See You on the Other Side

By Christina Walker

Mr. Ryden, who is not only Geneva’s head of school but also a brilliant summer fun expert, wrote in The Courier recently and encouraged our community—older and younger members alike—to have a “joyful and relaxing summer break … filled with exercise, fresh air, play, reading, and sleep.” He reminisced about his younger days during the summer, which were full of sports with friends, board games, swimming, and reading.

Considering our devices consume so much of our time, setting them aside for more old-school entertainment can seem challenging. We as parents may fear, as Mr. Ryden said, hearing, “I’m bored!” from our children. However, he also correctly concluded that “on the other side of boredom is a whole world of creativity, exercise, and fun.” From making pillow forts to playing board games, hiking and kayaking to reading and hanging out with neighbors or friends, there are myriad activities that both parents and their children (no matter the ages) can enjoy this summer.

I have seen it myself; when kids are together without their screens, they come up with amazing ideas and their imaginations take over. From playing games as characters (that everyone guesses after the game is over) to writing stories, this summer has already been full of nonscreen fun for my own children.

Make time for getting outside, playing games, cuddling up with a good book, or baking something fun together over these remaining summer weeks. The memories you make will be worth it! And if you happen to hear someone say, “I’m bored,” wait it out and see what happens; encourage your children (even older ones) to seek out what is on the other side of that feeling of boredom. Who knows what paths they will discover and enjoy!

Summer fun for little or big kids:

  • Card games
  • Board games
  • Imagination games
  • Coloring books and other activity books (some coloring books are intricate and complex)
  • Mad libs
  • Puzzles
  • Cooking or baking with mom, dad, or siblings
  • Playing in the rain
  • Going to the park
  • Taking a walk
  • Hiking
  • Kayaking, canoeing, or paddle boarding
  • Swimming with friends
  • Reading
  • Writing a story or poetry

We have arrived in Williamsburg

The hour was early, the sky was dark, but our spirits were high as we set off for our week long Williamsburg trip. The students were all excited to find out what groups they were in and get loaded on the bus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The prospect of sixteen hours on the bus was daunting, but the excitement carried the day. Some students slept, some talked, some read, some played games, many songs were sung and stories told.

Our first stop was at the Florida/Georgia border where we indulged in the first of many group photos. Then back on the bus until a lunch stop at Cracker Barrel. It was so fun to watch the groups work together on figuring out what to order, how much to tip, and how much money that would leave them for dinner (and souvenirs later).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had a good bit of rain throughout the afternoon, which meant that our afternoon break for “recess” was little more than a quick stretch of the legs on the walk to the restroom. But the students made up for it with some post dinner calisthenics – there were pushup challenges, plank competitions, and some arm wrestling.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After dinner, we were all excited to be in the final leg of our journey. The students did their first devotional in their chaperone groups and shared prayer requests. We know all our families at home are praying for us, and we are so thankful! After devotions, and some Scripture recitations, we treated the students with a showing of the movie “Up” which took us right up to our arrival at our hotel.

 

It was a long day, and everyone is tired. All in all, the long bus ride was such a fun opportunity to see our fifth graders learning to enjoy one another and find creative ways to entertain themselves and pass the time. I heard very few “are we there yet” questions, but did hear lots of laughter and good, encouraging conversation. What a delight!

Tomorrow we are off to Jamestown!

The Geneva School
The Geneva School
December 11, 2024
  • Chamber Orchestra

    Date: December 11, 2024 - December 11, 2024
    Time: 7:15 am- 8:15 am
    See more details

  • 4th Grade Moms Coffee

    Date: December 11, 2024 - December 11, 2024
    Time: 8:15 am- 10:00 am
    See more details

  • Lower School Chapel

    Date: December 11, 2024 - December 11, 2024
    Time: 8:30 am- 8:55 am
    See more details

  • Upper School Chapel

    Date: December 11, 2024 - December 11, 2024
    Time: 9:25 am- 10:10 am
    See more details

  • Brioso Choir

    Date: December 11, 2024 - December 11, 2024
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:15 pm
    See more details

  • Stitch Lab

    Date: December 11, 2024 - December 11, 2024
    Time: 3:20 pm- 4:20 pm
    See more details

  • Typing Class

    Date: December 11, 2024 - December 11, 2024
    Time: 3:20 pm- 4:20 pm
    See more details

December 12, 2024
  • 1st Gr - Madeline Parade

    Date: December 12, 2024 - December 12, 2024
    Time: 8:30 am- 8:45 am
    See more details

  • 6th Gr - Ceremony of 12

    Date: December 12, 2024 - December 12, 2024
    Time: 9:15 am- 11:00 am
    See more details

