The Geneva Quarterly, Volume 9, Issue 2

Geneva Quarterly The Midday Edition Volume 9 Issue 2

Concept

Following along with the concept of time for the Midday Edition, we asked junior Ella Babic to take a swim. It was a bit colder than it looks but she hung in there for us. Looking to showcase the midday light, we chose water because it reflected the color scheme of this issue.

Senior Editors of Photography Nicolas Siller and Gywn Lewellyn worked to capture the photos of Ella swimming quickly so she could warm up.

Mission Statement

Rhetoric School, serves to provide Geneva and the surrounding community with relevant and accurate news, opinions and entertainment centered around our student culture. Our staff strives to instill boldness, creativity and excellence through our published work.

We aim to discover truth laced into our community with integrity and to write all pieces from a biblical worldview to the glory of Jesus Christ.

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

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

Rhetoric School Population: 230 Rhetoric Faculty: 31

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

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

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

MAGAZINE SPECS: Created in Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator and printed by Bright Printing, School Division.

Font Families: Minion Pro, Cormorant and Milkman.

Dear reader, As the school year continues, opportunities and moments surround us, just waiting for us to take advantage of them. It is easy for us to ignore these times and not take advantage of all that is set before us.

It is our desire that our readers live life to the fullest, enjoying all the little moments that come along with it.

Our concept for this year’s magazine is the different times of day. As a staff, we have incorporated the theme of midday into the production and imagination behind this second issue. The idea of midday hints at striving towards a goal with positive efforts and maintaining productivity. These objectives are critical to us as a staff and to our readers as we work with excellence towards our individual and collective goals. The beauty and inspiration drawn from midday are visible in the colors and thoughtfulness in each page of this issue.

We are so excited to present Issue 2 of this year’s Geneva Quarterly. In each story idea for this issue, we have attempted to incorporate aspects of midday in the designs and creative photographs of each page. We hope you all enjoy this issue as much as we do and the many issues still to come!

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

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Your Shipment is Delayed

Let’s Catch Up

We’re Making a Splash

Feature

Feature

Story

It’s in the Oven

Is it Soup-erb?

Moving Through Midday

Recipe

Review

Consecutive

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Photo Kate Travis

Global Time A glimpse across time zones

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Foresee the Future

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Cracking Open Conspiracies

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Celebrating Across Continents 7

FORSEE THE FUTURE Looking back on hypotheses made in 1921 Words Abby Bower

W

hat did the future hold for the people of America 100 years ago? The people of 1921 didn’t even have the token futuristic prediction, flying cars, on their radar. They were anticipating things that are now a part of our everyday life. A mathematician, Charles Steinmetz, made predictions in 1921 about what life might look like after a century. He narrowed his aspirations to five main predictions.

First, he claimed that the people of 2021 will be “masters of temperature,” referring to the thermostat. Having air conditioning in our homes is rarely thought to make us masters of temperature, but it does. What a luxury.

We want hot, turn on the heater, we want cold, crank up the AC. Talking about thermostats this way makes changing the temperature a lot more exciting than it used to be. As far as Steinmetz is concerned, we are indeed masters of temperature.

Steinmetz’s second prediction was that “entertainment will happen at home.”

When we read this our minds immediately jump to the television screen sitting in our living room and think about how that’s a funny way to describe TV. However, Steinmetz wasn’t predicting televisions, but instead he was implying that inside most homes there would be a radio. He was hoping that entertainers and musicians could be accessed at home through sound alone. He would be pleasantly surprised to see how far we have come with at-home entertainment.

Far exceeding his expectations, we can watch or listen to almost anything we want, wherever we are.

Next in line is Steinmetz’s hope for transportation. He wanted to see “electricity power our wheels.” Flying cars were not even on his mind. Steinmetz would once again be proud to see that we have fulfilled his dream. An electric car can be found in almost every parking lot nowadays. We haven’t made the complete crossover to electric transportation, but eventually car lots may fully reflect his prediction.

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Fourth, Steinmetz predicted that “books will be read to us on record.” We’re on a roll, fulfilling four of four predictions. Books are read to us but not only on records. Modern technology can offer records, cassettes, CDs and even apps designed for the purpose of reading books.

Predictions were primarily concerned with public transportation and life in the home.

Steinmetz’s final prediction addressed transportation again. “...Tubes may connect cities and men will travel in them at a speed that is dazzling to the senses,” Steinmetz said. Five for five. He nailed it. Steinmetz, in 1921, perfectly described the modern subway system. It is almost mystical how accurately he portrayed a future reality. He seemed to possess a very grounded idea of what kind of things would not only exist in the future but become very ordinary parts of civilization in America.

It seems that Charles Steinmetz had a very good idea of what the world might look like in 100 years. Either that or he had a time machine. It is interesting to see the things that he hoped for in such a different cultural environment. He seemed primarily concerned with public transportation and life in the home. Who could have imagined that Steinmetz could have so accurately predicted the lives we now live–lives that Steinmetz envisioned in his dreams.

Design Alexandria Bussey Graphics Jacob Goodman

N E P O G N I K C A CR S E I C A R I P S N CO uessing

asses g ave the m le t a th s ie ster ng the my Investigati a Ayers Words Av

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an unsinkable es and the sinking of nc ara pe ap dis ge an str sh, around the n unexpected plane cra inspires imaginations ts en ev ese th of ch ea unding have gone so wrong. ship. The mystery surro d how everything could an ed en pp ha lly rea at world to question wh

A

Amelia Earhart , Distinguished Flying Cross recipient and the first-kno wn female to fly solo abov e 14,000 feet, is al le gedly still lost at Accompanied sea. by flight naviga to r Fr ed Noonan, Ear prepared for he hart r second attem pt to fly around 1937. As the pa the globe in ir neared the fu eling station on tiny piece of la the extremely nd called How land Island, they contact with th lo st all radio e U.S. Coast Gua rd ship anchor of the island th ed off the coast at was awaiting their arrival. E and their plane arhart, Noonan were never reco vered. Capturing wide attention, nationEarhart’s assum ed crash prompt Roosevelt to au ed President thorize one of the most expens American histor ive searches in y up to that po int, lasting arou No wreckage w nd two weeks. as ever discover ed in the water the Pacific island s surrounding nor any sign of the two pilots. hart was official Amelia Early declared dead in January 1939 after she first di , 18 months sappeared.

1: The Disapp earance of Amelia Earha rt

Encompassing the section of the Atlantic Ocean between the coasts of Florida, Bermuda and Puerto Rico, lies the Bermuda Triangle. Unexplained disappearances of more than 50 ships and 20 airplanes have occurred within this seemingly normal expanse of water and no wreckage has ever been uncovered. One report from 1945 tells the story of five bomber planes that took off from the coast of Florida for a standard two-hour training mission. The five planes and 27 men were ever contacted again and no sign of their planes was ever discovered. This strange phenomenon has remained the subject for hundreds of theories and speculation for the past 500 years.

One theory suggests the missing ships were the result of intense ocean surges that would suddenly appear off the coast of Bermuda. These unexplained surges were called “white squalls” by the local fishermen and would appear without warning on clear days. The most recent scientific theory suggests that large deposits of methane gas leaking from the ocean floor could have caused large explosions and underwater eruptions. Though no one has been able to pinpoint the reason behind these disturbances, there is also no evidence that suggests that these disappearances occur in any more abundance in the Triangle than in any other section of water. So maybe there is no mystery surrounding the Bermuda Triangle after all and it has always been just a local legend.

2: Bermuda Triangle istoecks in h r w ip h s e ll-known cean, on most we tlantic O e A th ail th f s r o o to e N e on ted s attemp aters of th remained in s w a ta y h p ic a e ic c e n m e ee d g th The Tita istance. Th xury steamship s s of sailin d y e a d th r u in fo e lu the 300berg ry. After eberg. Th aware of small ice ic n a u e d , e th n tt f o o o e ed sp News g the sid lookout y afloat. s proceed in ta z in s a r ta to g p r a ly c u e ats. ho , on ion and th nic had only one the lifebo around it is d ll e o d c o e o fl a s d by th sel. On assenger ll. The Tit unphase ship as p ff the ves ship’s hu o e e ly th th t fe u a in s o it uithrough foot gash w made face. Inq ge spread ean’s sur s and cre a c r e m o g a ories e n d e th e s th s of th neath iracy e 40 pa e p s b ,2 n 2 k o f n c o a t s id u o und ally as d Only 706 lated aro itanic fin ediately u T c m e ir c im th , n ly 2 a ain 191 phe beg creator’s eories m April 15, e catastro icted the These th th d . g a ip tr in h n s d r o e a c th h ure as ries reg ure whic dition of anic’s fail il n it o fa T c l e a e ic th th g e g med olo y se regardin ce in assu ent techn hip. Man r la s a p p le p y b a n a a ’s k m ic the unsin ing faith the Titan dence in unwaver fi e n o th c d l a n a origin n pride of huma the result llibility. gical infa lo o n h c te

ic n a t i T e 3: Th

Design Sophia Baldwin Graphics Sophia Baldwin

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YOUR SHIPMENT IS DELAYED The mark of commercialization on the Christmas holiday and the current issues in filling orders Words Ainsley Plesko

T

ake a peek at any retail storefront in the last two months of the year and you’re bound to see a similar sight: a menagerie of decorative reindeer, snowflakes and wreaths. Christmas has become increasingly commercialized in the United States with gift-giving traditions, corporate advertisements and Santa Clause inspired wish lists. However, Christmas has not always been an integral in American society. In fact, Christmas celebrations were outlawed in Boston from 1659 to 1681. As industrialization grew, companies began to see Christmas as a marketable holiday, reinventing the Christmas traditions we know and love today.

Even before the colonies’ foundation, England experienced a shift in religious ideals as Oliver Cromwell defeated Charles I, injecting his Puritan

practices into the Commonwealth. According to History.com, “When Oliver Cromwell and his Puritan forces took over England in 1645, they vowed to rid England of decadence and, as part of their effort, canceled Christmas.” In 1660, Charles II was restored to the throne by Parliament and his rule brought the relaxation of Cromwell’s strict Puritan beliefs. Christmas began to be celebrated in England once again.

As pilgrims began arriving in the New World in the 17th century, a divergence of religious ideals also arrived. Those with orthodox Puritan beliefs, like the Massachusetts Bay Colony, fined those found celebrating Christmas five shillings. In Plymouth, the Puritan Separatists regarded the holiday as a typical day of work, taking no time off to recognize

it. However, in colonies like Jamestown, the settlers regarded Christmas as a sacred holiday, importing their traditions to Virginia. Yet, even in colonies where Christmas was celebrated, the holiday was vastly different from its modern counterpart. The holiday was marked by adult celebrations and activities, far from the children-centered traditions of modernity.

In the 19th century, the holiday saw a revitalization in literature. In 1815, Washington Irving included Christmas essays in The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon, writing about the cheer of Old English Christmases. Irving’s ideas took root in America as the holiday began to become a mainstream, familycentered day. “He did not ‘invent’ the holiday, but

he did all he could to make minor customs into major customs—to make them enriching signs of family and social togetherness,” biographer Andrew Burstein said.

In 1822, the legend of Santa Clause entered mainstream media with Episcopal minister Clement Clark Moore’s The Night Before Christmas.

