort of join together and try and create organizations.”

Tippetts explained how there are so many different layers to the illegal wildlife trade and the political monopoly of it all. While some people disagree with the precaution of sawing off the rhino’s horn, it can be worth it to save its life and protect it from poaching. Rhinos’ horns are made of keratin, the same as our fingernails, meaning their horns do grow back.

“I didn’t realize how well-funded the illegal wildlife trade is.”

Photos Sam Tippetts Layout Sophia Baldwin Graphic Sophia Baldwin

“The other thing I didn’t realize was how well-funded the illegal wildlife trade is,” Tippetts said. “I sort of imagined that these animals were getting poached by people who were desperate. There’s poaching that happens because the surrounding communities are desperate and a rhino horn is worth more than gold ounce for ounce. There’s also the illegal wildlife trade, kind of comparable to something like the illegal drug trade in Mexico. There’s so much money going into it and they’re so well-equipped.” Tippetts went on to share that poachers will sometimes come in by helicopter and dart the rhino without anyone noticing before it is too late.

Lack of funding continues to pose a huge issue for conservation and resources. While we as humans cannot control certain things, our aid and efforts to save as many animals as we can is crucial to preserving creation.

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Uncovering the various details of our common ground

in side

Photo Gwyn Lewellyn

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Alumni Find a Mission

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You Will Survive

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Age is Just a Number

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ALUMNI FIND A MISSION GENEVA ALUMNI SHARE HOW MISSION TRIP EXPERIENCES IMPACTED THEIR LIVES Words Kate Travis

Building schools, playing with kids, teaching VBS and doing all this while wearing matching t-shirts with your church group. These things define the words “mission trips” in many people’s minds. Most of us who have never been on a mission trip have this generic mental image of going to a foreign country to be heroes. But, there is so much more. Geneva alumni were interviewed about their experiences with mission trips, and it is clear that they have led these graduates to further reflect upon the significant and worldwide effects of the gospel.

WILL LANGENBAHN CLASS OF 2018

Will Langenbahn, Class of 2018, went to Guatemala and Nicaragua in 2019 and returned to Guatemala this past March. His first trip to Guatemala was with his fraternity at Texas A&M. When he first heard they were all going on a mission trip, he immediately thought, “I am going off to change the world.” But, it turns out, the world changed him. When he was in Guatemala, Langenbahn helped build houses and deliver meals to families. Langenbahn said that the greatest experience of his life was when he got to teach English and math classes to kids at the school.

Another one of his favorite memories was with a ten year old boy named Josue. Langenbahn got off the bus and was immediately greeted by Josue, who took Langenbahn’s bags for him and started talking like they had known each other for years. “It was so refreshing to be met with such affection,” Langenbahn said. From then on, they became best buds and even had a handshake. “When you are with kids you show them the love of Christ by how you treat and serve them, and then you tackle the language barrier.”

Langenbahn brought up this idea of a bubble, where we get so caught up in our own little world, that we aren’t even aware of what is going on in the real world. It is so easy for us to get caught up in the littlest of things and take the things that matter for granted.

“We get caught up in things that Guatemalans have never even heard of,” Langenbahn said.

On this trip he discovered how small his own bubble actually is. He felt like the kids and families there had more of an impact on him than he did on them. Those families trust that God will provide the next meal.

Langenbahn stated he was shocked at how joyful this community was regardless of their circumstances.

“We are happy, but they are joyful,” he said. When Langenbahn was asked what was different about his faith now compared to before he went on the trips, he responded with a laugh and replied, “What isn’t different? So much changed.” On the trip, Langenbahn said he realized the same God that is in Guatemala is in America and that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ.

“When you are with kids you show them the love of Christ by how you treat and serve them.”

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SAVANNAH CONE

CLASS OF 2016 When Alumna Savannah Cone, Class of 2016, was a sophomore in high school, her family homeschooled, while volunteering for three months of mission work in Peru. All day, everyday, Cone would get up and help out in the orphanage kitchen where there was only a dirt floor and no hot water. Regardless of these circumstances, Cone said she had so much fun. “There was singing, dancing and laughter, while chickens, puppies and little kids were running around at our feet!”

“It gave me a wider perspective.”

When the time came for Cone to leave, the kitchen staff wanted to honor her as best they could. They caught a fish, soaked it in lemon juice and served it at her going away dinner. Cone said that although to us it may seem a small gesture and a little gross, it was a big deal to be celebrated in this way. Even though they have so little, they gave Cone as much as they could and honored her in their highest fashion. Cone said she felt so humbled and touched that her friends were celebrating her in such a big and important way.

“It gave me a wider perspective and made me feel like I should give more and that what I have is not mine.”

At the orphanage, she listened to the kids singing their favorite hymns in their own language, while she also knew the same song in English. “I was struck by how beautiful it is that we all know and love the same God. He is still relevant and loving to all of us, even if we can’t understand each other, He understands,” Cone said. Cone now works for a women’s ministry called If: Gathering. She said that growing up in an environment where mission trips were valued impacted her relationship with the Lord, which inspired her to want to work in ministry in her future.

87475632894_7581305496922991709_o.jpeg 0 at 11:09 AM cloud.com

Alumna Whitney Groves, Class of 2013, works for a global humanitarian Christian organization called World Vision, in Washington, D.C. World Vision is one of the biggest non-profit organizations in the world for poverty awareness and is mainly focused on kids.

Groves went on her first mission trip to El Salvador when she was eight. In high school, she went to Guatemala multiple times and even stayed there over Christmas break. “Seeing poverty broke my heart, and I can’t imagine doing anything else,” Groves said. After CLASS OF 2013 graduating college, Groves moved to D.C. knowing that she wanted to work on advocacy for childrelated issues. She began her job at World Vision in 2017, and since then has been working on education and gender equality issues and ending child violence.

WHITNEY YOUNG GROVES

Groves has also been studying the ways the church defines and carries out “mission trips.” “On this subject, there has to be no finger pointing and a lot of grace. I came to my job and developed my passion because of mission trips and I never want to say that they are wrong. It is wonderful that churches introduce their members to global poverty, but I do think they could be more strategic in how they introduce it,” Groves said.

“Is your intention to support missionaries and communities or to say that I went on a mission trip?”

Short-term mission trips can be difficult for people who spent a lot of money on the trip, but aren’t experienced in the culture or issues, and it can end up harming instead of helping. The money spent on the trip could have gone to sponsoring kids to go to school. Groves said the most important thing to ask yourself is, “What are my intentions? Is it to support missionaries and communities or to say that I went on a mission trip?” Groves believes that church leaders have the hardest job to balance all these things and still provide their members with education on global poverty while being respectful to global communities.

When you peel back the layers of generic views of mission trips you find experiences that change people. It seems the greatest transformation can be in the person who is going to serve. Having deep relationships with people that don’t speak the same language as you is a miracle in itself. What you learn and start to understand while on mission trips is something that you can carry with you for your entire faith journey. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ, and as such, we are called to love and help each other. We all need to learn to break free of our little bubble, and become aware of the world God is trying to show us. As Langenbahn said, “If people in Guatemala and Nicaragua can have next to nothing and be in a nation that is so corrupt, and still worship the same God with even more passion and reverence than I do, then why can’t I?” Photos Provided by alumni Layout Hannah Pratt

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THEY WERE KIDS TOO

RHETORIC SCHOOL TEACHERS SHARE THEIR FUNNIEST STORIES FROM THEIR HIGH SCHOOL YEARS Words Claire Coultress

Mr. Shawn Harrild

“We’re making a movie, please don’t call the police.”

