A Thousand Words

By Christina Walker

If a picture is worth a thousand words, it would take volumes to impart the stories, the adventures, and the virtues illustrated throughout the lower school building: beautiful murals adorn each classroom, illustrating themes from their studies or scenes from classic literature and transporting students and teachers alike to other worlds. Such lovely additions are more than mere decoration. These paintings enrich the lives of our young scholars, surrounding them with images that remind them of what is good, true, and beautiful in the world and in their lives.

God the creator made us in his image with the desire and capacity to create, and the talented artists who have used their gifts to enhance The Geneva School with such beautiful paintings reflect his goodness, ingenuity, and creativity. Art transforms—drawing us in and inspiring our own imaginations, fanning the flames of the longing that we all feel for that “true country” as C. S. Lewis calls it. These murals encourage everyone who encounters them to seek out Narnia in their everyday lives, looking for “a most extraordinary excursion into magical lands and enchanted happenings.” What a legacy to leave for future generations at Geneva.

We are grateful to TGS alumnae Maddie Noll (‘16), Anna Classe (‘17), Charlie Classe (‘18), Raquel Smith (‘19), Lilly Wilhite (‘19), Abigail Clark (‘20), Macy Noll (‘21), and Anna Mages (‘22), Catherine Payne (TGS receptionist and after school art teacher last year), and long-time Geneva art teacher Shelly Bradon for their magnificent work that opens up our eyes, minds, and hearts to beauty and hope.

The header image is a mural of a cave on a science room wall.

5 Tips to Stay Balanced during Quarantine

We are all out of our normal routines!  Some of us have more to do than usual and are feeling stressed due to steep learning curves to prepare for online learning, helping children with their learning at home, among other things.  Some of us are out of work and may be concerned about the lack of income.  We are all probably feeling a little disconnected and out of balance.  I’m sharing my top 5 tips to stay in balance during this unusual season:

 

Get Outside!
Whether you are crazy busy or not busy enough, you need to get yourself outside EVERY DAY!  A little fresh air and sunshine outside your 4 walls will keep you from feeling so cooped up and will help:
  • boost your immune system
  • improve your mood
  • keep your circadian rhythm on track to allow for better sleep
Aim for at least 15-30 minutes outdoors to exercise. Do yard work, walk the dog, play with your kids, or just deep breathe and soak up some Florida sunshine.  If you have children at home, they need to be outdoors too!

 

Move!
Whether you have extra time for exercise OR feel like there are not enough hours to do all that is asked of you right now, we ALL need a little movement to:
  • boost the immune system
  • improve mood
  • relieve stress
  • improve sleep
There are a lot of resources available to help you with “in home” workouts. YouTube and other internet sites (both free and subscription) provide an endless source of guidance.  This week my family has enjoyed the extra time at home to walk, run, bike, paddle board, explore a new nature trail, and do yoga together.  If you have children at home, they need you to set an example and have you engage with them to get them moving too!

 

Ask “What CAN I Do?”
During this time of uncertainty, we need to work extra hard to keep a positive mindset.  Negative thoughts lead to negative emotions, like anxiety, fear, and depression.  While there is a lot that we CAN NOT do right now, there are lots of unique opportunities and things we CAN do that we often lack time for in our busy schedules.  Let’s reframe our words and mindset and not miss these special opportunities to make good use of this unusual enforced time at home.  May I suggest a few:
  • Spend time reading something you enjoy alone, or aloud with others
  • A little yard work each day…just 15 minutes of weeding or trimming each day will create a sense of accomplishment, and will get you outside
  • Declutter closets, tackle “honey do” lists, and check off home repairs
  • Exercise and get outside every day
  • Look for ways to serve others (a family member, a neighbor…) to keep you focused outward and not inward
  • Break out the board games, card games, and puzzles
  • Meditate on Scriptures that remind you that God is sovereign
  • Each evening think of 5 things to be grateful for from the day
If you have children in the house, they will feed off of your mood and attitude, so staying positive yourself will have ripple effects.  Get them involved in the list above.

