Report Cards, GPAs, and Italy

I had the privilege of going on the Italy trip this summer, and being freshly returned from the glories of Rome, Orvieto, and Florence I had this one over-riding conclusion. Students who are merely driven by grades and GPAs would never have participated like the twenty-eight students who were on the trip. Students were inquisitive and eager to engage the museums, churches, and guides who interpreted the fascinating things we encountered. Their understanding, learning, and sense of wonderment drove them throughout each day to new energy levels as we toured, climbed, walked, and pondered one marvel after another. Only a love of learning accounts for the manner in which they participated throughout the trip.

The love of learning is a cultivated virtue. It is an acquired habit, an ingrained disposition that is carefully, repeatedly, and patiently nurtured in the life of each student. What we experienced during the Italy trip was the direct result of the intentionality behind Geneva’s curriculum. It was the direct result of faculty members whose love of teaching their particular courses has become contagious to their students. Their appetites, whetted in the classroom and at home, were satiated as they feasted on things beautiful, elegant, lovely, and worthy of admiration. Repeatedly we were all lost in wonderment at the extraordinary feats of architecture, engineering, and artisanship displayed during the past two thousand years.

Equally remarkable, much of what we encountered was already familiar to the students from their classroom study. They were alert to the underlying philosophies latent within certain works of art and literature; they could account for the changes in social and cultural fortunes occasioned by varying political theories and leaders. They could discern the dramatic differences that resulted from varying beliefs in pagan mythology, secularism, and Christianity.

The good news is that similar experiences can be had by students at many places within our curriculum. Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown fuel the imaginations of our fifth graders; Washington DC is a mini-capstone to sixth graders in the grammar school; the re-enchantment of nature occurs during the seventh grade north Florida science trip and during the ninth grade week in the Everglades exploring the unique ecosystems and wildlife of South Florida. The trip to Boston in eighth grade plants seeds which will be nurtured and cultivated through the senior year.

Trips like this one to Italy validate a Christian classical education. Report cards and GPAs provide helpful, though partial glimpses into what a student is learning, but Italy revealed what students have come to love. “And love,” Augustine said, “is the beauty of the soul.”

-Robert F. Ingram, Headmaster

The Geneva School
The Geneva School
September 13, 2025
  • Varsity Swim Team Meet - Plapp Invite

    Date: September 13, 2025 - September 13, 2025
    Time: 9:00 am- 7:00 pm
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September 14, 2025
  • Fall Senior Dinner

    Date: September 14, 2025 - September 14, 2025
    Time: 5:00 pm- 9:00 pm
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September 15, 2025
  • Geneva Jazz

    Date: September 15, 2025 - September 15, 2025
    Time: 7:15 am- 8:15 am
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  • Moms In Prayer

    Date: September 15, 2025 - September 15, 2025
    Time: 8:15 am- 9:30 am
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  • 3-6 Grade PickleBall

    Date: September 15, 2025 - September 15, 2025
    Time: 3:00 pm- 4:30 pm
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  • Typing (4th-8th Grade)

    Date: September 15, 2025 - September 15, 2025
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:15 pm
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  • 3rd–6th Gr - NHS Tutoring

    Date: September 15, 2025 - September 15, 2025
    Time: 3:20 pm- 4:00 pm
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  • 5/6 Grade Volleyball Away Match vs. St. Luke's Grey

    Date: September 15, 2025 - September 15, 2025
    Time: 4:30 pm- 5:30 pm
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  • DL Football Away Game vs Holy Cross

    Date: September 15, 2025 - September 15, 2025
    Time: 4:30 pm- 6:30 pm
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  • Freshman Volleyball Home Match vs. Winter Springs

    Date: September 15, 2025 - September 15, 2025
    Time: 4:30 pm- 5:30 pm
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  • JV Volleyball Home Match vs. Winter Springs

    Date: September 15, 2025 - September 15, 2025
    Time: 5:30 pm- 6:30 pm
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  • MS Volleyball Blue Team Away Game vs. TP

    Date: September 15, 2025 - September 15, 2025
    Time: 5:30 pm- 6:30 pm
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  • Varsity Volleyball Home Match vs. Winter Springs

    Date: September 15, 2025 - September 15, 2025
    Time: 6:30 pm- 8:00 pm
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September 16, 2025
  • Student Photo Retake Day