“In the Advanced TV and Film class, my film was selected, and I was the writer and opted to direct.

It was basically a cat and mouse story of people witnessing some gang activity—the gang wanting to remove any and all witnesses and chasing them down to an abandoned warehouse. When we were shooting the scene on the street, they had guns (we had a prop department). They were plastic toy guns, but we wanted them to look real. We had people dressed in red, and looking back on it, I think maybe that wasn’t such a good idea—it looked too realistic for where we lived. At one point, there was this cool scene where they get shot and then they fall back.

Well, when we did this, apparently there was a bus of concerned citizens that were driving by. In the movie you can see the bus driving past, and they didn’t see the camera, they just saw someone holding a gun sideways, looking like they’re in a gang, and shooting someone, them falling down, and then kind of looking over there at the bus like, ‘What just happened?’

People were freaked out and called the police. My film teacher had to deal with all of this, so for other scenes there was someone off-camera holding up a sign saying, ‘We’re making a movie, please don’t call the police’.”

Mrs. Catherine Davis

We were driving with our youth group to Six Flags.

It was about two hours away, and my friend really needed to go to the bathroom. So we were sitting (you know how Six Flags gets backed up like it does here) and were off-ramping, like off of the highway on a curve, and we were totally parked. We hadn’t moved for a while, and she had to go to the bathroom so bad, but there was no other option. There were no trees, no anything, so she used a soda bottle that had a plastic screw-top. When she was done, she put the cap on and then ran to the middle of the little circle and dropped the soda bottle in the grass. So she’s littering, and she runs back to the girls’ car. The boys’ car was behind us, and the boys saw that we littered, so they ran out to go get the bottle. We opened the windows and we’re like, ‘No! No! Do not! You don’t want to do it!’ and the guy just kept on going and picked up the stupid bottle and came back and put it in their car. Cell phones were not a thing, so one of the girls ran back to that car and told them what happened. It was a super-embarrassing story for her but it was funny.

Mrs. Debbie Georgelos

I was in cross country in high school, and my high school was in a suburban area. On the day before our meets, we would have an easy two-mile run on the streets near campus. These were our favorite days because there was a Baskin Robbins on the last part of the loop. A group of us always took money and stopped to get ice cream before walking the last stretch back to campus (we couldn’t run with ice cream). One day, it must have taken us longer than usual to order and get our ice cream because our coach came out looking for us and caught us. When we got back to campus, he made us run another two miles around the track, which didn’t feel so great after having eaten ice cream. But that didn’t stop us from always stopping at Baskin Robbins when we ran that loop. We just made sure to do it quicker.

Photos Provided by teachers Layout Sydney Griffey

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AUTHOR LED TEACHER TO THE BOOK GET TO KNOW TEACHER MR. RICK POOLE BETTER BY READING HIS TESTIMONY Words Spencer Yarbrough

Mr. Rick Poole

Do you know Rick Poole? You may know of Mr. Poole, but do you really know Rick Poole? More commonly known as “Mr. Poole”, he is a Rhetoric School teacher who teaches tenth grade Humanities, the Tolkien/Lewis elective and is a Dean for the House of Lewis.

Throughout his childhood, Mr. Poole knew of Christ and had people around him who knew Christ, but never really and truly had a relationship with Him. In the start of his childhood, his mom’s side of the family was devout Roman Catholic and, conversely, his dad’s side was Southern Baptist. Both sets of grandparents preached that the other set of grandparents would go to Hell because what they believed was false.

As a kid, Mr. Poole never understood what Hell was or what it represented.

He assumed his beliefs were Christian and that he himself was a Christian.

Church was out of the question for his parents, much less being part of Mr. Poole’s wedding with the future in-laws holding such strong doctrinal differences. The Poole family did have a Bible in their home, but Mr. Poole was never encouraged as a child to actually pick it up and read it. Like many American families, they had Easter and Christmas, however it was strictly about finding eggs and opening presents. He thought believing Jesus was the Son of God meant he was a Christian. Was he?

As Mr. Poole was growing up, he was searching for answers and desperate for morality. Why is the world the way it is and why are we here and what does it all mean? Instead of church, he had Tolkien and “The Lord of the Rings.” He read them over and over again. Tolkien led Mr. Poole to C.S. Lewis, and C.S. Lewis eventually led him to Jesus Christ.

When he was in his 20s, Mr. Poole was reading an essay by C.S. Lewis called “The Weight of Glory” where C.S. Lewis discusses what it means to be a Christian. This caused him to realize in shock and horror that he, in fact, was not a Christian after all. “C.S Lewis clearly describes a Christian: If you believe that Jesus is God’s Son, that’s great, but even the devil believes that Jesus is God’s Son. That doesn’t make you a Christian any more than being in a garage makes you a car,” Mr. Poole said.

Like never before, Mr. Poole questioned if there was a God. This seemed to be the most important question in the entire world to him ever since he was a kid, and if there was a God, what did he want? If you know there is a God, and what he wants from you, what on this earth could be more important than that? After realizing the answer to this lifelong question in 1996, Mr. Poole officially professed his faith in Jesus Christ. Even to this day, as an adult, he has sympathy for those who answer these questions differently than he does.

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“I can’t imagine a person saying that this is not an important question,” Mr. Poole said. Everything in his life now made sense up to this point. Between ages seven and 26 he was just operating under grace. Mr. Poole prayed the prayer of faith when he was seven, yet realizes God came to collect at the age of 26.

His life was transformed. The biggest changes in his life from his Christian conversion in his early 20s was the change in his interests. He used to focus on his girlfriend, his job, his car and everything centered around him. “If you’re going to be in my life, you have to do something for me. You have to entertain me, you have to support me, you have to make my life better,” he said. Mr. Poole then realized how selfish his lifestyle was and how stingy he really used to be. Today, he realizes that to be a Christian, you must put Christ at the center of your universe and ask him everyday, “What do you want from me?” and then go where he tells you to go.

Mr. Poole’s journey of salvation took him from his childhood, where he knew of Christ but didn’t have a relationship with Him, to adulthood, where he now shines as a faithful follower of Jesus Christ.

This truly shows how even in the smallest parts of our broken world, it is possible to find Christ, just like Mr. Poole did in C.S. Lewis’s writings. After hearing his testimony, perhaps you can now say you know the real Mr. Rick Poole.

“I can’t imagine a person saying that this is not an important question.”

Photo Abby Bower Layout Sydney Griffey

YOU WILL SURVIVE EXPERTS WEIGH IN AND GIVE THEIR MOST USEFUL STUDY TIPS Words Hannah Pratt

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Two words. 10 letters. Say it, and everyone will start to complain: Finals Week. The most dreaded week of the year. Somehow, Geneva students have to recall everything from the past three months of their classical Christian education and prepare for multiple cumulative exams. The campus is full of stress, anxiety and dark under-eye circles. Everyone is doing all they can to make it through the last few days.