 

Eat Fresh Food!
Thankfully the grocery stores have stayed open, and thankfully fresh food has stayed readily available, unlike toilet paper!  Use this time of confinement to cook real food at home, and be thankful we weren’t limited to weeks of canned food.  Cooking at home will have many benefits:
  • A nourished body and soul
  • Budget friendly
  • Opportunities to be connected as a family around the table
You may want to stick to family favorite recipes for comfort, or you may want to use this time to try some new recipes and be a little adventurous.  Some of my favorite healthy and easy Tasty Friday recipes are archived on the health & weillness page of our school website.  If you have children at home, this is a great opportunity to get them involved in the kitchen learning to chop, prepare a dish, or prepare a whole meal for the family.

 

Connect!
While “social distance,” “lockdown,” and “shelter in place” are the battle cries of the day, we are really just trying to keep a physical distance from others to prevent transmission of COVID-19.  We need to work harder at staying socially connected to each other during this quarantine.
  • Stay connected to your family, friends, and colleagues via text, video chats, or an old-fashioned phone call.  Be especially mindful of your older family and friends that may be feeling isolated
  • Take the opportunity to write an old-fashioned letter
  • Phone neighbors to check on them
  • When you are out on necessary errands be intentional to be encouraging and show gratitude to those working hard to serve you
  • Meet a friend outside in a park or trail to walk and talk
I have loved seeing the faces of upper school colleagues on Zoom for Morning Devotions we are sharing together each day. If you have children at home, you can encourage them to be creative in connecting with their friends and relatives,  too.

 

This challenging time will pass and become a page in the history books.  Until then, a little time outside, movement, a positive mindset, fresh food, and connection with others each day can help keep your balance and even enjoy this change of pace.

by Lou Jones,
Geneva School Nurse, RN, Health & Wellness Coach

The Geneva School
The Geneva School
November 4, 2024
  • Chamber Orchestra

    Date: November 4, 2024 - November 4, 2024
    Time: 7:15 am- 8:15 am
    See more details

  • Moms in Prayer

    Date: November 4, 2024 - November 4, 2024
    Time: 8:15 am- 9:30 am
    See more details

  • 1st Gr - Zoo Adventure

    Date: November 4, 2024 - November 4, 2024
    Time: 10:00 am- 11:00 am
    See more details

  • K4 Art Adventures

    Date: November 4, 2024 - November 4, 2024
    Time: 1:15 pm- 2:15 pm
    See more details

  • 1st & 2nd Grade Art Adventures

    Date: November 4, 2024 - November 4, 2024
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:15 pm
    See more details

  • Youth Golf K-3rd Grade

    Date: November 4, 2024 - November 4, 2024
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:15 pm
    See more details

  • Lower School NHS Tutoring

    Date: November 4, 2024 - November 4, 2024
    Time: 3:25 pm- 4:10 pm
    See more details

  • Philharmonia Orchestra

    Date: November 4, 2024 - November 4, 2024
    Time: 3:30 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

November 5, 2024
  • ParentU: Classical Education (K4-6th Grade Parents)

    Date: November 5, 2024 - November 5, 2024
    Time: 8:15 am- 9:15 am
    See more details

  • 2nd Gr - Winne the Pooh Play Rehearsal (Roberts & Warner)

    Date: November 5, 2024 - November 5, 2024
    Time: 11:30 am- 2:15 pm
    See more details

  • Swim Regionals @ Bolles Dive at 1pm; Swim at 3pm

    Date: November 5, 2024 - November 5, 2024
    Time: 1:00 pm- 5:00 pm
    See more details

  • K4 Garden Club

    Date: November 5, 2024 - November 5, 2024
    Time: 1:10 pm- 2:10 pm
    See more details

  • Kindergarten Art Adventures

    Date: November 5, 2024 - November 5, 2024
    Time: 2:15 pm- 3:15 pm
    See more details

  • Percussio

    Date: November 5, 2024 - November 5, 2024
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

  • 1st-3rd Garden Club

    Date: November 5, 2024 - November 5, 2024
    Time: 3:20 pm- 4:20 pm
    See more details

  • K-6th Youth Tennis

    Date: November 5, 2024 - November 5, 2024
    Time: 3:30 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Girls Soccer Home Game vs. Lake Highland Prep

    Date: November 5, 2024 - November 5, 2024
    Time: 5:00 pm- 7:00 pm
    See more details

  • 9th Gr - Everglades Trip Parent Meeting

    Date: November 5, 2024 - November 5, 2024
    Time: 7:00 pm- 8:00 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Boys Soccer Home Game vs. Seminole Science