Depicting Santa Clause as a charitable and jolly gift-giver, Moore modernized the historical Greek monk. Further perfecting the Christmas narrative, Charles Dickens published A Christmas Carol in 1843, recounting the redemption of Ebenezer Scrooge. Taking Scrooge on a journey through the past, present and future, Dickens immortalized

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Christmas as a charitable and festive season. Many current traditions were bolstered by Dickens’ influence, as he emphasized love and family which should anchor the celebration.

By the late 19th century, Christmas was widely celebrated by Americans. In 1870, President Ulysses S. Grant declared Christmas a national holiday.

Christmas traditions, new or old, began to decorate the month of December. German immigrants brought the traditions of Christmas trees, candy canes and gingerbread houses while Catholic immigrants brought nativity scenes. Nutcrackers crossed Russian borders and colonists began to develop their own eggnog recipes.

Rampant commercialization has transformed tradition.

Rampant commercialization has transformed tradition. Modern Christmas celebrations are now integral to retail success with holidays earning 19% of annual sales. In the last decade, sales have grown significantly each year. In 2021, holiday sales could reach up to $839 billion–a 10% increase from the prior year, according to the National Retail Federation.

However, companies cannot always meet the demands of the season’s consumers. In the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic, month-long shipping delays may characterize the Christmas of 2021.

“Clogged ports, a stressed trucking industry, labor shortages, higher demand and higher shipping costs are all impacting shipments of toys, electronics, apparel and more,” reports CBS. From the east to west coast, shipping delays are on the rise as cargo ships remain in ports with crates of goods unopened. Los Angeles, which handles 40% of imports, is facing a record backlog.

“The American consumer’s buying strength is so strong that we can’t absorb all this cargo into the domestic supply chain,” Gene Seroka, the director of this west coast port, said. Experts warn to expect the unexpected with shipping delays and to shop early.

Design Sophia Baldwin Graphics Sophia Baldwin

From shipping delays to record-breaking sales, Christmastime consumerism continues to make a steady increase in societal importance. Yet, in reminding ourselves of the true reason for the season, the words of Charles Dickens ring true. In recognizing the good intention at the heart of tradition, Dickens embraces the Christmas spirit, writing, “I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time. The only time when men and women seem by one content to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers.”

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CELEBRATING ACROSS CONTINENTS Unwrapping the history of Christmas traditions Words Ella Dillinger

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hristmas is a magical time of the year filled with exciting traditions. As young children,

we marveled at the thought of Santa and his elves delivering presents every Christmas Eve. Thoughts of Christmas magic and miracles captivated us. We often thought that everyone celebrated the same way we did, but in reality, Christmas traditions vary all around the world.

GERMANY In the weeks leading up to Christmas, Christkindlmarkts or Christmas markets are set up all over the country. These markets are filled with stalls selling handmade gifts and homemade food.

Glühwein (mulled wine) is a traditional German drink sold at these markets to keep warm. On Christmas, German families hide a pickle-shaped ornament in the Christmas tree. The first child to find it is given an extra gift from St. Nicholas.

On the night before St. Nicholas Day, children set out their shoes to be filled with sweets and little presents. That evening, St. Nicholas visits the children’s houses along with his companion Knecht Ruprecht. He is sometimes described as a malevolent old man with a brown beard and robe, who carries a stick and child-sized sack to put naughty children in. Other times, Knecht Ruprecht is depicted as a half-demon, half-goat creature with a long tongue. On Krampus Night, he goes from door-to-door, taking naughty children and putting them in his sack.

BRAZIL Since Brazil is located in the southern hemisphere, Christmas happens in the summertime. Papi Noel is Brazil’s version of Santa Claus, but despite the name difference, he is quite similar to the American depiction of Santa. Children hang socks out the window so Papai Noel can exchange them for a present. Brazilians mostly celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve instead of Christmas Day. Celebrations are often done with the extended family, so most Brazilians participate in Amigo Secreto, a secret Santa-type gift exchange.

SWEDEN A widely popular Christmas tradition in Sweden is St. Lucia’s Day. On December 13, young girls dress up as St. Lucia and sing carols. They wear a white dress with a red sash and a crown of candles.

These girls deliver traditional baked goods such as lussekatter (saffron bread) and pepparkakor (ginger biscuits) to their families. Along with gifts from Santa Claus, gifts are also delivered by tomten or Christmas gnomes. These gnomes are grumpy and proud. According to Swedish legend, they might even kill you if you fail to provide their Christmas porridge. It is also believed that Santa rides a yule goat to deliver presents.

RUSSIA Russian Christmas is celebrated on January 7 because the Russian Orthodox Church follows the Julian calendar for religious holidays. Most of the festivities begin on New Year’s Eve. The traditional Santa figure, who wears blue and is pictured as tall and thin, is Ded Moroz or Grandfather Frost.

Svyataki, the period of time between Christmas and Epiphany, is filled with fortune-telling and caroling. January 19, the day of Epiphany, honors Jesus’ baptism and is celebrated by jumping into the freezing rivers and lakes.

Design Alexandria Bussey Graphics Jacob Goodman

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Graphic Hailey Kirchner

Local Time The boardwalk around the clock

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Faculty Face-Off

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Working 9 to 5

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Shedding Light on the Schedule 21

KNOCK ‘EM DEAD

Even the most seasoned performers struggle with stage fright Words Jacob Goodman

Ben Vis and Hailey Hubenak (junior)

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eing in front of an audience can be terrifying.

Stage fright is a common fear for most. When watching actors perform on stage, I often wonder what they do to overcome stage fright. I decided to speak with junior Mia Wilson, one of the lead roles in One Act Play, to learn more about overcoming stage fright. While the fear never completely goes away, there are things you can do to keep it at bay.

“Before a performance, especially a performance for One Act, we always do vocal warm-ups together in a circle. We play some improv games together and then Mr. Hurt usually does some focus exercises with us,” Wilson said. “After that, we focus individually and I do this trick where I put a pencil in my mouth and say some of my lines–this helps me not drop connecting words like “the” “an” and “a” on stage.

Finally, we do a group prayer together and perform,” Wilson said.

Stage fright is a common fear for many.

This is just one way an actor might prepare himself for a performance. Everybody has their own preferred method of preparing and many are unique to the person performing. One of the most common ways to get ready for performance is practicing in front of other people. This helps to boost confidence so you can perform better in front of a larger audience.

Stage fright is a common fear among many people. 77 percent of people develop some degree of stage fright when they are in front of an audience but everyone can find their own personal way to deal with it.

Design Ella Dillinger Photo Kate Travis

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THE RISE OF MR. ODOM

Getting the inside scoop on Mr. Odom moving up to Rhetoric School Words Spencer Yarbrough

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here’s a new man on campus who’s been here four years. He is known and loved by many but it’s time to hear the real story of Mr. Brian Odom. So let’s dive deeper into who he is and how he got here.

How did you end up teaching at Geneva?

I first taught as an adjunct professor at the seminary from which I graduated. I taught Graduate Biblical Hebrew and an Old Testament course. While I loved my time there, I was pursuing my Ph.D. I applied to five schools because that is all I had the money for at the time. I made the wait list at Baylor and SMU, but was not accepted into the programs. Since I was engaged to my now wife, Aly, I knew I needed a job that was not part-time adjunct work. Luckily, through looking into different avenues of teaching Scripture, it led me to see that Geneva School of Boerne had an opening, so I applied, interviewed and got the job teaching 7th grade New Testament and 6th Grade Latin. (Went to school and took four years of Hebrew and three of Greek...to teach Latin which I did not know when I was hired.)

I can challenge freshmen and sophomores in a way that I couldn’t in Logic.

What caused you to switch from Logic School to Rhetoric School?

I really felt a calling in my heart to teach Scripture at an elevated or deeper level than I was able to go to with 7th and 8th graders. This feeling became so heavy on my heart that I approached both Mr. Jones and Mr. Russell about the calling I felt. Due to many shifts in jobs, whether still here at Geneva or to different schools entirely, there became a need for a Rhetoric Bible teacher. I took this as affirmation to apply. Here in Rhetoric, I can challenge the freshmen and sophomores in a way that I simply could not in Logic School.

What is your favorite part about the Rhetoric School community?

My favorite thing about the Rhetoric community is that I can sense there is a shared sense of community. I have always felt that I get to teach alongside other teachers just like me. Teachers who are passionately pursuing virtue while letting virtue guide their studies and teachings. While no one teaches my subjects but me, I never feel alone in the work. Other teachers are genuinely asking about what is going on in the class and seeking to find ways to incorporate it into their lessons, which is wonderful. The sense of everyone being supportive and on the same team with the same ultimate goal has been different from my experience with other schools and from the experiences many people close to me have had in different teaching settings.

Design Ella Dillinger Photo Lindsay Lee

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LET’S CATCH UP

Checking in with teachers that have moved on from Geneva Words Guy Kohler

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e have had many beloved teachers depart from Geneva and move on to new things.

Here is what former Geneva teachers Mr. Steve Tye, Mrs. Mallory Rockwell and Mrs. Becky Ryden have been up to since they left Geneva.

MRS. MALLORY ROCKWELL

former Logic Science Teacher and Coach What have you been doing since leaving Geneva?

I now live in Boynton Beach, Florida! I have always loved the ocean and I only live about 10 minutes from the beach. My husband and our dogs love the warm weather and the beach life is amazing! I work for a company called Genetics Institute of America Mrs. Rock well helpin and my job title is Clinical Education Manager. I g a studen t educate physicians and patients on the importance of incorporating genetics into medical care. Our genes tell us a lot about our health outcome as individuals and I help doctors implement genetic testing and this information into their practices. It is a fascinating job and I learn so much everyday!

What do you miss most about Geneva?

I miss the community. The people are what make Geneva great. I miss the simple things like waving at my colleagues and students across the boardwalk and having coffee in the mornings while we chat about the day to come. I miss the smiles and the laughter we all shared. It is all very fond memories!

What is your favorite memory from your time at Geneva?

There are so many! I do not have a specific memory honestly, but what I remember the most were the laughs and the good times. There were times where we laughed so hard that we cried, and even laughed through our tears. I am sure all of you are thinking of something specific and at some point we will all have to reminisce. I know we had a bad day here and there, but I couldn’t tell you anything about them! Geneva is my family and always will be.

MR. STEVE TYE

former Rhetoric Humanities Teacher What have you been doing since leaving Geneva?

I have been helping my wife home school our children.

She and I have also been really busy running the driving school. When I am not working or teaching, you will find me riding my bike, going on walks or reading. I am also trying to do more camping.

What do you miss most about Geneva?

Mr. Tye per forming at I miss playing X-Wing with all the nerds. May the force be Mr. Christ mas with all of them.

What is your favorite memory of your time at Geneva?

I have so many fond memories of making fun of Mr. Harrild in faculty meetings. Too many to list here though…The Right Honorable Lord Steven Tye of the Principality of Sealand.

MRS. BECKY RYDEN

former Rhetoric Magazine Adviser What have you been doing since leaving Geneva?