But do not fear, Geneva’s Classified School Survival Guide is here. After carefully sorting through countless study tips and talking to pro testtakers, the best of the best have been selected and compiled here for your convenience.

AP Government and Microeconomics teacher James Grover has both created and taken Geneva tests and offered his best advice on how to prepare for them. “I think a great way to study is to look at material outside of the notes you took in class,” Grover said.

Whether it is watching videos, reading articles or working with a tutor, putting in that little bit of extra work will help a tremendous amount with filling any gaps of the knowledge gained in class.

Grover also mentioned a huge study mistake to steer clear from— procrastination. Although waiting until the last minute may work for some students, Grover believes that it may result in more of a disadvantage than an advantage. “If you start late, you don’t have time to get help if you have questions. That’s a lesson I had to

learn a few times,” Grover said. Not to mention, cramming a whole semester’s worth of knowledge in a short period of time will definitely not help a student’s sleep schedule.

Senior Alex Iyer has had success in the past by mastering the art of studying.

One of his best study tips is to take the time to break down concepts by translating them into language that’s easy to understand. “Put even the most complex of concepts into Twitter lingo and modern day slang. If you can understand a concept well enough to apply it to teen-speak, you’ll most likely do well on a test,” Iyer said. Once a student has the ability to talk about a concept while using his own words, he will know that he fully understands what he is studying.

Finals Week is a scary and demanding time, but the reality is that every student experiences it. Everyone is in it together. Never be afraid to ask for help, create a study group or take a break. In the end, a grade does not define a student. Whether it is his best grade or worst grade, it is barely a mark on his scholastic timeline.

Every student should put his best foot forward and be proud knowing he did everything he could have done.

Study Tips: Put any distractions in another room This will allow the student to focus on the work in front of him for longer periods of time instead of answering texts or taking social media breaks.

Go to bed early Sleep allows the brain to strengthen and grow while improving memory.

Take breaks Stretch, walk around or eat a snack. It is important to allow the brain to rest for a little bit while studying.

Set small goals Setting goals encourages the student to keep working and separates studying into bearable chunks.

Test your knowledge Self-testing allows the student to get rid of pre-test anxiety and forces him to remember information. It also is a great way to let the student know which areas he needs to study more.

Create study groups Study groups are a great way to share knowledge and understanding of subjects and since they are all working towards a similar goal, the motivation factor is very high.

Study in a clean space An organized space leads to an organized mind.

Change your atmosphere Switching between study spaces allows the student to concentrate and refocus on his work.

Watch videos and read articles about the subjects being studied This extra step allows the student to fill any gaps in his knowledge that may have resulted from mishearing, not recording in notes or simply not understanding.

Try not to procrastinate A head start to studying allows the student to ask the teacher questions and helps avoid stress down the line.

Graphics Sydney Dennis Layout Hannah Pratt

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AGE IS JUST A NUMBER THE OLDEST SENIOR AND THE YOUNGEST FRESHMAN ANSWER RANDOM QUESTIONS Words Pauline Rahal

Freshman John LeBorne & Senior Parker Akin

YOUNGEST: John LeBorne (13)

OLDEST: Parker Akin (19)

How old are you?

“19.”

“I am 13.”

When’s your birthday?

“December 5, 2001.”

“January 11, 2007.”

What’s it like being the oldest/youngest student in Rhetoric School?

“It’s not that different, I still feel like I’m the same age as everyone else.”

“Nothing is different except when people realize how young I am they freak out.”

Have you ever felt disconnected from the others because of your age?

“No, this grade has been super inclusive.”

“No, I never have.”

Has there ever been an opportunity you missed because of your age?

“No. If I had been in the grade I should have been in I would have gone on the Europe trip, but I wouldn’t trade being a part of this grade for anything.”

“I won’t be able to drive when all of my friends start driving.”

Have there been any opportunities/advantages your age has given you?

“I could drive before anyone. I still remember driving all my friends around.”

“I can graduate college younger than others and will have more time out of school.”

If you could be any celebrity who would you be and why?

“I’d probably want to be Ryan Reynolds or Chris Pratt because they can get anyone to laugh.”

“Jeff Bezos because he has lots of cash.”

If you could say one word for the rest of your life what would it be?

“I would say the word ‘dope’ because I think it might already make up half of my vocabulary.”

“Okay.”

Photos Abby Bower Layout Sydney Griffey

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CLUBS CRUISING GENEVA OFFERS MANY CLUBS FOR STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN. WHICH ONE IS FOR YOU? Words Mattie Sue Arnold

Being an incoming freshman or a new student can feel overwhelming, especially when it comes to choosing an elective or club. If you are thinking about joining a club, you’re in the right place. Geneva offers many student-created clubs including Spanish Club, French Club and ASL Club.

Spanish Club: Seniors Alexa Georgelos & Pauline Rahal

French Club: Sophomores Sophia Dacy, Mattie Sue Arnold, Ava Ayers, Kate Evans & Abby Bower

ASL Club: Seniors Julianne De Luna & Katherine Lacy

“Clubs are a great way to stay connected and learn something new.”

Spanish Club, operated by seniors Lindsey Zuniga, Alexa Georgelos and Pauline Rahal, is a great club where you can learn about Hispanic culture without the requirement of taking Spanish as a core class.

“Joining clubs are important,” Rahal said. “You get to learn something new. In Spanish Club, we learn about Hispanic culture and it gives everyone an opportunity to interact with upper and lower classmen.” Spanish Club is held every other Friday in Mrs. Georgelos’ room.

French Club is another amazing opportunity where you can learn about other cultures. Created last year, French Club was founded by sophomore Sophia Dacy and is led by Thesis teacher Mrs. Hillary Short.

Short lived in Paris and has taught French in the past.

Dacy created this club after she wore a Paris-themed shirt to school. “Mrs. Short complimented my Paris sweatshirt and told me she had lived in Paris. I told her I have always wanted to learn French, and she said she could speak fluently. Then, we gathered some people together and it started,” Dacy said.

French Club is located in Mrs. Short’s room and is held every Tuesday from 8am to 8:25am. This is a great place to learn French and understand the beautiful language.

ASL Club (American Sign Language) was created this year by senior Katherine Lacy. “ASL is a club where you can learn American Sign Language and a little bit about deaf culture. I try to teach how to communicate with someone who is deaf conversationally and to learn to speak with one another,” Lacy said.

Lacy found her love for ASL when the Geneva Girls Basketball team played against the Texas School for the Deaf. “I’ve always loved how unique it is and I finally got the courage to make the club with the hope others would find the same interest, and, if they came across a hearing-impaired person, they could make them feel special by communicating with them,” Lacy said. ASL Club meets on Thursdays during lunch.

Clubs are a great way to stay connected with your school and learn something new. If any of these spark your interest, you should definitely look into joining!