  • Fun with Food

    Date: December 12, 2024 - December 12, 2024
    Time: 3:20 pm- 4:20 pm
    See more details

  • Philharmonia Orchestra

    Date: December 12, 2024 - December 12, 2024
    Time: 3:30 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Girls Soccer Home Game vs ICS

    Date: December 12, 2024 - December 12, 2024
    Time: 4:30 pm- 6:30 pm
    See more details

  • JV Boys Basketball Home Game vs Calvary Christian

    Date: December 12, 2024 - December 12, 2024
    Time: 5:30 pm- 6:30 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Boys Home Soccer Game vs. TCD

    Date: December 12, 2024 - December 12, 2024
    Time: 6:30 pm- 8:30 pm
    See more details

  • Merely Players Present The Holly & the Ivy: An O. Henry Christmas

    Date: December 12, 2024 - December 12, 2024
    Time: 7:00 pm- 9:00 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Boys Basketball Home Game vs Calvary Christian

    Date: December 12, 2024 - December 12, 2024
    Time: 7:00 pm- 9:00 pm
    See more details

December 13, 2024
  • 4th Gr - Medieval Times

    Date: December 13, 2024 - December 13, 2024
    Time: 8:00 am- 2:50 pm
    See more details

  • Dialectic Pancake Breakfast - Flex Time

    Date: December 13, 2024 - December 13, 2024
    Time: 8:00 am- 9:20 am
    See more details

  • Rhetoric Mr. Christmas Pageant

    Date: December 13, 2024 - December 13, 2024
    Time: 8:25 am- 9:20 am
    See more details

  • MS Girls Basketball Home Game vs First Academy Leesburg

    Date: December 13, 2024 - December 13, 2024
    Time: 4:30 pm- 5:30 pm
    See more details

  • Kids Night In (Choir Fundraiser)

    Date: December 13, 2024 - December 13, 2024
    Time: 5:00 pm- 9:00 pm
    See more details

  • MS Boys Basketball Home Game vs First Academy Leesburg

    Date: December 13, 2024 - December 13, 2024
    Time: 5:30 pm- 6:30 pm
    See more details

  • Girls Varsity Basketball Home Game vs First Academy Leesburg

    Date: December 13, 2024 - December 13, 2024
    Time: 6:30 pm- 7:30 pm
    See more details

  • Merely Players Present The Holly & the Ivy: An O. Henry Christmas

    Date: December 13, 2024 - December 13, 2024
    Time: 7:00 pm- 9:00 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Boys Soccer Away Game vs. Foundation

    Date: December 13, 2024 - December 13, 2024
    Time: 7:00 pm- 9:00 pm
    See more details

December 14, 2024
  • ISEE Testing

    Date: December 14, 2024 - December 14, 2024
    Time: 9:00 am- 1:00 pm
    See more details

  • MS Boys Basketball Home Game vs Trinity Christian

    Date: December 14, 2024 - December 14, 2024
    Time: 11:00 am- 12:00 pm
    See more details

  • JV Boys Basketball Home Game vs Trinity Christian

    Date: December 14, 2024 - December 14, 2024
    Time: 12:30 pm- 1:30 pm
    See more details

  • Merely Players Present The Holly & the Ivy: An O. Henry Christmas

    Date: December 14, 2024 - December 14, 2024
    Time: 1:00 pm- 3:00 pm
    See more details

  • Girls Varsity Basketball Home Game vs Trinity Christian Deltona

    Date: December 14, 2024 - December 14, 2024
    Time: 2:00 pm- 3:00 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Boys Basketball Home Game vs Trinity Christian

    Date: December 14, 2024 - December 14, 2024
    Time: 3:30 pm- 5:30 pm
    See more details

  • 11th Gr - Parents Knight Out

    Date: December 14, 2024 - December 14, 2024
    Time: 6:00 pm- 9:00 pm
    See more details

  • Merely Players Present The Holly & the Ivy: An O. Henry Christmas

    Date: December 14, 2024 - December 14, 2024
    Time: 7:00 pm- 9:00 pm
    See more details

December 11, 2024
  • Chamber Orchestra

    Date: December 11, 2024 - December 11, 2024
    Time: 7:15 am- 8:15 am
    See more details

  • 4th Grade Moms Coffee

    Date: December 11, 2024 - December 11, 2024
    Time: 8:15 am- 10:00 am
    See more details

  • Lower School Chapel

    Date: December 11, 2024 - December 11, 2024
    Time: 8:30 am- 8:55 am
    See more details

  • Upper School Chapel

    Date: December 11, 2024 - December 11, 2024
    Time: 9:25 am- 10:10 am
    See more details

  • Brioso Choir

    Date: December 11, 2024 - December 11, 2024
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:15 pm
    See more details