We (Mr. Ryden, Eliot and myself) are currently living in Orlando, Florida where we are involved with another classical school: The Geneva School of Orlando. I am teaching 10th grade British Literature and really enjoying being back in the classroom after sitting out for a year. I wish there was a student exchange program or a “franchise” association, but that is not the case.

Mrs. Ryden

and Aislin g Ayers (C

lass of ‘19)

What do you miss most about Geneva?

There is so much I miss about Geneva Boerne! The families, the students, the teachers, so many good people! You are all so blessed to be in such a sweet spot, and I hope you never take that for granted.

I would have to say I miss the J Room the most! The journalism staff and all the memories are ones I will forever cherish.

What is your favorite memory from your time at Geneva?

We were there for 14 years and watched Geneva grow from a K-8 school of 275 to a K-12 school of 700+, so there are so many memories that truly are just the fabric of our lives. The school song after a loss, the faculty blessing song at graduation, Tony Chestnut with the kindergartners, the musicals, Opening Assembly, Closing Assembly, graduation, the lip sync battles, GCL lunches for faculty. I could go on and on. But I have to say, my favorite memory is putting each issue of the Quarterly to bed, and then handing it out to the students. That and a journalism student yelling out, “The floor is lava.”

Design Sydney Griffey Photos GSB Photo Team

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FACULTY FACE-OFF Teachers fight it out to build the best gingerbread house Words Sofi Treviño

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ine Teachers. Four Teams. One Goal. Who would make a gingerbread house worthy of picturesque snow globe glory?

Four teams of fine arts teachers rushed to put together the gingerbread house of their dreams using a pre-cut house set, frosting and various other supplies brought from home. They were judged by a panel of three judges; freshman Piper Pruitt, junior Mattie Sue Arnold and Rhetoric School Headmaster Mr. Dirk Russell. But who, exactly, was on each team? Here’s the lineup!

The three pairs and one trio consisted of the Rhetoric Fine Arts Teachers. Team #1 was Mr. Luis Arizpe (guitar), Mr. Doug Hurt (theatre) and Mrs. Autumn Jones (theatre). Team #2 was Mr. Ben Vis (choir) and Ms. Suzi Rocha (choir). Team #3 was Mrs. Gradi Evans (band) and Mr. Daniel Desalles (band) and Team #4 was Mrs. Cathy Lester (art) and Mrs. Sarah Gachupin (orchestra).

The scene of the contest was filled with students in Christmas pajamas milling around and two elves recruited to cause mischief. The judges sat at their table trying their best to keep impartiality while members of each team sporadically approached them in an attempt to bribe by any means possible.

As the minutes ticked by, the teams worked hard to complete their houses. They were allotted 15 minutes for planning and prep, 15 minutes for construction and decorating and 15 minutes for judging.

Three of the four teams took the conventional route and constructed their houses before decorating them, but team #4 took a leap of faith and decided to finish the walls before sticking them together.

They all seemed to be coming along nicely, except for Team #1, who was lagging seriously behind.

As the timer ticked down, however, things seemed to slowly pan out. Each team used unique supplies, and onlookers could see everything from cinnamon candies to edible silver spray being used.

Then came the surprise “ingredient.” Each team was required to incorporate a navy and white Geneva cheer pom-pom.

As the timer ticked down to the last minutes, a catastrophe occurred. Team #4, having finished all their panels, started to assemble their house. Walls crumbled, the roof caved and the gingerbread house was now a gingerbread pile! Using quick, resourceful thinking, Mrs. Lester conjured up a story to tell to the judges.

Nine teachers.

Four teams.

One goal.

Team #1

Gradi Evans and Daniel Desalles

Team #2

Team #3

Team #4

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Ben Vis and Suzie Rocha

With 30 minutes now elapsed, the judges got up and moved to the table of Team #1 to judge.

Despite being behind in the beginning, Team #1 pulled through to the end, producing a classic Christmas gingerbread house, although a little messy. The roof was dusted with powdered sugar, adding to the cozy snow theme. The judges felt it would have earned higher marks had it not collapsed during judging.

They then moved on to Team #2, arguably the most professional looking house. They were going for a “whimsical” theme.

“We pulled it off to a T,” Vis said.

Frosting icicles, a gingerbread man greeting you at the door and the ingenious use of edible silver sparkles tied together to become the perfect magical house. The judges agreed it was a contender for the top spot, despite being a little sloppy.

Leaving with high marks, they moved on to Team #3, a perfect example of a quaint log cabin, made of sweets! Pretzels laid across the front panel horizontally gave a surprisingly good illusion of logs, a wreath of frosting above the door gave it Christmas charm, and the inspired trees made of ice-cream cones coated in green icing gave it the true feel of a cabin in the woods. This house was the judge’s favorite and Mr. Russell could be heard commenting on its rustic charm.

Finally, the judges arrived at the table of Team #4, probably the team most favored to win, if only because of the involvement of art teacher Mrs. Lester. The sunken-in house looked…dubious to say the least, and the walls were so heavily decorated it could only be assumed it was because of sheer weight that the house didn’t stay up. A small Bob Ross figure stood in the doorway, a cheerful smile despite the wreckage around him.

Mrs. Lester attributed the mess of a house as a homage to modern art, ergo the mess.

Design Sydney Griffey Photos Lindsay Lee and GSB Photo Team Graphics Sofi Treviño

“It was a disgrace to art and I expected more from the art teacher,” judge Piper Pruitt said.

It’s safe to say this house was one “happy little accident” in the words of Bob Ross.

While some houses were undoubtedly a bit subpar, the contest was close nonetheless. After conferring with each judge, the winner was announced…

Team #3, aka Mrs. Evans and Mr. Desalles!

Mr. Russell attributes this to the clean building and creative use of decorations.

“It wasn’t sloppy or over-decorated, but ingenious touches like the ice-cream cone trees really made it stand out from the pack,” Russell said.

Stay tuned for the next edition of Teacher Cook-Off which will be returning next quarter.

Doug Hurt, Autumn Jones and Luis Arizpe

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WORKING 9 TO 5 How some students run their own businesses to make some extra money Words Claire Coultress

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or some Geneva students, it can be hard to find a way to make money. With the high academic and extracurricular expectations, it can prove difficult to find the time and energy to keep up with

a job. Even so, some over-achievers are able to work a part-time job and some others have found other creative ways to make some extra cash.

Anna Beth Muck (senior) Senior Anna Beth Muck teaches students piano after school. I think it’s safe to say one of her virtues is patience.

How long have you been playing piano? How did you start?

I have been playing piano since I was 6, so 12 years.

I started with this nice older lady and I took lessons in her home. Then I moved up to competition level with another teacher at Musical Arts Center of San Antonio (MACSA). Now I take lessons with Meredith Vis and she’s the best!

When/how did you get into teaching?

Mrs. Vis was starting to get overloaded with student requests and so she asked me if I would like to take over some of them. Of course, I said yes. My first student was Jonah Short.

How many students do you have?

I have 12 wonderful and talented students ranging from elementary to middle school age What is it like teaching kids piano?

Teaching these kids piano is so rewarding! It’s so wonderful to see a kid that started not knowing anything about piano to now be able to play tough two page pieces, and knowing that I taught them how. I appreciate each and every one of them. One thing out of many lessons I have learned from these kids is how, either after a long day of school or dealing with a lot of distractions, I can clear my mind and totally focus on the piano lessons and enjoy being present with my students. They are all amazing.

Do you personally have a favorite piece?

Right now for my senior piano piece I am learning a really tough 11-page song called “Fur Elise Re-imagined.” It is so beautiful and the composer transposes and does a really cool twist with the well-known song “Fur Elise.” It’s on Spotify if you want some calming piano music! That’s where I first heard it. Mrs. Vis bought it online for five pounds.

Kate Travis (sophomore) Sophomore Kate Travis also has an online baking business called Kate Bakes. She has a variety of baked goods and has grown so much just this year.

What is Kate Bakes?

It is a baking business that offers cookies, pastries and cakes.

How did you get into baking?

I fell in love with baking because of my mom. She taught me everything I know. My first recipe that I really connected to was one for chocolate chip muffins that my mom taught me when I was 5.

What made it go from an interest to a business?

My mom is my role model and she inspired me to start a business. She started her own business and she has always encouraged me in my dream to own a bakery.

What’s your best-selling product?

My family’s favorite thing I make are scones but decorated sugar cookies are definitely my best selling product.

What is your favorite to make?

I love baking everything but there is a special place in my heart for pastries.

Avery Eggerss (junior) Junior Avery Eggerss has an online bakery called Flower and Eggs Bakery, and is known as one of the best cake makers around Geneva.

What is Eggs and Flower Bakery?

I own a business called Eggs and Flower Bakery because my last name is Eggerss and I love flowers, and it is a play on words for the ingredients I use! I make birthday cakes, holiday cakes, gender reveal cakes and so many more! People usually request a cake for a certain event and I replicate it or come up with a design that they like! The orders are pretty consistent and keep me busy! The business has blossomed into something I dreamed of when I was little!

How did you get into baking?

I’ve been baking for as long as I can remember!

When I was younger, I would go to the library and check out cookbooks instead of real books. Any chance I would get, I would bake cookies or muffins or even cakes at a young age!

What made it go from an interest to a business?

I started getting more and more into it as I got older around the age of 11. I would make cakes here and there for birthdays and holidays. When I was 13, I got my first order and I knew it was something I wanted to continue. From there news just spread around the Geneva moms and it started to become more consistent so I decided to make it a business!

What’s your best selling product?

I mostly make cakes and almost everyone who orders gets a cake. Everyone seems to love my white cake with raspberry filling and vanilla butter cream.

During the holiday season I make Eggnog Bourbon Bundt cakes that are especially popular for parties and for gifts as well!

What is your favorite to make?

My favorite cake I have made was a cake that I shaped and colored to look like a stack of pancakes!

I was super proud of how it turned out because I was only 15 when I made it and it turned out very realistic and super cute!

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Hailey Kirchner (sophomore) Sophomore Hailey Kirchner has her own shop on Redbubble where she can sell things she has drawn.

She is a very talented artist and has had success selling her products there.

Coultress: How long have you had your Redbubble shop?

Kirchner: Since March 2019, but as COVID began I started to upload more designs as an outlet to keep me creative and busy.

Coultress: What inspired you to start your own shop?

Kirchner: I wanted to share my art with others in a way that might make them smile or encourage them to start their own side-hustle. The cash is always a plus as well.

Coultress: What kinds of things do you make?

Kirchner: Once your design is up, Redbubble can print and ship a variety of items, but my sales are typically stickers.. My designs are a mix, with some being inspirational and others just being pop culture references and random objects I think are fun!

Coultress: What is the process of putting out something to sell?

Kirchner: First you create a design online (I use Procreate), next you upload that design to your Redbubble account, select placement, price and products, then boom–your products are uploaded, purchased and shipped to the buyers. A helpful tip is to advertise your designs on social media, such as Pinterest or Instagram to get that audience traffic flowing.

Coultress: What are your bestsellers?

Kirchner: My current bestsellers are different color variations of an “objects in mirror...” sticker that are usually on car mirrors, however mine states “objects in mirror are more beautiful than they appear” and is meant to serve as a little encouragement to anyone feeling insecure, because really, we’re our own worst critics.