Photos Nicolas Siller Layout Hannah Pratt

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court side

Revealing the footwork that makes up our competition

Graphic Kate Evans

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TAPPS Unlocks a New Level

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Athletes Fuel Up

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Pro Sports Go Woke, Go Broke

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TAPPS TAPPS UNLOCKS AA UNLOCKS NEW LEVEL LEVEL NEW A SNEAK PEAK INTO GENEVA’S NEW GAMING TEAM Words Jackson Young

The latest addition to Geneva’s large collection of sports and competitive arts is the brand new gaming team. The team of nine students play video games competitively for TAPPS. AP Government teacher James Grover is the gaming team’s sponsor, and José Ballì is the team manager.

For the starting varsity lineup we have Soren Burkholder, Josh Dennis and Walker Cone who are sure to make a run at state this year. On the senior-laden junior varsity team is Tanner Bruss, Trey Stepanow and Quentin Hartman. Last but not least, the unsung heroes on the practice squad are K.P. FitzGerald, Matthew Renfroe and Seby Boynton.

As of now, everybody will compete in the game Rocket League. Rocket League is a unique game similar to soccer, but instead of people kicking the ball, there are rocket-powered cars flying around and bumping it. Rocket League came out in 2015 and has been a hit ever since. Its popularity grew with the boom of the gaming industry, and now has become one of the biggest games in E sports. From people streaming themselves playing to worldwide tournaments, Rocket League has proven to be one of the most entertaining video games around.

Burkholder has been playing Rocket League ever since it was released. “I’m excited to have an opportunity to play a game I love to play for the school. I think with our team we can win a lot of games and certainly have a chance for state. It’s just awesome that they picked Rocket League. I’ve played it ever since it came out and have always had a knack for it” he said.

Seniors Chris LeBorne, Soren Burkholder, Quentin Hartman and Trey Stepanow

“If speed kills me, do not cry because I was smiling.’’

While video games might not be the most traditional form of athletics or competition, it certainly can be entertaining. Although it is a competition, it also is a more relaxed and entertaining way to compete and some players really like to have fun with it. “I’m excited after months of burning rubber to leave it on the field and score those goals. As Paul Walker once said, ‘If speed kills me, do not cry because I was smiling,’” Stepanow said, Even though the gaming team does not have a field or court to play on, or stands for fans to spectate in, it is an exciting form of competition and will be fun to watch this year as Geneva takes its first steps into the world of competitive gaming.

Photo Hayle Heinen Layout Mattie Sue Arnold

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A NEW ERA BEGINS NEW COACHES MCNEAL AND MCCLEARY SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS CONCERNING THE UPCOMING BASKETBALL SEASON Words Guy Kohler

This winter season we have two new basketball coaches. Coach Aamir McCleary, a former Division I basketball player, is new to Geneva and is the girls varsity coach. Coach Julius McNeal, who left football to become a full-time basketball coach, and is now the boys head varsity coach.

Kohler: What made you want to accept the coaching job at Geneva?

McCleary: I believe it was God’s calling for me to work at Geneva. By His grace I was fortunate enough to meet some great families who are actively involved with Geneva who also believed it would be a great fit. The opportunity was one I was interested in the previous year, and when the opportunity came around again, I took advantage of it!

Kohler: What is your long-term goal for the basketball program?

COACH AAMIR MCCLEARY

“I believe it was God’s calling for me to work at Geneva.”

McCleary: My long-term goal for the Geneva Girls Basketball Program is to bring an exciting style of play to the basketball community, where our girls can maximize their abilities, learn and develop daily.

Ultimately, we want to have our girls be positive role models to the younger generation coming after them.

Also, play hard, play smart and play together!

Kohler: What is your favorite sports moment?

McCleary: Well, I actually have two. First, it has to be the run I had with my high school team in San Antonio, Ronald Reagan High School, going all the way to the State Tourney and playing inside the Frank Erwin Center in front of thousands of fans, friends and family. Secondly, my first Division I basketball game versus the University of Wisconsin which aired on ESPN. It was cool to have my family and friends be able to watch me on TV. The whole experience from the campus, to the game being packed with over 18,000 people was amazing!

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Kohler: Was it a difficult decision to leave football and be a full-time basketball coach?

McNeal: It was an extremely difficult decision for me to leave football to take over the reins in basketball.

I grew up playing all sports, but my passion lies with both football and basketball. If it isn’t obvious, I’m a competitive individual, so I enjoy being in the moment and the intensity of both sports. Both sports have the thrill of the victory which allows me to find purpose and usefulness in the gifts God has given me to impact the athletes. When I came into coaching, one of my goals was to become a head football coach.

God clearly laughed at me when I thought I had it all planned out! So, for now, my calling is to lead the GSB Boys Basketball Program. Talons Up! Kohler: What are your long-term goals for the boys basketball program?

McNeal: I want to grow the basketball program into a successful and competitive program, one that other programs want to model. I’m fully aware that not all games can be won and that a successful season shouldn’t be measured by the results on the scoreboard. It should be based on the athletes we have and the dedication of the coaching staff as we grow this program. The basketball program has a rich tradition and I believe with effort and hard work we can continue that tradition and become a program that is recognized for not just wins, but for the hearts of its servant players and coaches. Moving up to 5A raises the level of competition, but I want the athletes to see this as an opportunity to be excited about.

COACH JULIUS MCNEAL

Kohler: What are a couple of your favorite sports moments?

McNeal: One of my most cherished sports memories at GSB will always be winning the TAPPS 4A Football State Championship last year. There are a lot of coaches out there who have been in coaching a very long time who have never won a State Championship, so that’ll always be special to me. The first time I dunked in a high school basketball game also stands out! That was pretty sweet.

Photos Hayle Heinen Layout Mattie Sue Arnold

WHAT’S IN YOUR FANNY PACK? A LOOK INTO AN ATHLETIC TRAINER’S MOST IMPORTANT ITEMS Words Abby Bower

Most people have seen the two or three student trainers down on the football field tending to the players, but what does this look like from the sidelines?

Being a trainer isn’t all about wrapping ankles and stressing hydration, they actually play a part in keeping the game moving forward. While making sure everyone drinks water is a big part of their job, trainers also have to keep an eye out for blood. If they see blood on any player, they are quick to clean it off and make sure the athlete is okay. If not for the trainers, there could be quite a few players taken out for having blood on them, whether it be theirs or someone else’s. I guess we also have them to thank for maintaining a somewhat white color on the football team jerseys.

Another big part of being a student trainer is learning how to properly stretch and tape. The trainers work starts before the game and keeps going until after.

They help prevent injury by thoroughly stretching the athletes before games and taping and cleaning potential wounds down on the sidelines.

Seniors Emma Grace Erfurt and Alexis Davis both agree that they sometimes miss being in the stands experiencing Friday night football with their friends but, in the end, it’s worth it. “I love getting to be down on the field with the players being really involved with the team,” Davis said. Erfurt also notes that it’s exciting “being able to use the things we have learned in class in person.”

Students become trainers by being a part of the Applied Anatomy class instructed by Coach Jill Daniels. So, although they may be missing out on the fun up in the bleachers, the trainers get to enjoy the game from a different perspective down on the field or on the court, while putting their knowledge to practice. We can thank the athletic trainers for taking care of the little things that keep the team safe and the game going.