    Date: November 5, 2024 - November 5, 2024
    Time: 7:00 pm- 9:00 pm
    See more details

November 6, 2024
  • Chamber Orchestra

    Date: November 6, 2024 - November 6, 2024
    Time: 7:15 am- 8:15 am
    See more details

  • Lower School Chapel

    Date: November 6, 2024 - November 6, 2024
    Time: 8:30 am- 8:55 am
    See more details

  • Upper School Chapel

    Date: November 6, 2024 - November 6, 2024
    Time: 9:25 am- 10:10 am
    See more details

  • 2nd Gr - Winnie the Pooh Play Performance (Roberts)

    Date: November 6, 2024 - November 6, 2024
    Time: 9:30 am- 10:05 am
    See more details

  • 2nd Gr - Winnie the Pooh Play Performance (Warner)

    Date: November 6, 2024 - November 6, 2024
    Time: 11:00 am- 11:35 am
    See more details

  • K Garden Club

    Date: November 6, 2024 - November 6, 2024
    Time: 2:10 pm- 3:10 pm
    See more details

  • Brioso Choir

    Date: November 6, 2024 - November 6, 2024
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:15 pm
    See more details

  • Stitch Lab

    Date: November 6, 2024 - November 6, 2024
    Time: 3:20 pm- 4:20 pm
    See more details

  • Typing Class

    Date: November 6, 2024 - November 6, 2024
    Time: 3:20 pm- 4:20 pm
    See more details

  • Book Study: The Anxious Generation (Led by Peter Vande Brake)

    Date: November 6, 2024 - November 6, 2024
    Time: 3:30 pm- 5:00 pm
    See more details

  • 5th Gr - Cedarkirk Trip Parent Meeting

    Date: November 6, 2024 - November 6, 2024
    Time: 6:00 pm- 7:00 pm
    See more details

November 7, 2024
  • 3rd Grade Moms Coffee

    Date: November 7, 2024 - November 7, 2024
    Time: 8:30 am- 10:00 am
    See more details

  • Cross Country Regional Meet

    Date: November 7, 2024 - November 7, 2024
    Time: 8:45 am- 10:15 am
    See more details

  • 2nd Gr - Winne the Pooh Play Rehearsal (Habicht & Gilmartin)

    Date: November 7, 2024 - November 7, 2024
    Time: 11:30 am- 2:15 pm
    See more details

  • Fun with Food

    Date: November 7, 2024 - November 7, 2024
    Time: 3:20 pm- 4:20 pm
    See more details

  • Philharmonia Orchestra

    Date: November 7, 2024 - November 7, 2024
    Time: 3:30 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Boys Soccer Home Game vs. Crooms

    Date: November 7, 2024 - November 7, 2024
    Time: 4:30 pm- 6:30 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Girls Soccer Home Game vs. Edgewater

    Date: November 7, 2024 - November 7, 2024
    Time: 6:30 pm- 8:30 pm
    See more details

November 4, 2024
  • Chamber Orchestra

    Date: November 4, 2024 - November 4, 2024
    Time: 7:15 am- 8:15 am
    See more details

  • Moms in Prayer

    Date: November 4, 2024 - November 4, 2024
    Time: 8:15 am- 9:30 am
    See more details

  • 1st Gr - Zoo Adventure

    Date: November 4, 2024 - November 4, 2024
    Time: 10:00 am- 11:00 am
    See more details

  • K4 Art Adventures

    Date: November 4, 2024 - November 4, 2024
    Time: 1:15 pm- 2:15 pm
    See more details

  • 1st & 2nd Grade Art Adventures

    Date: November 4, 2024 - November 4, 2024
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:15 pm
    See more details

  • Youth Golf K-3rd Grade

    Date: November 4, 2024 - November 4, 2024
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:15 pm
    See more details

  • Lower School NHS Tutoring

    Date: November 4, 2024 - November 4, 2024
    Time: 3:25 pm- 4:10 pm
    See more details

  • Philharmonia Orchestra

    Date: November 4, 2024 - November 4, 2024
    Time: 3:30 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

November 5, 2024
  • ParentU: Classical Education (K4-6th Grade Parents)

    Date: November 5, 2024 - November 5, 2024
    Time: 8:15 am- 9:15 am
    See more details

  • 2nd Gr - Winne the Pooh Play Rehearsal (Roberts & Warner)