Avery’s and Kate’s bakeries can be found at eggsandflowerbakery and at kate_bakes_ on Instagram!

Head over to page 63 to see recipes from Kate and Avery!

Design Ella Dillinger Graphics Hailey Kirchner

TAKE IT FROM A WISE FOOL Taking a deeper look into the sophomore class Words Kate Travis

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ome know us as sophomores, others know us as wise fools. But who really is the sophomore class? What is the essence of tenth grade? Let’s first get an outward perspective from our Rhetoric school teachers, Debbie Wheeler, Dodd Naiser and Shawn Harrild. d full of are gregarious an “The Sophomores reyson d pushy *cough* G life but can be a ta said.

Donnell.” Wheeler ry getic bunch and ve “They are an ener said. tenacious.” Naiser id. When asked to “Seby,” Harrild sa nny.” ied, “Because it’s fu elaborate, he repl

But what do the tenth graders think of themselves?

Sophomores were randomly given questions to help us understand them and the things they do.

When asked to describe tenth grade with a color, the majority said it was a spicy, vibrant “vermillion red;” also known as the color of chaos. Then asked if they could describe their grade with a fruit, the surprising answer was “carrot fruit snacks” (I think that answer speaks for itself).

Now, the moment we’ve all been waiting for, our Sophomore Superlatives.

Best Bromance: K.P. FitzGerald & Jake Plesko Worst Driver: Cammy Curtis Most Likely To Su cceed: Will Muck To finish our deep dive into tenth grade, we will recount some of our sophomore’s favorite memories.

“Cotillion was definitely my favorite, it was an amazing first dance,” Lindsay Lee said.

“One time in eighth grade we decided the locker cages needed a little more life, so we decided to decorate the rafters with anything we could find like Hydro flasks, binders or bandanas,” Hailey Kirchner said.

“The best memories I have of our grade are the end of school pool parties, where we would swim, eat, and hang out,” Suzi Nilsson said.

So, in conclusion, who are the sophomores? I think we can all agree they are a lively and energetic group of students who bring fun wherever they go.

Design Ava Ayers Graphics Hailey Kirchner

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SHEDDING LIGHT ON THE SCHEDULE An ideal daily routine for some of Geneva’s finest teachers Words Sophia Dacy

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eneva Teachers. How do they do it? What are their motivations? Do they really have favorite students? I couldn’t tell you how they do it, I would probably quit after one day, if I am being honest.

Being a teacher is not an easy job. I mean I can only take so much of the football boys at lunch, imagine having to teach them. No, thanks. Despite all challenges, they do not give up, or at least they don’t make it obvious. Some of Geneva’s favorite teachers gave some insight on what their day is like.

He’s a rock star, and spends his free time as a teacher at Geneva, he’s the one and only, Paul Johnson.

5:15 AM: I wake up to the same boring alarm every morning and read until my next alarm goes off.

Reading is good.

5:45 AM: I only read for thirty minutes which is kind of useless but then I do my morning essentrics mixed with some tai chi, just to get in a good stretch (sorry Dr. Rosheger).

11:45-12:30 AM-PM: Lunch. I had Vietnamese food from this place called “Singhs” right on North Saint Marys in San Antonio. Good stuff, I recommend. Then I talk to Mr. Grover about like the commodification of human interaction.

12:30-1:15 PM: Teach 11C, it’s fun sometimes.

6:10 AM: I eat breakfast and read some more. I usually eat granola for breakfast...and tea…I am what I eat.

1:20-2:05 PM: 11A, I have to put up with both Sophias.

6:45 AM: I shower and get dressed.

4:00- 5:30 PM: Play with my kids.

7:05 AM: I finish off my outfit, none of my outfits are complete without my signature, green hoodie.

7:35 AM: I try to make it to school on time for faculty prayer. It’s always a 10/10. #itslit *insert fire emoji* 8:30 AM: Classes start. It’s alright, I guess, it’s 11B so I mean that’s all I can say. Shout out Hailey Smith.

9:20 AM–10:05 AM: I have some off periods which is nice.

10:10 AM–11:45 AM: More class. More reading.

Reading is good, I like it.

2:10-3:35 PM: Study halls and then go home.

5:30-7:30 PM: Band Practice.

7:30- 8:30 PM: Eat pizza on the couch with my family while watching Bob’s Burgers.

8:30- 9:30 PM: Try to stay awake to read to my kids so they’ll fall asleep.

9:00-10:00 PM: Probably sleeping in one of my kids beds. My wife, Erica, wakes me up–I go to bed.

8:30 AM–4:20 PM: Well, you know.

She’s spicy, she’s bilingual, she’s sweet, to know her is to love her. Hopefully you’ve guessed it by now: it’s Geneva’s own Debbie Georgelos.

3:30 AM: Awaken to 10 pounds of orange fluff pressing down on my chest and purring loudly.

4:30 PM: Take advantage of Geneva’s daily massage therapy benefit provided to all staff to relieve tension from the day.

6:00 PM: Begin to make dinner as 10 pounds of orange fluff wanders into the kitchen and releases a 2lb. gray furry creature that promptly scurries away.

6:01 PM–6:30 PM: Burn dinner while chasing said gray furry creature throughout the house. Order take-out.

3:31 AM: Text Alexa: Are you sure you can’t have a cat in your dorm?

3:32 AM–4:30 AM: Toss and turn and try to get back to sleep.

4:30 AM: Tumble out of bed and stumble to the kitchen, pour myself a cup of ambition and yawn and stretch and try to come to life.

4:45 AM–5:30 AM: Send important texts to colleagues, family and friends. They should be up by now.

5:30 AM–6:30 AM: Reread RS Handbook, paying special attention to the section on Dress Code and plot new ways to take away house points from other houses (especially Sayers) to ensure Milton wins house of the quarter. You’re welcome.

8:25 AM–8:30 AM: Stand at my classroom door to greet students as they come up the boardwalk to go to first period and spout my knowledge about the dress code.

Mr. A: For the 10th time, no shorts! Not even on Jeaneva Dress Days!

Ms. B: Do you have a doctor’s note to wear those tennis shoes with your dress uniform? That’s right, your dad is a doctor.

Mr. C, Mr. D, Mr. E: No A&M sweatshirts with your uniform, even if we are one of its feeder schools!

Ms. F, Ms. G, Ms. H: Your skirts are about 4 inches too short! Please unroll them.

Mr. PJ: Yes, I know you’re a rock star, but I don’t think the grunge look is considered professional attire for teachers.

6:31 PM: Text Alexa: Can you please find out if you’re allowed to have a cat in your dorm? She’s great for mouse control!

9:00 PM: Stand at the bottom of the stairwell to grade AP Spanish essays. All good teachers know the best way to grade is to toss the papers up the stairwell. The “A” papers will always land on the top step.

10:30 PM: Fall asleep with 10 lbs. of fluff pressing down on my chest and purring loudly. I’ll text Alexa tomorrow…

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She’s the boss. You want to be on her good side, and she knows all things science: it’s Jill Daniels.

to discuss what goes on behind those closed doors.

6:30 AM: First alarm goes off but I max out the snooze feature before the next alarm at

2:10 PM–2:50 PM: Teach Anatomy class. Well, maybe teaching is a stretch. I spend a lot of time in communication with select boys, I won’t mention any names–Walker, Rider and Collin which is like corralling cats.

7:03 AM: Goes off–again–I hit the snooze, and again, and well maybe again...roll out of bed finally around 7:30 AM: maybe more like 7:45.

7:30 AM: (okay actually pushing 8 AM) Time to refuel the tank – coffee with cream – okay reality check, it really is cream with a shot of strong coffee – not a fan of coffee.

8:00 AM-ish: Rush out the door for class–only to wait in the traffic jam in front of Boerne Middle School South.

12:30 PM–2:05 PM: Great time to take a nap! Just kidding Mr. Russell, or am I???

3:35 PM–5:00 PM-ish: Prep for the next day.

5:00 PM: Arrive at home. Kick off my shoes and take a power nap.

5:30 PM–6:00 PM: Grab a snack and my gym bag and head to Lifetime.

6:30 PM–8:00 PM-ish: Time to pump iron, in between sets I find an opportunity to “exercise my jaw” as other gym rats pass by.

8:00 PM–8:30 PM: Quick stop at H-E-B. 9:00 PM-ish: Arrive at home. Supper while Netflix or Hulu plays in the background.

10:00 PM-ish to approximately 1:00 AM: Grading and preparing lessons but at this point I feel like a dog – “squirrel” – distracted by text messages, Facebook, Netflix, etc.

He owns the largest Tolkien book collection I’ve ever laid eyes on, he’s the man, the myth, the legend: Mr. Rick Poole.

6:00 AM: Phone alarm goes off. I hit snooze.

8:15 AM–8:27 AM: Finally make it to school, quickly make copies for the day and grab some water, rush down to Galileo as the senior AP Bio class walks into class.

8:30 AM–9:15 AM: Teach AP Bio to seniors as they slowly come to life from a late night of homework but it is probably from Thesis not Biology.

9:20 AM–10:05 AM: Oh George! Entertained by Anatomy class–I mean teach Anatomy.

10:10 AM–11:45 AM: Junior AP Bio class–in between we sneak in a snack! Perks of AP. I mean one needs energy for this level of training.

11:45 AM: Time to catch-up on emails, grading, tutor students, rush down to the office to make copies...lunch, if time allows. On Wednesdays, the teachers enter into Top Secret round table discussions but you need security clearance for me

6:05 AM: Woke up. Fell out of bed. Dragged a comb across my head.

6:10 AM: Found my way downstairs. I settle onto a friendly couch for devo. My mind keeps wandering during prayer. I start repeating myself. I eventually turn on my prayer app so John Eldredge can finish praying for me. Phones are great. I wonder if Catholics have a confession app?

6:30 AM: Coffee. I hear footsteps overhead.

Wendi was working late so it must be Lucy waking up. Toast and cereal. Crunchy bunches of something. I can’t tell without my glasses. How do I know it IS cereal? It is crunchy, I conclude, so it must be edible.

6:40 AM: Lucy wants to know how turtles pull their heads into their shells. Does their spine compress, or does it bend somehow? I explain that it works like a spring. I have no idea what I’m talking about, but she seems satisfied.

7:00 AM: Searching for Lucy’s Geneva uniform. Is it a P.E. day? My phone confirms it is.

7:15 AM: She doesn’t want her hair brushed. She looks like cave girl. I distract her by letting her play Monument Valley on my phone and get it looking passable.

7:20 AM: We’re in the car. Phone says there’s a wreck on I-10 and advises Boerne Stage Road.

Lucy waves to the donkey she had named Dip-a-lodonk-us. I listen to C.S. Lewis reading Canterbury Tales. She begins mimicking his droning voice.

I’m secretly pleased but then realize with horror that she might not stop once we get to school. Will talking like C.S. Lewis get her clip moved? We finish the ride in silence.

him that it worked like a spring when Piper Hoke pipes in. The subject changes to Mythopoeia and the Nephilim.

3:45 PM: Race to the flagpole to pick up Lucy.

I don’t have my Geneva hang tag. I explain to someone with a walkie talkie that I work here and am, in fact, her father. They seem satisfied.

For now...

7:50 AM: Geneva. I walk her to Grammar School.