Photos Nicolas Siller Layout Mattie Sue Arnold

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ATHLETES FUEL UP TIPS FOR AN ATHLETE TO EAT HEALTHY Words Sydney Griffey

“Eating healthy and clean does not always mean a strict and difficult diet.�

Lebron James is arguably one of the best basketball players of all time, managing to play in the NBA for 17 years and counting, and, for a long time, being the most physically dominant. The most important factor that has allowed him to play for so long with so much success is because of his dedication to nutrition and health.

It was reported that Lebron spends an estimated $1.5 million a year to keep his body fit. These costs come from paying for his home gym, trainers, massage therapists, chefs, appliances and more. He takes it upon himself to adapt to his different levels of competition each year as he gets older and his rivals get younger.

Lebron’s diet cuts out, for the most part, carbs, sugar, dairy and red meats. He says that he eats healthier versions of the foods he loves. Eating healthy and clean does not always mean a strict and difficult diet, but can simply be kept by staying away from harmful foods.

Cross country and swim coach Julie Olsen is very adamant about clean-eating. Young children are extremely impressionable and instilling healthy eating habits in them will become foundational for health and wellness as they mature into their teenage and young adult years. Even though many teens have a passion for sports and competing at high levels, the downfall of many young athletes begins with their diets.

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Olsen strongly expresses the need for high school athletes to recognize the importance of nutritional eating. “For many high school athletes it can make all the difference. I believe that many athletes do not meet their potentials because they don’t pay attention to eating a healthy diet. First, students in general are going to maximize focus, energy level and brain power when the bulk of their diet is real, unprocessed food. This includes a variety of vegetables, legumes, fruits and high fiber carbohydrates like quinoa, oats and sweet potatoes.”

“Protein is important too, but many people underestimate high protein plant foods. Animal protein is okay in moderation. Athletes often need more protein—sometimes as much as 100 grams per day during heavy training seasons. Fueling before and after hard training is also important. Most research suggests a carbohydrate/protein ratio of 70/30.

Chocolate milk works great in a pinch,” Olsen said.

Olsen is also adamant about the importance of learning about one’s body and how each athlete may have different needs. Eating salads for each meal and chugging water does not equal athletic success.

The separation between average and great athletes becomes much wider in high school, and diet is a major contributor. As our bodies mature and workouts get more intense, the likelihood of injury skyrockets.

“Athletes that have poor diets seem to have less energy, cramp more often and not recover as well for the next workout,” Olsen said. When someone doesn’t eat correctly, they aren’t able to train correctly because they haven’t recovered, and their muscles will not be able to support the strenuous workouts.

So, where does an athlete begin to develop nutritional habits? Olsen says that for her, learning began with reading about cleaning up her diet and basic facts about nutrition. “My diet hasn’t always been perfect but I performed best when I was eating real plantbased foods,” Olsen said. Once you begin to educate yourself on the different food groups and what you should be feeding your body, the task of eating healthy seems much more doable.

Many young athletes find eating healthy to be overwhelming or something that is just too hard given their busy lives. Instead, they opt for supplements to get them through intense workouts. “Since athletes do require more servings of nutrition than the average teenager, many look to supplement to gain the extra nutrients that they are lacking. There are many different types of supplements ranging from nutrition to performance to recovery. There is some controversy behind these different types of supplements and whether or not they do more harm than good,” Olsen said. In other words, it really depends on what kinds of supplements you are taking and the intent behind it. If you are taking these to replace clean eating, the harm will outweigh the short-term benefits.

Dieting and nutrition can sound overwhelming and trying to change old habits overnight will almost never work. The best thing to do is to start small and begin with cutting out one unhealthy thing at a time. Soon, the little choices will begin to make a big difference.

“The separation between average and great athletes becomes much wider in high school, and diet is a major contributor.”

Graphics Ainsley Plesko Layout Alexa Georgelos

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PRO SPORTS GO WOKE, GO BROKE

WAYS SPORTS AFFECT OUR MODERN DAY SOCIETY Words Lauren Abell

Throughout the years, professional sports have been an outlet for people all over the world to get away from their realities for a short amount of time. Sports have provided an escape for some and a hobby or passion for others. While turmoil might be going on all around, sports have allowed so many to experience a temporary break from all the noise and busyness of life.

Although sports have been around for a long time, they have only continued to grow in their importance and relevance. Not only are pro sports a source of entertainment, they are also a great way to make connections with others. Moreover, these events bring genuine fun and memories. All of these positivities surrounding pro sports have helped drive many to support these organizations with valuable time, money and other resources. As a result, professional sports organizations have become dominate in the entertainment industry, as well as in so many homes across the nation.

The impact pro sports has is tremendous, and until recently, this would have been a good thing. In recent years, there has been a visible shift in the priorities of most of these professional sports organizations. In the past, the focus was placed on the sport and the enjoyment of the fans. Whereas now there is more of an emphasis on doing whatever it takes to make the most money or staying the most “relevant.”

Today, it seems staying “relevant” for some of the players on these teams has meant displaying controversial, political viewpoints and/or objectifying them which has caused division not just among teammates but also amongst fan bases. This has not resonated well with many of those who used to love and show support for their favorite teams.

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“The political tension apparent in sports currently has led to disdain from many towards this entertainment sector and disappointment from others.�

According to Forbes magazine, 24% of fans have lost interest in the NFL organization alone. This doesn’t account for many other agencies facing backlash for allowing political tensions to interfere with their sports. In a time where politics divides many and leaves few unaffected, it is surprising that it would be permitted to interfere with what used to be an innocent, enjoyable pastime. Professional sports have almost become another source of polarization within our country. While politics most assuredly have a place in our lives, pro sports isn’t that place.

Athletes and agencies, although entitled to their personal opinions on controversial topics, should be hesitant to let those opinions interfere with their profession. More and more fans are starting to recognize the division growing in professional sports and are lessening their support or withdrawing it altogether. The political tension apparent in sports currently has led to disdain from many towards this entertainment sector and disappointment from others. Some who have grown up watching sports their entire lives are now faced with a rigid atmosphere while others are realizing that they won’t have known a time when politics and sports weren’t mixed. It’s a discouraging reality that countless people have had to face.

Through all of this, there is an opportunity for much grace and understanding towards others. Instead of viewing the individuals who have added to the conflict in pro sports as enemies, we should view them with respect as those created in the image of God even though we may not necessarily agree with their behavior. If we were to view situations such as this through a more godly perspective, I believe much division could either avoided or short-lived.

Others might be able to see how Christ is working through them for His greater purpose. It is vital to remember that through all of this seemingly unnecessary conflict, God has a plan and we should be waiting to be used by Him in whatever way we can.

This is not what professional sports were intended for and it can be disheartening to see the continual shift towards division instead of unity. While it may be difficult to avoid negative feelings towards professional sports because of the unwanted tension and political division, it is important to remember what truly matters eternally. Even though it may be disappointing to see something like this happening to a pastime that was of huge importance to many, how we react to it shows the state of our hearts and how we have allocated the time we have been given.