  • Stitch Lab

    Date: December 11, 2024 - December 11, 2024
    Time: 3:20 pm- 4:20 pm
    See more details

  • Typing Class

    Date: December 11, 2024 - December 11, 2024
    Time: 3:20 pm- 4:20 pm
    See more details

December 12, 2024
  • 1st Gr - Madeline Parade

    Date: December 12, 2024 - December 12, 2024
    Time: 8:30 am- 8:45 am
    See more details

  • 6th Gr - Ceremony of 12

    Date: December 12, 2024 - December 12, 2024
    Time: 9:15 am- 11:00 am
    See more details

  • Fun with Food

    Date: December 12, 2024 - December 12, 2024
    Time: 3:20 pm- 4:20 pm
    See more details

  • Philharmonia Orchestra

    Date: December 12, 2024 - December 12, 2024
    Time: 3:30 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Girls Soccer Home Game vs ICS

    Date: December 12, 2024 - December 12, 2024
    Time: 4:30 pm- 6:30 pm
    See more details

  • JV Boys Basketball Home Game vs Calvary Christian

    Date: December 12, 2024 - December 12, 2024
    Time: 5:30 pm- 6:30 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Boys Home Soccer Game vs. TCD

    Date: December 12, 2024 - December 12, 2024
    Time: 6:30 pm- 8:30 pm
    See more details

  • Merely Players Present The Holly & the Ivy: An O. Henry Christmas

    Date: December 12, 2024 - December 12, 2024
    Time: 7:00 pm- 9:00 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Boys Basketball Home Game vs Calvary Christian

    Date: December 12, 2024 - December 12, 2024
    Time: 7:00 pm- 9:00 pm
    See more details

December 13, 2024
  • 4th Gr - Medieval Times

    Date: December 13, 2024 - December 13, 2024
    Time: 8:00 am- 2:50 pm
    See more details

  • Dialectic Pancake Breakfast - Flex Time

    Date: December 13, 2024 - December 13, 2024
    Time: 8:00 am- 9:20 am
    See more details

  • Rhetoric Mr. Christmas Pageant

    Date: December 13, 2024 - December 13, 2024
    Time: 8:25 am- 9:20 am
    See more details

  • MS Girls Basketball Home Game vs First Academy Leesburg

    Date: December 13, 2024 - December 13, 2024
    Time: 4:30 pm- 5:30 pm
    See more details

  • Kids Night In (Choir Fundraiser)

    Date: December 13, 2024 - December 13, 2024
    Time: 5:00 pm- 9:00 pm
    See more details

  • MS Boys Basketball Home Game vs First Academy Leesburg

    Date: December 13, 2024 - December 13, 2024
    Time: 5:30 pm- 6:30 pm
    See more details

  • Girls Varsity Basketball Home Game vs First Academy Leesburg

    Date: December 13, 2024 - December 13, 2024
    Time: 6:30 pm- 7:30 pm
    See more details

  • Merely Players Present The Holly & the Ivy: An O. Henry Christmas

    Date: December 13, 2024 - December 13, 2024
    Time: 7:00 pm- 9:00 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Boys Soccer Away Game vs. Foundation

    Date: December 13, 2024 - December 13, 2024
    Time: 7:00 pm- 9:00 pm
    See more details

December 14, 2024
  • ISEE Testing

    Date: December 14, 2024 - December 14, 2024
    Time: 9:00 am- 1:00 pm
    See more details

  • MS Boys Basketball Home Game vs Trinity Christian

    Date: December 14, 2024 - December 14, 2024
    Time: 11:00 am- 12:00 pm
    See more details

  • JV Boys Basketball Home Game vs Trinity Christian

    Date: December 14, 2024 - December 14, 2024
    Time: 12:30 pm- 1:30 pm
    See more details

  • Merely Players Present The Holly & the Ivy: An O. Henry Christmas

    Date: December 14, 2024 - December 14, 2024
    Time: 1:00 pm- 3:00 pm
    See more details

  • Girls Varsity Basketball Home Game vs Trinity Christian Deltona

    Date: December 14, 2024 - December 14, 2024
    Time: 2:00 pm- 3:00 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Boys Basketball Home Game vs Trinity Christian

    Date: December 14, 2024 - December 14, 2024
    Time: 3:30 pm- 5:30 pm
    See more details

  • 11th Gr - Parents Knight Out

    Date: December 14, 2024 - December 14, 2024
    Time: 6:00 pm- 9:00 pm
    See more details

  • Merely Players Present The Holly & the Ivy: An O. Henry Christmas

    Date: December 14, 2024 - December 14, 2024
    Time: 7:00 pm- 9:00 pm
    See more details

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