Rush back to the Rhetoric admin to make copies of a study guide for 10C. I have forgotten my copier code. I search the faculty mailboxes until I find someone else who has wisely hidden theirs close-by.

8:00 AM: Patrolling the boardwalk. I catch a group of students on their phones and make them put them away. I’m worried about kids these days.

8:10 AM: Mr. Russel joins me. We quote lines from Oh Brother, Where Art Thou. When Mr. Southwick appears, they switch to using Latin. I try to keep up until Mr. Naiser shows up and everyone switches to Greek–Geneva snobbery. I find Austin Malkowski and we begin speaking in Elvish.

8:30-11:45 AM: A bewildering series of History classes and assemblies. Will Muck is causing trouble again by challenging me on the Monophysite view of Christ’s nature. I am not a Monophysite. I have no idea. I tell him it works like a spring. He seems satisfied...for now.

12:00 PM: Lunch. I must be the only teacher in Texas to sponsor both the Shooting Club and the Jane Austen Society. I wonder which one is meeting in my room today. What if we tried combining them? Tea & Lead Club? Buckshot & Biscuits?

4:45 PM: In the car and heading home. We pass an auto repair shop. Lucy asks what a shock absorber is.

I can’t think of a way to describe it, so I turn on Van Morrison.

5:30 PM: Chick-fil-A on the way home.

5:45 PM–7:45 PM: Wendi helps Lucy with her math homework. I help with reading. She needs several thousand more pages to finish in the top third of her class.

8:00 PM: First attempt at bed time.

8:15 PM: Second attempt at bed time.

8:30 PM: Third time’s the charm.

9:00 PM–10:00 PM: Grading tests.

10:30 PM: Wendi wants an audiobook with hobbits in it. I start on chapter 3 of Fellowship and am sound asleep before they meet Tom Bombadil.

11:00 PM–6:00 AM: I dream that I am in a little boat, fishing with Tom Bombadil and Johnny Cash.

Best day ever!

12:30 PM–2:50 PM: Literature classes. Saint Augustine is still stealing pears. Can’t wait until we get to Beowulf.

2:55 PM–3:35 PM: Tolkien & Lewis class. Cole Hodo asks a question about the economic rebound of Germany prior to WWII. I am about to tell

Design Sophia Dacy Graphics Hailey Kirchner Photos Chantel Bellamy

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Graphic Ainsley Plesko

Game Time Before the clock runs out

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Walking with a Purpose

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Performing Under Pressure

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Can’t Stop; Won’t Stop 41

A BLAST TO THE PAST Geneva coaches on their high school sports experiences Words Mattie Sue Arnold

SUSAN GREENLEES When did you start playing golf?

I started playing golf when I was about 10 years old. What really got me into the sport was my parents both being golfers and so they really encouraged me to continue in the sport. For the most, part my dad was my main coach and helped me understand the game. When I was in high school, we had a 10 o’clock tee-off time at our country club every Sunday where my family and I would go out and hit. The golf course was about a mile away from our house so I was always out hitting golf balls in the dark or practicing with my dad.

Can you tell me a little bit about your college experience with golf?

I attended Wake Forest University which is a big golf school, and was able to play for two years as a walk-on. I was able to see some competition and had an incredible team that really opened my eyes. Before I was a big fish in a small pond and then I came to realize I was a little fish in a very big pond.

Did you play any other sports in high school and middle school?

In high school, I played volleyball, basketball and softball which was a great experience. But when I went to Wake Forest I actually tried out for the girls volleyball team and made it but I couldn’t do golf and volleyball, so I chose to stick with golf with some suggestions from my dad.

Throughout your time playing golf, what did you love most about it and what kept you going through the hard times?

Even when I quit golf after college, my dad would not let me drop the sport. I was still competing on weekends and still occasionally playing in the summer, so golf was always something that was in the back of my mind. But with kids and the expenses of the sport, I took a pretty big break.

When my son graduated high school and left the Rhetoric golf team, I decided to take the role of being the Rhetoric girls golf coach. Now being a coach, I love getting to see beginners work hard in the sport. It’s a pretty hard sport and requires a lot of patience and it’s great to see players with good attitudes who don’t get too wrapped up in the sport. My husband actually stepped out of the game for 25 years because of his temper, but now he has found a love for the sport and we play together pretty frequently. You have to accept it for what it is and be able to work hard and have a good attitude going in. You need to be able to learn something brand new that’s not very forgiving.

What is some advice you would give to the girl in these photos?

I would say keep doing it. Don’t give it up.

Make the time to do it even on a Saturday because it’s very much relational and great to do with other people.

JILL DANIELS What sports did you play in high school and college?

In college, I ran track and field and participated in many intramurals. In high school, I did cross country, track and gymnastics and in the summers I did softball.

What kept you participating in these sports year after year?

I loved the unity. I liked being around my friends and it made it so I didn’t have to go home right after school. I was also a pretty shy kid so it really brought me out of my shell.

In elementary school, I struggled academically and it just took me a little longer to read well. This made me feel a little self-conscious, so when I started playing sports in middle school. It made me feel confident and I loved the strive to do well.

If you could go back and choose to play a different sport, what would it be?

I would have loved to play volleyball. My track coach put me in cross country to help with my 400m but now looking back I think volleyball would have helped me with my reflexes.

If you could, what would you tell the girl in these photos?

Breathe. I mean it’s the hardest thing to remember while you are sprinting. Adding to that, high school is a pretty hard time. There is all the pressure to fit in and be like everyone else. But for me, the only way I was ever going to get out of my town was through sports. My parents did not have very much money so I saw athletics as a means to an end. But as a female athlete in the 80s, it just wasn’t that cool. As a male athlete, they were seen as popular and a jock but as a girl you were under a microscope. Constantly being ridiculed by other girls was tough. But coming back to the thought of breathing, just letting myself know everything will work itself out and to take a second to just breathe.

How have you changed as a person since these photos were taken?

I would definitely say confidence. Even though I was this great athlete I still lacked a lot of personal confidence. And over time, as I competed overseas and dealt with some tough coaches, it all built me into who I am today. And with all of these sports I was in, it all built me up into who I am as a person. From learning to be focused from gymnastics to Design Sophia Dacy being coached by some really rough coaches.

Photos Submitted

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WALKING WITH A PURPOSE Comparing the benefits of walking over running Words Sarah Coultress (Pro) Emma Malkowski (Con)

Pro

E

xercise is fun until your workout partner suggests running. Why do some people enjoy torturing themselves? I’ll never understand the desire to run when the better option is obviously walking.

Why run when you can walk? Just a little something I live by. People will judge, but easier times are ahead, especially since there is no running involved.

A lot of people don’t know walking is actually more physically beneficial than running. Running is scientifically proven to be harsh on joints and ligaments. Running is the art of pounding your bones onto the ground with such force that you are self-destructing. Instead of living in such a vile way, try walking. Instead of going for a run, go for a walk.

Instead of “Last one there is a rotten egg!” and peer pressuring people to run, speed walk.

There are many new and exciting opportunities when the option of walking is on the table. However, I do understand the desire to stay in shape and most people believe running to be a great technique to accomplish that goal. Please allow me to blow your mind; walking is actually better, and also allows you to see fast results! If you follow this routine and don’t like the results, I guarantee… nothing because that won’t happen. You’ll thank me for the rest of your life after I share the deepest secret to a fit lifestyle through the art of walking.

Allow me to share my ultimate life hack to get the best results possible. First, all you need is a good durable pair of shoes, preferably specialty running shoes, but don’t be tempted to run in them, they are for walking only. Stay focused. Next proceed to your favorite gym, trail, sidewalk, wherever you

like to run—I mean walk. Then lastly and most importantly, start walking. Make sure to do hills (that’s a cross country term) and walk swiftly while pumping your arms for the full effect.

If you really want to up your game and like a challenge, you can take advantage of a wondrous resource called The Stair Stepper which can be found in most gyms. Warning: To advance to this skill level, make sure you are well-trained in walking before risking it all. To use the machine correctly, set it to an incline and walk at a speed of three. Walk for forty-five minutes to an hour with no breaks. You will feel the burn, but the burn is good. Live for the burn. It means it’s working.

Now that you are educated on how to exercise properly, take full advantage, skip the run, and join the walk!

Con

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unning has many health benefits that are certainly not news to most. However, sometimes it’s easy to overlook just how many ways it can improve overall health. Those who engage in running routinely not only notice physical improvements, but mental ones as well.

One of the most recognized benefits is better cardiac health. Cardio can easily be pushed to the side when it comes to exercise, but it really does help all aspects of daily life. The human heart is a central and key organ in the body, so naturally heart health is vital; no pun intended.

Time and time again it has been proven that those who keep up some level of cardiac strength are more averse to type 2 diabetes, asthma, joint pain and several other chronic diseases. Running is a very efficient and effective way to engage in cardio and help prevent any chance of falling prey to these illnesses.

Lastly, there is documented improvement in terms of one’s mental state. Ever heard of runner’s high?

Well, as one runs for a prolonged period of time, the brain releases endorphins. Then, after a run is finished, the brain releases another hormone, serotonin. These two hormones are examples of “happy hormones”, and are what give one that happy feeling.

Whether or not walking is believed to be better, one cannot deny the numerous benefits of running, which science has proven time and time again.

On top of the amazing workout the heart gets, skeletal muscles, or those needed for movement, get a great workout too. Most every muscle one has stays engaged when they run, if one keeps the correct form, of course. Core muscles work to keep the body steady and upright; the arms and shoulders are being used to propel the body forward to some extent, and obviously, the legs carry the body through the entire run.

Design Sophia Dacy Graphic Sofi Treviño

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WE’RE MAKING A SPLASH How the swim team has grown since the program started Words Alexandria Bussey

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eneva’s new swim coach, Tina Wagner, heads up our largest swim team to date. I sat down with her to learn a bit more about her love for swimming and how she came to Geneva.

When did you start swimming?

I started with a friend during the summer before my freshman year. I had previously been on the cross country team, and thought why would I ever want to sweat like this again outside of the water when being in the water is so cool. So, my freshman year, I went to a public high school and I joined the swim team… and that’s history.

In high school, how many people were on your swim team?

There were probably 50 or more. We had great coaches, great Christian coaches which makes it 100 times better.

Did you swim after high school?

Yes, we had a junior college right there, where I grew up, and I just transitioned from right there into swimming. I actually played water polo there too.

What did you do between college and Geneva?

Coaching little kids in swimming has been my main job in the summers. I have taught private lessons all over…in Arizona, Louisiana, California and here in Texas.

Coach Tina Wagner

What led you to becoming the Geneva high school swim coach?

A few people had mentioned that they were in need of a swim coach, and they said that I would be a perfect fit. With my son, Gunner, being a kindergarten student here,we are all in, we love this school, that sounds like a good idea, and I would love to do that… it would be awesome! I just kept following the leads and God showed me the road that it was meant to be.

What was your favorite stroke to swim?

My favorite stroke is freestyle.

What was your favorite event to swim in?

The 50 Free…easy. I was fast, got it done and in and out of the water. But relays are really fun. The 200 Free and IM relays are fun to be in a group.

What is your funniest memory from swimming?