Graphics Kate Evans Layout Alexa Georgelos

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WHAT HAPPENS ON THE COURT, STAYS ON THE COURT GENEVA ATHLETES SHARE THEIR FAVORITE WINTER SPORT MEMORIES Words Alexa Georgelos

The temperature outside begins dropping around November. For some this means only one thing… winter sports. Competing on a high school sports team comes with a lot of responsibility and dedication but is also one the greatest experiences a student could have. Among many things, athletes learn the meaning of teamwork, leadership and

the importance of practice. The one thing that always seems to stick is the many hilarious memories athletes tend to make with their fellow teammates. Please enjoy these comics featuring the amusing memories of some of the winter sports student-athletes.

SWIM PRACTICE - 5:48 AM

Coach!

Can I use my snorkle to swim?!

Okay! Let’s warm up with an easy 500 swim.

Gabe! Did you hear that?!

SNORKLE!! Gahahaha!

GIRLS BASKETBALL PRACTICE - 4:05 PM Is anyone sore from yesterday’s practice?!

Uhhh...

the end

A few minutes later...

YES! Nope! I’m good.

Alright, everyone on the line! We are going to run sprints!

So sore!

Oh no!

We’re so dead.

Just kidding.

We are going BOWLING!

the end

GIRLS SOCCER - WARM UP BEFORE GAME

Syd! I’m going to kick.

Oh no!

the end

BOYS BASKETBALL PRACTICE - 4:28 PM Don’t drink all that chocolate milk!

BOYS SOCCER - BUS RIDES TO AWAY GAMES

*gulp*

Don’t do it!

You’re going to make yourself sick.

Oh no.

I don’t feel too good.

Bus rides equal...

the end “Psych!” time. *bleh*

Layout Alexa Georgelos Graphics Alexa Georgelos

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I’M DREAMING OF A NEW TEAM

WE ASKED STUDENTS WHAT SPORTS TEAMS THEY WISH GENEVA OFFERED Words Hayle Heinen

Geneva has a wide variety of sports. Most of us play some sort of sport, whether it is football, swim, cross country, soccer, basketball, tennis, golf or track, Geneva offers a lot, but what if we could add another sport? What would it be? A poll was taken and here are the results!

“Geneva offers a lot, but what if we could add another sport?”

Juniors Brooks Fessler and Ethan Valdez

Boys Sand Volleyball “Boys sand volleyball would be fun, and we boys would have the dream team, including Grant Mowery, Ethan Valdez, Jacob Dishongh, Brooks Fessler, Hayden Stringfellow and Aidan Christal.”

Junior Nicolas Siller “We would look really good in spanks.”

Sophomore Guy Kohler “I think it would be funny to watch the guys attempt at volleyball!”

Freshman Kate Travis Girls Beach Volleyball “I think it would be more challenging to play!”

Sophomore Mary Kate Mitchell Wrestling “We should have a wrestling team because the ancient Greeks placed a premium on wrestling. It doesn’t get much more classical than that!”

Mr. Shawn Harrild

BOYS SAND VOLLEYBALL

LACROSSE

GIRLS BEACH VOLLEYBALL

FENCING

WRESTLING

Lacrosse “I think it would allow for girls to participate in more of a contact sport and it looks like it takes a lot of skill so it’s fun to watch.”

Sophomore Ava Ayers

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2

2

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Fencing “A Geneva fencing team would be a very unique opportunity and I think our students would embrace it and have a lot of fun with it.”

Senior Alethea Ward

DREAM TEAM 2020

21 students and teachers polled

Photos Nicolas Siller Layout Mattie Sue Arnold

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flip side

Illustrating the whimsy and creativity of our imaginations

Photo Kate Travis

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Dress to Impress

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We’re Crazed for Coffee

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Who’s Feeling Crafty?

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DRESS TO IMPRESS A LOOK AT STUDENTS’ FAVORITE STYLES AND CLOTHES WITHIN THE DRESS CODE

Photos Gwyn Lewellyn Layout Ainsley Plesko

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WE’RE CRAZED FOR COFFEE COMPARING STARBUCKS AND DUNKIN DONUTS Words Kate Evans

You wake up on a cold, dry early morning, with a longing for something to kick start your day. A coffee or maybe even a tea can quench your thirst, but the age old question arises: should you go to Dunkin’ or Starbucks? To settle this debate, my comrade, Abby Bower, and I put the most popular drinks to the test, using a strict rating scale for flavor, quality and service.

We started the day off by venturing to our first location: Dunkin’ Donuts. This adventure of being inside the franchise for the first time was wonderful.

We were quite pleased at the nature of the building.

Inviting and bright, it seemed to be a great place to come before our daily duties commenced. We ordered four drinks and two bakery items. Regarding the service. We had some complaints: our coffee took (and I am not exaggerating) 40 minutes to be brewed and was lukewarm by the time we received it. Our official rating for the service of Dunkin’ Donuts is a solid two out of 10 stars.

Moving on to the real deal: the drinks. The Charli, the most popular item on the menu was a solid drink overall. Abby and I had high expectations for it, and it delivered. The first sip was spectacular: a smooth, mellow coffee taste taking front stage. Although significantly sweet, the so-called “caramel” taste of this drink was quite muted and more milk forward.

Our official rating is an eight out of 10.

Next up, as promised, was the Mint Hot Chocolate.

Albeit lukewarm, this may be the best drink Dunkin’ has to offer. It is the perfect harmony of two complementary flavors. The mint was not overwhelming, but, needless to say, not tasteless. As for the chocolate, it presents an inviting, comforting, classic milk chocolate flavor. It was everything that your average Grande Peppermint Hot Chocolate from its competitor Starbucks is not. We have ruled this an unwavering nine out of 10 stars rating.

“The age old question arises: should you go to Dunkin’ or Starbucks?”

Transitioning to another seasonal favorite, we put the Chai Latte to the test. Jumping into this, our expectations were high as both of us are avid Chai consumers. Unfortunately, the first sip was significantly underwhelming. Abby and I were greeted with nothing but the taste of Cardamom milk and a shocking lavender undertone. Bland is an understatement to describe this “spiced favorite.”

Honestly, this scored a four out of 10, and three of those points were from pity.

The very last contender of our test was the Oat Milk Latte. It is a convenient option for dairy-free folks, or so you would think. This drink was terrible. “The oat milk is so overpowering and absurd that it takes away from any notes of coffee,” Abby said. I 100% agree.

The best way I can describe this abomination is that it had the taste of slimy Quaker Oats mixed with a K-pod that’s been used twice. It was challenging to finalize a number rating for this “drink” but we decided a one out of 10 may convey how gross it actually was.

The bakery items we tried were also mediocre. The so-called “Classic Chocolate Sprinkle Donut” was bready, dense and bland. The Stuffed Bagel Bites were just okay, with fluffy, sweet and tart cream cheese filling. We declared these baked goods to be a six out of 10.

After the letdown of Dunkin’, we made our way over to Starbucks. As we walked in the shop, we were greeted with smooth jazz, calming forest green tones and dim orange hues. The ideal atmosphere for a coffee shop is within a Starbucks. Just as we did with Dunkin’, we compared four drinks and two bakery items.

First off, we tried the Vanilla Latte. Exquisite only begins to describe this delicacy. It was the perfect amount of sweet and bitterness, and the flavor of the beans was immaculate. The slow-roasted beans were truly what makes this drink so much better than average. The official rating is a nine out of 10.