    Date: September 16, 2025 - September 16, 2025
    Time: 12:00 am- 11:59 pm
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  • Chamber Orchestra

    Date: September 16, 2025 - September 16, 2025
    Time: 7:15 am- 8:15 am
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  • K4 Giocoso Music

    Date: September 16, 2025 - September 16, 2025
    Time: 2:15 pm- 3:15 pm
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  • Fun with Food (1st-2nd Grade)

    Date: September 16, 2025 - September 16, 2025
    Time: 3:00 pm- 4:00 pm
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  • Youth Tennis 5-6 Grade with Luke

    Date: September 16, 2025 - September 16, 2025
    Time: 3:00 pm- 4:30 pm
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  • Youth Tennis K-6th Grade w Stefanie

    Date: September 16, 2025 - September 16, 2025
    Time: 3:00 pm- 4:30 pm
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  • Youth Volleyball 4th Grade Girls

    Date: September 16, 2025 - September 16, 2025
    Time: 3:00 pm- 4:30 pm
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  • K Giocoso Music

    Date: September 16, 2025 - September 16, 2025
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:15 pm
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  • Philharmonia Orchestra (3rd-6th Grade)

    Date: September 16, 2025 - September 16, 2025
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:30 pm
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  • Girls Golf Home Match vs First Academy

    Date: September 16, 2025 - September 16, 2025
    Time: 3:45 pm- 5:45 pm
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  • Freshman Volleyball Home Match vs Circle JV

    Date: September 16, 2025 - September 16, 2025
    Time: 4:00 pm- 5:00 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Boys Golf Home vs. Trinity Christian

    Date: September 16, 2025 - September 16, 2025
    Time: 4:30 pm- 6:30 pm
    See more details

  • JV Volleyball home match vs Circle Christian

    Date: September 16, 2025 - September 16, 2025
    Time: 5:00 pm- 6:00 pm
    See more details

  • MS XC Meet - Citrus League at Trinity Prep

    Date: September 16, 2025 - September 16, 2025
    Time: 5:00 pm- 7:00 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Volleyball home Match vs Circle Christian

    Date: September 16, 2025 - September 16, 2025
    Time: 6:00 pm- 7:30 pm
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September 17, 2025
  • K4 - Camping Adventure

    Date: September 17, 2025 - September 17, 2025
    Time: 8:15 am- 11:00 am
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  • Lower School Chapel

    Date: September 17, 2025 - September 17, 2025
    Time: 8:20 am- 8:45 am
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  • Upper School Chapel

    Date: September 17, 2025 - September 17, 2025
    Time: 9:25 am- 10:10 am
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  • K4 Garden Club

    Date: September 17, 2025 - September 17, 2025
    Time: 1:15 pm- 2:15 pm
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  • K Garden Club

    Date: September 17, 2025 - September 17, 2025
    Time: 2:15 pm- 3:15 pm
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  • 1st-3rd Grade Garden Club

    Date: September 17, 2025 - September 17, 2025
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:15 pm
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  • Geneva Cheer (2nd-6th Grade)

    Date: September 17, 2025 - September 17, 2025
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:15 pm
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  • 3rd–6th Gr - NHS Tutoring

    Date: September 17, 2025 - September 17, 2025
    Time: 3:20 pm- 4:00 pm
    See more details

  • Stitch Lab (3rd-6th Grade)

    Date: September 17, 2025 - September 17, 2025
    Time: 3:20 pm- 4:20 pm
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September 13, 2025
  • Varsity Swim Team Meet - Plapp Invite

    Date: September 13, 2025 - September 13, 2025
    Time: 9:00 am- 7:00 pm
    See more details

September 14, 2025
  • Fall Senior Dinner

    Date: September 14, 2025 - September 14, 2025
    Time: 5:00 pm- 9:00 pm
    See more details

September 15, 2025
  • Geneva Jazz

    Date: September 15, 2025 - September 15, 2025
    Time: 7:15 am- 8:15 am
    See more details

  • Moms In Prayer

    Date: September 15, 2025 - September 15, 2025
    Time: 8:15 am- 9:30 am
    See more details

  • 3-6 Grade PickleBall

    Date: September 15, 2025 - September 15, 2025
    Time: 3:00 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

  • Typing (4th-8th Grade)

    Date: September 15, 2025 - September 15, 2025
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:15 pm
    See more details