    Date: November 5, 2024 - November 5, 2024
    Time: 11:30 am- 2:15 pm
    See more details

  • Swim Regionals @ Bolles Dive at 1pm; Swim at 3pm

    Date: November 5, 2024 - November 5, 2024
    Time: 1:00 pm- 5:00 pm
    See more details

  • K4 Garden Club

    Date: November 5, 2024 - November 5, 2024
    Time: 1:10 pm- 2:10 pm
    See more details

  • Kindergarten Art Adventures

    Date: November 5, 2024 - November 5, 2024
    Time: 2:15 pm- 3:15 pm
    See more details

  • Percussio

    Date: November 5, 2024 - November 5, 2024
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

  • 1st-3rd Garden Club

    Date: November 5, 2024 - November 5, 2024
    Time: 3:20 pm- 4:20 pm
    See more details

  • K-6th Youth Tennis

    Date: November 5, 2024 - November 5, 2024
    Time: 3:30 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Girls Soccer Home Game vs. Lake Highland Prep

    Date: November 5, 2024 - November 5, 2024
    Time: 5:00 pm- 7:00 pm
    See more details

  • 9th Gr - Everglades Trip Parent Meeting

    Date: November 5, 2024 - November 5, 2024
    Time: 7:00 pm- 8:00 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Boys Soccer Home Game vs. Seminole Science

    Date: November 5, 2024 - November 5, 2024
    Time: 7:00 pm- 9:00 pm
    See more details

November 6, 2024
  • Chamber Orchestra

    Date: November 6, 2024 - November 6, 2024
    Time: 7:15 am- 8:15 am
    See more details

  • Lower School Chapel

    Date: November 6, 2024 - November 6, 2024
    Time: 8:30 am- 8:55 am
    See more details

  • Upper School Chapel

    Date: November 6, 2024 - November 6, 2024
    Time: 9:25 am- 10:10 am
    See more details

  • 2nd Gr - Winnie the Pooh Play Performance (Roberts)

    Date: November 6, 2024 - November 6, 2024
    Time: 9:30 am- 10:05 am
    See more details

  • 2nd Gr - Winnie the Pooh Play Performance (Warner)

    Date: November 6, 2024 - November 6, 2024
    Time: 11:00 am- 11:35 am
    See more details

  • K Garden Club

    Date: November 6, 2024 - November 6, 2024
    Time: 2:10 pm- 3:10 pm
    See more details

  • Brioso Choir

    Date: November 6, 2024 - November 6, 2024
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:15 pm
    See more details

  • Stitch Lab

    Date: November 6, 2024 - November 6, 2024
    Time: 3:20 pm- 4:20 pm
    See more details

  • Typing Class

    Date: November 6, 2024 - November 6, 2024
    Time: 3:20 pm- 4:20 pm
    See more details

  • Book Study: The Anxious Generation (Led by Peter Vande Brake)

    Date: November 6, 2024 - November 6, 2024
    Time: 3:30 pm- 5:00 pm
    See more details

  • 5th Gr - Cedarkirk Trip Parent Meeting

    Date: November 6, 2024 - November 6, 2024
    Time: 6:00 pm- 7:00 pm
    See more details

November 7, 2024
  • 3rd Grade Moms Coffee

    Date: November 7, 2024 - November 7, 2024
    Time: 8:30 am- 10:00 am
    See more details

  • Cross Country Regional Meet

    Date: November 7, 2024 - November 7, 2024
    Time: 8:45 am- 10:15 am
    See more details

  • 2nd Gr - Winne the Pooh Play Rehearsal (Habicht & Gilmartin)

    Date: November 7, 2024 - November 7, 2024
    Time: 11:30 am- 2:15 pm
    See more details

  • Fun with Food

    Date: November 7, 2024 - November 7, 2024
    Time: 3:20 pm- 4:20 pm
    See more details

  • Philharmonia Orchestra

    Date: November 7, 2024 - November 7, 2024
    Time: 3:30 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Boys Soccer Home Game vs. Crooms

    Date: November 7, 2024 - November 7, 2024
    Time: 4:30 pm- 6:30 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Girls Soccer Home Game vs. Edgewater

    Date: November 7, 2024 - November 7, 2024
    Time: 6:30 pm- 8:30 pm
    See more details

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