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Next up is the Peppermint Hot Chocolate. I’ll keep this short and sweet, unlike the drink. It was chalky, bitter and not sweet at all. I’d rather not drag out this bad rating too long, so I’ll leave the three out of 10 up to your interpretation.

One big negative critique we had for Starbucks was that they were out of Chai Lattes. This was truly a disgrace, and because of it, we weren’t able to give the Chai Latte an official rating. Instead, we leave this one to you: go out and treat yourself.

The last drink we tried was the Iced Oat Milk Latte.

Well, not exactly. They didn’t have oat milk either so we resorted to almond milk. This latte was delicious, smooth and perfectly prepared. As I’ve mentioned, the magnificently roasted beans improved this drink immensely. We gave this a perfect 10 out of 10 stars!

Lastly, we turn to trying the bakery items. A Birthday Cake Pop and an Original Bagel were on the table.

Both were great and had a perfect balance of flavor across the board. Although the cake pop was dense and the bagel was slightly dry, we’d rate these treats a 7.5 out of 10.

After a long day of tasting average coffee, I’d like to leave you with my opinion: go to Starbucks. Don’t waste your money on cheap coffee and foods filled with preservatives. There is definitely a reason that the “mermaid” is on every corner in big cities across the world.

Graphics Sophia Baldwin Layout Sophia Dacy

STUDENTS BEHIND THE CAMERA A BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK INTO CINEMATOGRAPHY WORK AND PRODUCTIONS Words Sarah Coultress

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In the past couple years, the Cinematography class has grown in numbers and skill. Class members started screening their own videos during assemblies, becoming our favorite way to start off the week with a good laugh.

Ever since COVID-19 struck, however, assemblies haven’t been the same. Between switching locations outside to the football field and sitting so far apart, it takes some getting used to. But in my opinion, the worst part is not being able to watch any new videos by Cinema.

Thankfully, there is no need to worry because Cinema has their very own YouTube channel where all their videos are uploaded. If you miss watching the videos that they make, be sure to subscribe to Aquila Pictures and turn on post notifications. You don’t want to miss out on any of the new videos coming soon. You can even go back and rewatch favorite classics we all know and love.

“The Men’s Room” and “The Men’s Room Two: Season of the Scooter” are classic laughs that everyone holds dear. I will not spoil anything, but you should definitely go watch them for yourself.

Although we know Cinematography for producing fun, lighthearted, short segments, they do a lot more behind the scenes than most people know. For example, Cinema helps film and edit training videos for new teachers and helps with videos for Mrs. Gombert in Grammar School. They also produce films for TAPPS competitions and win points for the school to help win the Henderson Cup. “TAPPS films are our main project for the whole year and they take a lot of planning and hard work,” Senior Brock Ambelang, a producer in Cinematography said.

Do you have what it takes to make a movie?

Junior Julianna Goodman, Head Producer, talks about the process of creating a segment and the steps the team goes through to reach the final product.

1. Brainstorm Ideas: They can come up with whatever they want, except when there are assigned projects such as silent films, music videos and/or TAPPS films. The whole class then comes up with ideas for a film and shares their pitches with the class. If their idea is favored by many it gets chosen as a segment, film or microfilm, depending on how long it will be.

2. Storyboards: Once a pitch is approved, they create a storyboard. Storyboards contain the basic plot of the film and show each imaginable scene and the general idea on how it should be filmed. This is where pictures of the scenes and informative explanations of the drawings such as suggested camera angles, lighting, music or sounds occur.

3. The Script: When the storyboard is complete, the writer gets to work creating in detail every aspect of the video. This is where lines and narrative come in, as well as more vivid descriptions of each scene.

4. Shooting (Filming): This next step usually takes up the most time and energy, with the videographer coming in and putting his talents to work.

Camera angles tell a story on their own and it takes skill to match the view from the camera with the words on the paper. Filming is where the rest of the team comes in to help. Lighting and sound are key parts to making a great segment. If the sound is grainy or impossible to make out or the lighting is poor and the subjects cannot be seen, the film is in jeopardy.

5. Editing: This is the final step in the process. The entire film could go to waste with bad editing. Editing includes sifting through hours of film and deciphering the useful bits from the bloopers and useless footage.

When it is time to place the selected videos in their place, the storyboards are used like a map to show order and any added music or sounds. Once the general video is placed, the intricate editing can begin. Between cutting and matching videos to adding sound and music to adjusting the lighting, it can take a lot of time and energy to complete.

Photos Kate Travis Layout Sophia Baldwin Graphics Sophia Baldwin

6. Approval: Once editing is complete, the project goes to Mr. Harrild to check content and post on YouTube.

Cinematography is more than making videos—the staff also watches a lot of movies. To get ready for the Christmas season, they recommended their favorite movies to watch.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation A Christmas Story Home Alone Die Hard Elf

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WHERE FLAVOR GETS ITS WINGS NOW OPEN 23110 W I-10 San Antonio, TX 78257 210.298.0599 wingstop.com

Graphics Alexa Georgelos Layout Alexa Georgelos

GENEVA JAMS MUSIC TO INSPIRE WINTER WARMTH Words Gwyneth Lewellyn

The season of winter seems to carry a certain gloom with it. While the cold weather mixed with the bright sun feels like heaven, the world appears to slow down. The music associated with winter should be slow and dark.

Much like fall, the sound of winter is natural and cold. This playlist keeps that mood and transitions with the day, evolving from morning to night (so listen in order!). Bundle up, start a fire, grab a warm drink and turn on this winter playlist.

FIVE STRING SERENADE Mazzy Star

CANDY SAYS

The Velvet Underground

I’LL BE YOUR MIRROR

The Velvet Underground

NOTHIN’ IN THE WORLD CAN STOP ME WORRYIN’ ‘BOUT THAT GIRL The Kinks

SHELTER FROM THE STORM Bob Dylan

APRIL COME SHE WILL Simon & Garfunkel

EASE YOURSELF AND GLIDE Parsley Sound

OLD, NEW BICYCLE Helvetia

HOUSE OF CARDS Radiohead

ORANGE PEELER

Horse Jumper Of Love

ALONE BUT MOVING Here We Go Magic

BOOM BANG BLAST Enjoy

SATURDAY NIGHT

LEAVES THAT ARE GREEN

Devendra Banhart

NEEDLE IN THE HAY

Surfing

Paul Simon

Eliot Smith

I’M GLAD

Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band

MOONLIGHT SAY YOU’LL SAY SO Geoffrey Landers

CHARCOAL BABY Blood Orange

IT’S GONNA TAKE AN AIRPLANE Destroyer

Graphics Sydney Dennis Layout Sophia Dacy

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THE

Gazette Words Ainsley Plesko

Holiday Polls With temperatures dropping and holiday anticipation growing, I polled the Magazine staff to find out what they would consider an ideal holiday.

Ham or Turkey?

Ham

11 Votes

Turkey

10 Votes

Stay Home or Travel?

Stay home Travel

15 Votes 7 Votes

Would you rather give or receive a present?

Receive a present Give a present

13 Votes 12 Votes

Student Interviews What is your favorite/strangest Christmas tradition?

“My family always eats breakfast for dinner on Christmas Day.” Junior Gwyn Lewellyn “We eat Puerto Rican food.” Junior Sydney Griffey “Christmas light shows.” Sophomores Kate Evans and Sophia Dacy

Favorite holiday scents?