My funniest memory from swimming would probably be, in high school, we were able to get 5or 6-people’s hands in a swim cap and fill it up with water and then we got one of the girls inside the swim cap before it ripped.

What is your favorite memory from swimming?

My favorite memory from swimming would probably be, in college, when my boyfriend, who is now my husband, brought me roses to the pool deck…it was really really sweet.

I found that the love and the joy of swimming is a way to see God in an element, and swimming was my element.

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SWIM: THROUGH THE YEARS 2009: 1 swimmer, Coach Weehunt The first year, the swim team had one team member, no practices, no coach and no uniform, but the Geneva community showed up in full Geneva spirit anyway.

Jeanne Aurthur Humphries, Class of 2011 2010: 1 swimmer 2011: 1 swimmer 2012: 2 swimmers 2013: 9 swimmers, Coach Rob Inglish My second year on the team, we were at the state meet with several hours to kill before our next event. So naturally, at a large TAPPS event, we got cozy and played poker with our pooled cash. Our couch was very bemused.

Jackson Ross, Class of 2016 2014: 13 swimmers, Coach Rob Inglish 2015: 9 swimmers, Coach Rob Inglish 2016: 13 swimmers, Coach Rob Inglish One of my favorite memories was my junior year.

I asked Coach Inglish if it was okay if I ate these sports beans (sort of like jelly beans that had electrolytes) and if they were healthy. He said, ‘Yes, if you want to eat 1000 oranges for one jelly bean’ and I started laughing so hard!”

Alyssa Salter, Class of 2019 2017: 6 swimmers, Coach Rob Inglish 2018: 11 swimmers One of my favorite things was the encouragement we shared as teammates. Whether it was at early morning practices or all-day meets, we were always cheering each other on. It was such a sweet reminder that swimming is as much a team sport as it is an individual sport.

Alexa Georgelos, Class of 2021 2019: 15 swimmers, Coaches Joye McInturff & Matt Ross 2020: 9 swimmers, Coach Matt Ross 2021: 19 swimmers, Coach Julie Olsen I was at regionals with a 103-degree fever and I needed to qualify to go to State. I swam the fastest I’ve ever swum. When I got out of the pool I layed down behind the block and just stayed there. The lifeguard came over and I was like ‘yeah, I’m good just give me a second’.

Emily Swipes, senior 2022: 33 swimmers, Coach Tina Wagner

Design Sophia Dacy Photos Alexis Livingston

PERFORMING UNDER PRESSURE U.S. Olympic athlete, Simone Biles, shines a light on mental health and how it affects performance Words Sydney Griffey

J

uly of 2021, the postponed 2020 Olympics was just beginning. The beginning of every headline was U.S gymnast Simone Biles. well known for being the most decorated U.S. women’s gymnast ever; notorious for completely dominating all of her competition.

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Your mental health is as important as your physical health.

Everyone was certain she would do it again in the 2020 Olympics in Japan. However, only a few weeks into the competition, ESPN and other reports came out saying, “Simone Biles withdrew from individual all-around gymnastics competition at the Tokyo Olympics to focus on mental wellbeing.’ The whole world was stunned. This girl who had seemed invincible both in competition and in spirit had essentially cracked under pressure. This begs the question, how much should we expect athletes to suffer in silence Athletes are often praised for their mental toughness and perseverance through struggles.

In recent events, such as the case of Simone Biles, the stress on athletes that are on a world stage is unimaginable. These events show, on a large scale, the impacts of mental health on athletes. Athletes spend hours upon days upon years perfecting and maintaining their physical bodies and skills.

How much time should be spent focusing and strengthening your mental state?

Psych Central’s website states that, “Your mental health is as important as your physical health.”

Another quote from Psych Central’s article

concerning mental health in athletes states that, “We actually endure emotional injuries far more often than physical injuries...Just as a broken foot will worsen if you do not treat it, emotional injuries and mental health injuries get worse if we ignore them.”

Addressing issues of mental health early on allows for athletes to avoid other physical ailments that could occur as a result of stress or anxiety. Stress has many physical effects on the body such as fatigue, headaches and digestive problems. An environment where athletes push aside mental health for the sake of appearing stronger is unsustainable.

With an increase of talk around the subject by professional athletes, it has allowed for many others to feel comfortable talking about their struggles and to seek help. Mental health impacts the way we live our whole lives. Athletes must learn to value their mental health just as much as their physical health so that they may be able to perform at the peak of their ability.

Design Sophia Dacy Graphic Sofi Treviño

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CAN’T STOP; WON’T STOP 24 hours of grind at Planet Fitness Words Nicolas Siller

24 hours: 1,440 minutes of grind at the Planet Fitness gym in Boerne. What a way to start off the break right? All we had was a workout schedule, food and each other. What more would we need? Well, sleep would’ve helped, but nonetheless, senior, Jacob Dishongh and I completed the entirety of our 24-hour stay at Planet Fitness from 12:05pm on November 22 to 12:05pm on November 23 and this is how it went:

12:05pm–1:05pm (HOUR 1) We entered the gym feeling fresh and ready to go. In anticipation of this grueling event, we slept over 20 hours between the two of us the night before. “I’m feeling loose as a wet noodle,” Dishongh said. We filled the first hour with 45 minutes of dynamic stretches before the start of our chest workout. 23 hours to go!

1:05pm–2:05pm (HOUR 2) Having completed over an hour of a chest workout, we were feeling a little tight.

Lunchtime caused the crowd to thin out a bit so as we looked on a bit forlorn, we agreed to indulge in Rice Krispie treats in an attempt to lighten the mood. Feeling more energized, we were ready to take on two more hours of a pure back workout.

2:05pm–3:05pm (HOUR 3) During hour three, a couple of Jacob’s friends visited us and joined in our workout. Senior Grant Mowery also made an appearance, told us that we are dumb and left giving us his blessing. We successfully completed our two-hour chest workout, leaving our energy levels seemingly higher than they were when we started.

8:05pm–9:05pm (HOUR 9) Our quads have been absolutely murdered over the last hour and with another hour of quads to go, we’re starting to lose hope. “I feel like a warmed up Eggo waffle that got thrown back in the freezer,” Dishongh said.

3:05pm–4:05pm (HOUR 4) We are really starting to enjoy the people watching around Planet Fitness and our energy levels are a solid 9.3/10. The first hour of our back workout was completed and we were feeling good.

4:05pm–5:05pm (HOUR 5) Our back workout was complete but the hunger was beginning to set in after going at it for five hours.

Energy levels drastically decreased while feelings of dread for our upcoming leg workout have set in.

9:05pm–10:05pm (HOUR 10) We successfully completed a tough two-hour quad workout, and our caffeine was starting to wear off. Before we continued the ordeal, we went back into the locker room to snack on some grapes and carrots brought by Senior Thesis teacher Dr. Siller, otherwise known as my mom.

10:05pm–11:05pm (HOUR 11) An hour of our hamstring workout has given our quads a break, but Dishongh is still fading as every set just continues to suck more life out of us. At this point, there aren’t many other people in the gym and, oddly enough, no one has seemed to notice that we’ve been here since noon. I guess 11-hour workouts are lightweight.

5:05pm–6:05pm (HOUR 6) We utilized this hour to recharge and break bread in the Planet Fitness locker room. Senior Thesis teacher Dr. Siller delivered some fruits and veggies in my lunch box, so we were able to stay hydrated and get ready to keep on grinding.

6:05pm–7:05pm (HOUR 7) After our meal, we marched out of the locker room and were greeted by dark windows. The sun had gone to sleep so it looked like it’ll be a long night. Nevertheless, we did not get discouraged but instead kept moving and started our shoulder workout. Our upper bodies were feeling a little tight and we were already getting tired of Planet Fitness.

7:05pm-8:05pm (HOUR 8) We finished up with our shoulder workout and took a brief break to mentally prepare ourselves for 2 hours of a quad workout. Dishongh took some pre-workout energy powder to give him an extra boost and I grabbed a piece of my caffeinated gum.

We start the quad workout feeling a little more refreshed but kind of sleepy.

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11:05pm–12:05pm (HOUR 12) We were officially halfway through the 24-hour Planet Fitness challenge and energy levels were at a solid 2/10. Our brain cells slowly died while listening to the same soundtrack playing through the speakers of the gym for the last 12 hours. Our only hope was that after four hours of both a quad and hamstring workout, we only have two hours of a calf workout left.

12:05pm–1:05am (HOUR 13) Our energy levels returned to a 5/10 after we slowed down our calf workout. We realized that we didn’t know enough things to do to work out our calves for two hours. So, between sets we helped the night shift clean the gym to stave off the increasing fatigue and boredom that were building.

1:05am–2:05am (HOUR 14) We finished our calf workout and decided to use the spare time to work out our hips and try the 30-minute workout area. Unfortunately, as Dishongh finished a set on the leg press machine, both of his quads cramped up. We received no help from the tired employees as I tried to help my pal who couldn’t walk for 10 minutes.

“I would rather have been shot in the foot,” Dishongh said. Instead, we decided to give our muscles a break and take a stroll on the treadmill until our mealtime.

2:05am–3:05am (HOUR 15) We break bread in the form of sandwiches in the locker room and try to refuse our droopy eyelids the sleep they desired. Thankfully, a random man walked into the gym at 2:35am and did not say a word to us when we told him ‘Good Morning’ so he provided us with some interesting people watching. We are getting sleepy, nonetheless.

3:05am–4:05am (HOUR 16) An hour of a tricep workout completed and we only had one more hour to go until we moved on to biceps. Randomly, a group of guys come into the gym at 3:30am. Did they come to the gym late, or wake up early? We were baffled and our energy levels are now at 3/10. Can we make it?

4:05am–5:05am (HOUR 17) With the tricep workout finished and we were starting to get seriously tired.

The only eventful thing that happened was that we were yelled at by a guy who had headphones on and thought that we were talking about his bad form. We’re just glad that he didn’t beat us up because frankly we were too tired to fight back.

5:05am–6:05am (HOUR 18) After an hour of working out our biceps, we hit a wall. We couldn’t think of any other bicep workouts, and we were too tired to lift anything even if we did. So, we revised the schedule a little bit and planned to dedicate the next hour to cardio.

6:05am–7:05am (HOUR 19) We decided to hit the bikes and watch the movie ‘Finding Dory.’ At the end of the hour, we were feeling a little better but very fatigued. “I know we can make it, but I don’t want to,” Dishongh said.

All motivation and joy have been sucked out of us.

7:05am–8:05am (HOUR 20) Senior Lindsie Baggs saved us both with tacos from Taco Cabana. I will say that those bean and cheese tacos were the best that I have ever had. Propelled by this Tex-Mex cuisine, we warmed up again on the rowing machine and probably got some weird looks from the morning workout people because we looked like zombies.

8:05am–9:05am (HOUR 21) The last hour of our cardio workout absolutely killed me. Our feet hurt as well from standing around so long. We are so tired at this point and are getting sleepier by the second.

9:05am–10:05am (HOUR 22) Our minds were dead at this point. I alternated between biking and running for the last hour and if it hadn’t been for senior Julianna Goodman bringing me a smoothie I might have perished.

We were both feeling fatigued and could barely remember what we were doing the last ten minutes.

10:05am–11:05am (HOUR 23) For some reason, we had been doing an ab workout for the last hour despite feeling physically dead.

Our only hope was that the end was in sight, and we just had to hope that we could make it.

“Everything is starting to look like a bed,” Dishongh said.

11:05am–12:05pm (HOUR 24) Walking hurt and we were just about delirious from lack of sleep and energy. After finishing up the workout with some stretching, we stumbled out the door in exhaustion having just accomplished a feat of grit at the expense of our physical well-being.

We slept happily ever after.

Design Sarah Coultress Photos Nicolas Siller

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Photo Abby Bower

Pastime Insight into free time

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Tune in to the Talk

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Is it Soup-erb?

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Wrap it Up 57

ONE MAN’S TRASH, ANOTHER MAN’S TREASURE Students share the items they collect and why Words Sarah Coultress

E

ver wonder why people collect things? Oftentimes someone’s collection may seem random or odd because the collection doesn’t convey meaning to someone else. Many people have collections, from baseball cards to stamps to coins but some are more practical and often are reminders of experiences.

Let’s take a dive into the interests that students have outside of school through the items they collect.

Photo Hannah Gray

Hannah Gray (senior) collects a wide range of items. Her interest is mostly in the things of nature and her most prized assortment is her fossils. She finds them everywhere from riverbeds and wooded areas to places around campus. Her main fascination is specifically with snail fossils. She also has rocks of every kind from small cool shapes to vibrantly-colored geodes.

When asked about how she manages to find so many fossils she replies with an explanation on how the elevation of the ground near riverbeds is a sign of older earth which contains more fossils. She explains how the Hill Country is the easiest place to search. Because of the uneven ground, fossils are easily resurfaced by natural causes. She enjoys walking and hiking and will search for fossils along the way. No one, even her, will probably ever know truly how many rocks she has in her entire collection. She’s never counted them all and her collection continues to grow.

Sydney Griffey (senior) collects key chains from places she has been. She makes use of her collection and never puts a key chain to waste. Once she collects a new key chain, she immediately throws out the old one.

Although this seems wasteful, it is justified.

By the time she has the opportunity to purchase a new key chain, her existing one reflects the amount of wear and tear that it has endured. The new chain then replaces it and remains on her keys until it has fallen apart beyond repair. Sydney always gets full use of her key chains. Her current one is from South Padre Island that she bought a few months ago. It consists of a variety of turtles that vary in size and colors. The turtles are scratched, and the color is fading from their persistent use. No one knows how much longer they will last so Sydney better have a prospect in mind for the next one!

Photo Sydney Griffey

Sophia Hammock (sophomore) collects playing cards but with a twist. She collects them from many of the places she travels.

Just to name a few, she has cards from Cape Cod, Boston, Colorado, Las Vegas and North Carolina. She doesn’t just buy any old set of playing cards, the ones she has are full of vibrant and brilliant colors. Many of them have images of significance related to the location they are from. When asked why she collects playing cards she responded with, “I don’t know, one day I bought the first set and then kept doing it. I just like them.”

Photo Sophia Hammock

By saying this, Sophia put it best when getting to the center of why people collect these items. Many may have a concrete reason, but sometimes it’s just because the item reflects meaning that the person who collects them experiences.

Design Sarah Coultress

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TUNE IN TO THE TALK A student’s guide to the best podcasts you can listen to now Words Mattie Sue Arnold

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ver the summer, I spent time driving to Boerne and sitting inside The Dienger Trading Company. While I sat there, I mostly scribbled some lines on a paper or wrote down whatever was circling through my mind. But after a few trips to this coffee shop, I really started to love listening to podcasts or whatever song I was into at the moment. Listening to these podcasts made me want to sit down and have a conversation with the people I was listening to. The topics being discussed allowed for me to think about my own personal opinions or imagine crazy scenarios. Here are some of my favorites.

Anything Goes with Emma Chamberlain Emma Chamberlain

I had heard of Emma’s podcast a few times and had seen it being advertised throughout social media platforms. I decided to listen while I was getting ready in the morning and hear what she had to say. In this podcast, Emma either answers questions tweeted to her or discusses a topic she thinks is enticing. Although I do not agree with everything Chamberlain says, her take on life is interesting.

She explains her approach to circumstances and how she would react in different situations. Since she left high school, she gives (in my opinion) mature advice on some tough problems. This podcast encourages creativity and rest. Emma dives deep into how allowing ourselves to take a break is completely ok after working hard. She also speaks about how being creative is one of the best things we can do for ourselves even if we aren’t perfect at it.

Crime Junkie (True Crime) Ashley Flowers (Audio Chuck)

This podcast shares stories of various crime cases while interviewing some people involved.

Hosted by Ashley Flowers, it provides a clear image of various crime cases while leaving out graphic details. Flowers interviews victims and remains respectful while asking about these hard subjects. She walks the listener through a case while adding insightful commentary and speaking about these cases in great detail. She heavily researches topics and I found myself learning something new about cases I have heard of before. Crime podcasts can be graphic and heavy but Ashley does a great job keeping it clean and keeping the audience’s attention.

Jumping the Shark Tony Jeter

This podcast features “The Dad” and “The Boy” who speak with adults in different professions. Host Tony Jeter and his high school son sit down with successful people from different backgrounds in the hopes of giving “The Boy” some good advice for his future. This podcast was very interesting and the host allows for the audience to feel engaged and interested in the people being interviewed. Jeter interviews a range of people from actors to CEOs and gets insight into the industry they work in. Tony asks questions that really dig into the ups and downs of different jobs. This podcast opened my eyes to some fields of expertise I knew nothing about. It also gives great advice into different jobs and professions.

As a high school student trying to figure out what I want to do with my life, this really intrigued me and introduced me to some jobs I would have never even thought about exploring. This is a great podcast for students trying to explore the work field or anyone who is interested in great discussions about different careers.

Design Mattie Sue Arnold Graphic Kate Evans

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MIXING IT UP

The inside scoop on weird food combinations people seem to love Words Lindsay Lee

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’m sure many of you have heard the rave about weird and popular food combos and have seen many recommendations for both good and bad ones. Well, I’m here to give you an honest review about the most popular “weird food” combos. The combos listed below include a description along with a rating out of ten.

These are made from things that you would normally find in your kitchen, so nothing exotic.

GRAPES & SALAMI This combo is amazing. It is like a charcuterie board in your mouth. Eating this makes me feel fancy and sophisticated.

PEANUT BUTTER & PICKLES To put into words how awful this is, is extremely hard. But if I have to use words, I would say this is vile. I do not recommend serving this unless you hate your guests.

POTATO CHIPS & HERSHEY’S MILK CHOCOLATE This is incredibly tasty; a very good salty-sweet combo.

AVOCADO & HERSHEY’S MILK CHOCOLATE This treat is by far the best of all the combos.

PEANUT BUTTER & CHEESE CUBES Delicious.

KETCHUP & RANCH DRESSING My new go to condiment.

CHILI POWDER & MANGO Yum! I definitely recommend this combo.

BUTTER & SUGAR SANDWICH This is the best sandwich I’ve ever eaten.

Very sugary and a nice little dessert.

Design Ainsley Plesko Graphic Kate Evans

IT’S IN THE OVEN Students share favorite cookie recipes that are sure to sweeten up the holidays Recipes Avery Eggerss and Kate Travis

Kate’s Pumpkin Poppers: Ingredients: For Poppers 1 ¾ cups all purpose flour 2 tsp baking powder ½ tsp salt ½ tsp cinnamon ½ tsp nutmeg ½ tsp allspice ⅛ tsp ground cloves ⅓ cup vegetable oil

½ cup brown sugar 1 egg 1 tsp vanilla extract ¾ cup of pumpkin (fresh or canned, just not pie filling) ½ cup low-fat milk For Coating 1 stick unsalted butter, melted ⅔ cup granulated sugar 2 tbsp cinnamon

Directions: • Preheat oven to 350F and spray your muffin pans • Combine all the dry ingredients in one bowl and whisk until combined • In another bowl, mix together the oil, brown sugar, egg, vanilla, pumpkin and milk • Pour the dry ingredients into the wet and mix until just combined (don’t over mix) • Fill your mini tins until almost full • Bake for 10-12 minutes • While they’re baking, melt the butter and in a small separate bowl combine the sugar and cinnamon • Let the poppers cool for a few minutes before rolling them around in the melted butter and then plunging them into their cinnamon sugar bath • If you want less sugary sweetness, you could just dip the top of the poppers in the butter and cinnamon sugar

Avery’s Easiest Sugar Cookies: Makes a lot!

Prep time: 10-15 minutes Total time: 45 minutes Ingredients: 2 ¾ cup flour 1 tsp baking soda ½ tsp baking powder

1 cup butter softened 1 ½ cups white sugar 1 egg 1 tsp vanilla extract sprinkles (optional) frosting (optional)

Directions: • Preheat oven to 375F • In a small bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and set aside • Cream the butter and sugar until smooth • Add egg and vanilla • Blend in dry ingredients (add sprinkles) • Roll into about golf ball size • Bake 8-10 minutes • Decorate or leave plain • Enjoy!

Design Mattie Sue Arnold Photos Kate Travis

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IS IT SOUP-ERB? An open and honest review on a supermarket go-to item Words Abby Bower & Kate Evans

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t’s soup season, which, for us, looks like every other season. Let’s be real; soup is overrated . It brings forth memories of runny noses and upset stomachs. Now don’t get us wrong, a good bisque or chowder to accompany a meal is quite divine, but brothy oily soup? It’s always a no for us. Although we aren’t too enticed by the whole soup thing, we took one for the team and put different brands of chicken noodle soup to the test. So the next time you’re bedridden, your taste buds won’t be.

Please pay your condolences for us now because I can assure you this is not an enjoyable task.

Campbell’s

First contender is classic Campbell’s.

Cracking open this puppy let forth an unbearable aroma. Ally’s corgis began

to parade towards us as if it was dinner time, but to be honest; I can’t blame them for this misconception. The broth is the only palatable thing here, mainly because it is purely salt. The noodles are soggy and squished without pressure applied. The carrots’ shelf life is far past due and the chicken; oh the chicken. The label reads chicken, but this pink blob of mystery meat tells a different story.

Rating: 1.3. It hurts to even remember.

H-E-B Brand

Next up we have the H-E-B brand. The first impression is still not promising. It reeks of Fancy Feast, and there is not a color except yellow in sight. There are no veggies, no spice; nothing. It has a thick, jell-o like consistency that leaves a gutwrenching film in your mouth; making you thirst for water.

“I can’t imagine how anything could taste worse,” Kate Evans said.

Again, this soup is overwhelmingly salty and just plain bad. If anything, this soup would make us more sick. Rating: 0.04; if we are being generous.

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Progresso Progresso is up to the plate. At first glance, this seems like a refreshing change. They depart from the classic noodle to an egg noodle shape. Noodles are firm and not soggy, and there is a good noodleto-broth ratio. The chunks of veggies are large, but we aren’t complaining. It is edible and doesn’t smell like dog food. Seasoning was apparent in the broth. The only complaint is the chicken is still slightly pink. This soup kind of tastes like an old person. It’s overall palatable, but still, we wouldn’t take it so far as to say it’s “good.” Rating: 4.7; I honestly don’t dread eating it again, but I am definitely not looking forward to it.