Cider—Junior Gwyn Lewellyn Christmas Cookie—Junior Sydney Griffey Pumpkin Spice—Sophomore Mattie Sue Arnold Pine—Junior Ainsley Plesko

Best gift you have received? Or best gift you given someone?

Best Gifts Received: “My grandma gave me a hula skirt outfit. I almost wore it to Halloween.” Senior Hannah Pratt “One Christmas, I got a puppy that had been hidden in a red box.” Freshman Kate Travis “In fourth grade, my parents gave me a huge fish tank.” Junior Gwyn Lewellyn Best Gifts Given: “I gave my parents a drawing of their wedding picture.” Freshman Hailey Kirchner

Holiday Recipe For those of you who aren’t lucky enough to receive treats in Senior Thesis class, Mrs. Hillary Short shares a holiday recipe. Her Gingerbread Latte is guaranteed to get you in the holiday spirit.

Gingerbread Latte Gingerbread Spice Syrup: 1 ½ cups of water 1 ¼ cups sugar 1 Tablespoon ground ginger 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon ½ teaspoons ground nutmeg ¼ teaspoons ground cloves ¼ teaspoons sea salt 2 teaspoons pure vanilla Latte: 2 Tablespoons gingerbread syrup ½ cup steamed milk 1/8 cup whipped cream 1 pinch of nutmeg 1 pinch of cinnamon ½ teaspoon vanilla powder To make syrup, combine all ingredients except vanilla in a medium saucepan.

Bring to boil over medium heat then turn down heat and simmer (to consistency of maple syrup) about 10-15 minutes. Swirl but don’t stir.

Once thickened, turn off heat and add vanilla. Cool and pour in a lidded glass jar for storage (keeps for 10 days at room temperature).

Combine espresso with syrup. Add milk.

Top with whipped cream and spices.

Even better with a gingerbread cookie crumbled on top.

Layout Sophia Dacy Graphics Sophia Baldwin

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WHO’S FEELING CRAFTY? FUN PROJECTS TO MAKE YOUR CHRISTMAS BREAK MORE INTERESTING Words Hailey Kirchner

DIY or “do-it-yourself” projects have become wildly popular due to their creative, crafty nature. They make great gifts for the holidays or just for yourself! These three DIYs are perfect for a cozy winter season.

CHUNKY BLANKETS • Using a spool of thick yarn, add a twist near the end to make a loop.

• Hold the tail and push the yarn partially through the loop to make another loop.

• Repeat the previous step to form a braid to the length of your desired width. (About 30 loops) • Lay the tail down across the top of the braid and pull yarn partially through the top half of the braid to form a loop.

• Repeat previous step until reaching end of braid, then lay yarn behind braid and continue creating new loops on a new row. (Repeat until you have achieved the desired size for your blanket) • For the final row, guide yarn through two loops at a time throughout the entire row. (This creates an edge for your blanket) • Use the tail to tie a final, secure knot with the last loop.

• Enjoy!

HOT CHOCOLATE BOMBS • Melt some chocolate chips or chocolate candy in the microwave until smooth.

• Pour into half circle baking molds, then spread around the sides of the molds to create a durable layer.

• Freeze chocolate half spheres for 5-10 minutes, then gently push them from the mold.

• Warm a microwaveable plate for one minute, then place a shell face down for a couple seconds to melt its edge.

• Fill your half shell with one tablespoon hot cocoa powder, some minimarshmallows and any other add-ins you desire.

• Melt another chocolate shell’s edge using your microwave-safe plate, then push together the filled and unfilled half circles’ melty edges. This will seal your bomb.

• Decorate your hot chocolate bombs with drizzled chocolate, crushed candy canes or anything you wish.

• Enjoy!

CANDLES • Melt two times the amount of candle-making soy wax needed to fill your candle container. This should take 10-15 minutes.

• If desired, add fragrance oil to the melted wax.

• Dip your candle wick into the melted wax and quickly stick it to the bottom of your container.

• Adhere dried flower petals to the container’s sides, if desired.

• Once your wax has cooled to 140 degrees (indicated by a candy thermometer), pour the majority of it into the new container.

• Sandwich the wick with two pencils, placed on top of the jar to keep the wick upright.

• Add the remaining reheated wax to the previously-hardened wax and let it solidify.

• Enjoy!

Graphics Hailey Kirchner Layout Ava Ayers

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The Talon THE PERFECT GIFTS TO UNWRAP CHRISTMAS MORNING Words Rob Shelton

Reindeer Games It’s the time of year for reindeer games, so we encourage all to be responsible citizens and be on the lookout for these shenanigans. Don’t interfere unless you witness the pervasive reindeer prejudice of not letting those members who are different join in any reindeer games. Those reindeer with a red nose—those who have a very shiny nose (some would even say it glows)—are particularly singled out for this embarrassing practice. If you help the others see the error of their ways, then how the reindeer will love him (and you) and perhaps even shout out with glee.

Perhaps even you will go down in history.

Christmas Book Ideas for Teachers Mrs. Greenlees: Chicken Parts for the Soul: Inspiring Stories of Innards and Gizzards

Mr. Milam: Beyond the Pocket Protector: The Key to Being Nerdier than All of Your Nerdiest Students

Mr. Johnson: Shut Up and Go Away: Random Reasons to Hate Anyone

Mr. Naiser: Being Too Nice: How to Make Students Think You Like Them

Ms. Daniels: Draygons, Waygons and Swayg: Fun With the Minnesota Accent

Mr. Graham: Zero Tolerance: Keys to Crushing your Enemies (for Jesus)

Mrs. Short: Jonah: Jonah Mr. Russell: [No book gift ideas—he doesn’t like to read.]

Mr. Southwick: Home Again: How to Flee California (Twice) Mrs. Ward: A Waste of Time: Telling the Right Students that It Doesn’t Matter How Many Times They Visit Your Office, They Are Not Going to Get into College Mr. Poole: Get a Life: Why Middle Earth isn’t Real and Tolkien was a Poser Miss Jacobson: The Big Book of Insults: Snappy Phrases Sure to Make Everyone Uneasy

Graphics Alexa Georgelos Layout Alexa Georgelos

QUARTERLY STAFF GRAPHICS

Kate Evans

Ainsley Plesko Editor

r Kirchne Hailey

Baldwin

Sophia

INDESIGN

Arnold Mattie Sue

cy

ia Da

Soph Sarah Coultress Sydney Griffey Edito r

Hannah Pratt

PHOTOGRAPHY

Gwyn Le wellyn

n Heine Hayle

r Bowe Abby

Kate Travis

r

Edito Nicolas Siller

EDITORIAL

Ava Ayers

Lauren Abell Editor Claire Coultress

r Spence

er Kohl Guy

h

g Yarbrou

EXECUTIVES Pauline Rahal

Christina Hammock

Sydney D en

nis

Jackson Young

Alexa Georgel

os

Adviser

Exec. Editor of Design

Exec. Editor of Content

Exec. Managing Editor

Exec. Marketing Editor

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Winter 2020 — Geneva School of Boerne

@genevaquarterly