Say Yes! Say yes! Seeing this on the shelf, we are intrigued.

We have mistaken it for dog food due to the Rachael Ray font on the can. But after tasting, it seems as though that assumption isn’t too far off.

The broth was alarmingly brown, too brown for soup. It, again, smells like kibble, and looks even worse. I guess a plus is that there are a lot of

“Soup is overrated and just not good.”

veggies, but, who puts garbanzo beans in soup?

The noodles are mediocre, and the chicken is still considerably not food. Honestly, we wish this soup upon no one. It is wretched. Rating 0.83 at best.

In conclusion, our opinion is stagnant. Soup is overrated and just not good. The fact that being edible makes a soup stand-out is unacceptable.

We don’t wish this experience upon anyone and hope your mom doesn’t make you a steaming bowl of chicken noodle anytime soon.

Design Mattie Sue Arnold Graphic Kate Evans

The top music picks to prepare for the months ahead Words Gwyn Lewellyn

1. She Needs Him - Her’s 2. How You’re So For Real - Micheal Nau 3. Bags - Clairo 4. Craziest Things - Babeheaven 5. Hiding In The Melody - Night Moves 6. Leonie - Frankie Cosmos 7. Thinning - Snail Mail 8. Edge of Town - Middle Kids 9. I Wish - Skee-Lo 10. Hanging from the Ceiling -The Velveteins 11. Sunny - Bobby Hebb 12. Put a Flower in Your Pocket - The Arcs 13. Up Against The Wall - Peter Bjorn and John 14. I Love You - The Bees 15. She - Harry Styles

Midday Edition

GENEVA JAMS

Design Ainsley Plesko

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HOW ABOUT A CUP OF TEA?

The ins and outs of how tea can offer health benefits and where you can find them Words Lauren Abell

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f your pantry is anything like mine, there’s that one shelf dedicated to boxes of tea that have most likely been there longer than you care to admit. Varieties of flavors pile up, hardly used, but never thrown away. Often overlooked, tea boxes sit and collect dust until someone catches a cold or the winter season hits. While tea is helpful in both of these scenarios, there are actually so many other benefits to tea that most people probably don’t know about. Tea is not usually viewed as a critical addition to your kitchen, but hopefully after reading this, you’ll think a little differently about those ignored, little packets on your shelves. Here are just a few tea selections you might find helpful in your day-to-day life, rather than just for a couple times a year.

Chamomile

Known for its calming nature and herbal scent, chamomile offers many more advantages to your overall health.

• helps prevent and treat cancer • lowers blood sugar • reduces insomnia • decreases anxiety and encourages relaxation

Ginger

Although most people hesitate when they hear about ingesting ginger, ginger tea has many wellness benefits that cannot be overlooked. When mixed with a little sweetener, the flavor is actually pretty enjoyable.

• soothes headaches and migraines • can treat inflammation throughout the body • eases nausea and assists in digestion • promotes heart health

Oolong

This traditional Chinese tea might not be quite as common as some of the others, but its benefits are not something to be ignored.

• benefits dental health • improves various brain functions • can help clear skin irritations • aids in weight loss

Peppermint

Hibiscus

• increases energy and drive • fights infections and colds • minimizes the effects of allergies • enhances the ability to concentrate

• helps to prevent diabetes • lowers and maintains cholesterol levels • boosts the immune system • contains vitamins that keep your liver and kidneys in good shape

Typically a fan favorite, peppermint tea is very common and accessible. Along with its good taste and smell, it also can help keep your health in good condition.

This fruity-flavored tea is popular alone for its good taste. More than this though, it should also be appealing for how it helps to improve your health in many areas.

Design Ainsley Plesko Photos Mazzy Horn-O’Brien

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PRO VERSUS PRODIGY High school students recreate renowned works of art with a twist Words Alexis Livingston

Olive Trees with Yellow Sky and Sun was created by Vincent Van Gogh in 1889. He painted it after getting a letter from his friend Emile, where she described a new painting of Christ in the Garden of Olives. But, he replied and said he would rather paint the olive trees outside of his window.

Noon, Rest From Work, is a painting by Vincent Van Gogh. It was made between 1889–1890. Van Gogh was in a mental institution when he created this piece. It is a reinterpretation of JeanFrancois Millet’s Noonday Rest, which was made in 1866.

The Mona Lisa was created by Leonardo da Vinci sometime between 1503 and 1519. It is of a woman named Lisa Gherardini.

The painting was requested by her husband, Francesco Del Giocondo, in celebration of their home’s completion as well as the birth of their second son.

The Girl with a Pearl Earring was created by Johannes Vermeer in 1665. It is proposed that the girl in the painting is his daughter Maria who would have been around 12 or 13 when it was painted.

Design Mattie Sue Arnold Photos Alexis Livingston

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TAKE ON THE TOWN The best spots in boerne to visit on your next date night Words Gwyn Lewellyn

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kay love birds, it’s date night! Sometimes it’s hard to think of fun activities to enjoy with your significant other, especially living in a small town like Boerne. Well look no further! Here’s some funny, easy and cheap date ideas.

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Hot chocolate on the Cibolo

Middle school may have been the last time you considered doing this, but I guarantee it is the cutest date! It’s getting cold and we need some winter date ideas. Grab some hot chocolate at The Dienger or the Boerne Starbucks and take it down to Cibolo Creek along Main Street. Walk around, enjoy the view, sip your drinks and watch the ducks!

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Taco Bell Sunset Spot

The secret is out! There’s a little lookout spot across from the Boerne Taco Bell on School Street. It’s the perfect place to bundle up, eat some snacks and watch the sunset!

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Richter Tavern

Dress up a little and grab dinner at Richter Tavern on Main Street.

With lights and chilly weather, the rooftop is the perfect date for this time of year.

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Cibolo Nature Center

A beautiful hike is right in our backyard! Wake up early, grab some coffee and explore the nature center. There’s so much to see; from the river, the pond and the amazing trees. Treat this like a little vacation!

Design Ainsley Plesko Graphic Ainsley Plesko

MOVING THROUGH MIDDAY A glance into what Geneva seniors do in the middle of their day Photos Gwyn Lewellyn

Senior Emmy Hamilton Design Mattie Sue Arnold Photos Gwyn Lewellyn

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WRAP IT UP A step-by-step guide to wrapping any present this holiday season Words Hailey Kirchner

T

he holiday season is upon us, and along with ordering gifts for our loved ones comes the often difficult task of wrapping each of those gifts. People wrap gifts neatly as a gesture of thoughtfulness toward the recipient.

Read on for your guide to creating a package as valuable as its contents.

Supplies list: 1. Wrapping paper of choice 2. Double-sided tape 3. One-sided tape 4. Scissors 5. Ruler 6. Embellishments of choice

Wrapping a box-shaped gift: 1. Spread your wrapping paper out onto a flat work surface.

2. Place your package upside-down onto the backside of the wrapping paper.

3. Wrap paper around box, allowing three

Wrapping an irregular shaped gift: 1. Cut out paper, leaving enough to fold over the gift with an inch to spare.

2. Attach the left and right sides together using double-sided tape.

inches past the point where the paper returns to its starting point, and cut a straight line.

3. Fold up the base, while also folding the

4. Fold the raw edge of paper and tape

4. Fold the tips to the top and bottom

to the other side of the paper it has now returned to.

5. On the sides, fold the left and right

flaps of paper toward the middle of the box, then the top and bottom flaps. Fold the raw edge of the bottom flap inward for a cleaner look.

Wrapping a cylindrical gift: 1. Using durable wrapping paper, cut

enough paper to wrap around the circular portion of the gift, leaving a half inch overlap.

2. Fold the raw edges inward, and attach them together with double-sided tape.

3. Now, choose the first side to create

pleats. Take the seam of the overhanging wrapping paper and fold it into the center.

Hold down the piece with one finger and then with your other hand grab the edge of the paper and pull it into the center. Create these pleats all the way around the circle.

two sides toward the middle, which create a diamond-like figure together. of the diamond inward, and secure with double-sided tape.

5. Open the newly created bag and place your gift item inside.

6. Fold down the top flap neatly, and attach with double-sided tape.

Embellishments for these packages can include, but are not limited to: 1. A store bought or handmade ribbon bow 2. A sticker with the giver and recipient’s names

3. A candy cane attached with yarn 4. Curled ribbon 5. Pressed flowers

4. Repeat step three onto the second side.

5. If necessary, attach a small circle of

paper over the pleats to hide any blemishes.

Design Ainsley Plesko Photo Kate Travis

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Gazette Words Sophia Baldwin

Fall vs. Christmas Flavors & Scents

D

o you count down the days until pumpkin spice returns or are you more of a gingerbread and peppermint type of person? An Instagram poll reveals 54% of Geneva students prefer fall flavors/scents, while the other 46% favor Christmas flavors/scents.

Why QT is the Best Gas Station You walk up and the automatic doors slide open, allowing a burst of cool air to breeze past you.

To your left are the snacks, and to your right, the drinks. Right in front of you lies the glorious checkout counter, glistening in the fluorescent lights. With rows upon rows of candy and chips and snacks galore, you know exactly where you are. You are at the QT gas station. The fountain drink station calls your name, each type of soda seeming to whisper, “Choose me!” as you stroll past. But something else catches your eye: the slushie machine. Red and blue, purple and green: there are just so many to choose from! You settle on a mix and reach for one of the lids and a straw. As you make your way back to the counter, you admire the clean, sparkling glass and spotless floors. Organization is all around and you feel at peace. You pay for the slushie and a few other snacks you may or may not remember picking up on your journey and depart with the echo of “Have a nice day!” You get in your car, sad to part with this place of snack heaven, but alas, you must go. Until next time QT. Until next time.

Weird Christmas Traditions

“We have a pickle ornament that we hide on our tree on Christmas Eve and whoever finds it first gets to open the first present.”

Sydney Turnbow (junior)

“We eat pasta on Christmas Eve instead of ham and I always thought it was normal until now. Also, our five cousins perform Pentatonix’s White Winter hymnal every year.”

Avery Eggerss (junior)

“We play dirty Santa (white elephant) with my whole family.”

Olivia Morgan (sophomore)

“A Christmas Story is the only movie we can watch on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.” Mia Wilson (junior)

Favorite Childhood TV Shows From catching bad guys with the mystery gang to going on adventures with the wonder pets, everyone had a favorite show growing up.

Here are some of Rhetoric School’s past favorites.

Arthur Backyardigans SpongeBob Phineas and Ferb

Scooby-Doo Max and Ruby Wonder Pets Little Einsteins

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Christmas I Spy The following 8 items are hidden in the tree. Let’s see if you can find them!

1.)

2.)

3.)

4.)

5.)

6.)

7.)

8.)

Design Sophia Baldwin Graphics Sophia Baldwin

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“Founded in 2014 in Boerne, Texas, our flagship fine dining restaurant is where Chef Keith Kuhn’s rustic, classic Italian cuisine was born.”

(830) 331.1393 • 109 Waterview Pkwy, Suite 105, Boerne, Texas 78006 • valeriarestaurant.com

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Winter 2021 Geneva School of Boerne @genevaquarterly