  • 3rd–6th Gr - NHS Tutoring

    Date: September 15, 2025 - September 15, 2025
    Time: 3:20 pm- 4:00 pm
    See more details

  • 5/6 Grade Volleyball Away Match vs. St. Luke's Grey

    Date: September 15, 2025 - September 15, 2025
    Time: 4:30 pm- 5:30 pm
    See more details

  • DL Football Away Game vs Holy Cross

    Date: September 15, 2025 - September 15, 2025
    Time: 4:30 pm- 6:30 pm
    See more details

  • Freshman Volleyball Home Match vs. Winter Springs

    Date: September 15, 2025 - September 15, 2025
    Time: 4:30 pm- 5:30 pm
    See more details

  • JV Volleyball Home Match vs. Winter Springs

    Date: September 15, 2025 - September 15, 2025
    Time: 5:30 pm- 6:30 pm
    See more details

  • MS Volleyball Blue Team Away Game vs. TP

    Date: September 15, 2025 - September 15, 2025
    Time: 5:30 pm- 6:30 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Volleyball Home Match vs. Winter Springs

    Date: September 15, 2025 - September 15, 2025
    Time: 6:30 pm- 8:00 pm
    See more details

September 16, 2025
  • Student Photo Retake Day

    Date: September 16, 2025 - September 16, 2025
    Time: 12:00 am- 11:59 pm
    See more details

  • Chamber Orchestra

    Date: September 16, 2025 - September 16, 2025
    Time: 7:15 am- 8:15 am
    See more details

  • K4 Giocoso Music

    Date: September 16, 2025 - September 16, 2025
    Time: 2:15 pm- 3:15 pm
    See more details

  • Fun with Food (1st-2nd Grade)

    Date: September 16, 2025 - September 16, 2025
    Time: 3:00 pm- 4:00 pm
    See more details

  • Youth Tennis 5-6 Grade with Luke

    Date: September 16, 2025 - September 16, 2025
    Time: 3:00 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

  • Youth Tennis K-6th Grade w Stefanie

    Date: September 16, 2025 - September 16, 2025
    Time: 3:00 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

  • Youth Volleyball 4th Grade Girls

    Date: September 16, 2025 - September 16, 2025
    Time: 3:00 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

  • K Giocoso Music

    Date: September 16, 2025 - September 16, 2025
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:15 pm
    See more details

  • Philharmonia Orchestra (3rd-6th Grade)

    Date: September 16, 2025 - September 16, 2025
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

  • Girls Golf Home Match vs First Academy

    Date: September 16, 2025 - September 16, 2025
    Time: 3:45 pm- 5:45 pm
    See more details

  • Freshman Volleyball Home Match vs Circle JV

    Date: September 16, 2025 - September 16, 2025
    Time: 4:00 pm- 5:00 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Boys Golf Home vs. Trinity Christian

    Date: September 16, 2025 - September 16, 2025
    Time: 4:30 pm- 6:30 pm
    See more details

  • JV Volleyball home match vs Circle Christian

    Date: September 16, 2025 - September 16, 2025
    Time: 5:00 pm- 6:00 pm
    See more details

  • MS XC Meet - Citrus League at Trinity Prep

    Date: September 16, 2025 - September 16, 2025
    Time: 5:00 pm- 7:00 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Volleyball home Match vs Circle Christian

    Date: September 16, 2025 - September 16, 2025
    Time: 6:00 pm- 7:30 pm
    See more details

September 17, 2025
  • K4 - Camping Adventure

    Date: September 17, 2025 - September 17, 2025
    Time: 8:15 am- 11:00 am
    See more details

  • Lower School Chapel

    Date: September 17, 2025 - September 17, 2025
    Time: 8:20 am- 8:45 am
    See more details

  • Upper School Chapel

    Date: September 17, 2025 - September 17, 2025
    Time: 9:25 am- 10:10 am
    See more details

  • K4 Garden Club

    Date: September 17, 2025 - September 17, 2025
    Time: 1:15 pm- 2:15 pm
    See more details

  • K Garden Club

    Date: September 17, 2025 - September 17, 2025
    Time: 2:15 pm- 3:15 pm
    See more details

  • 1st-3rd Grade Garden Club

    Date: September 17, 2025 - September 17, 2025
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:15 pm
    See more details

  • Geneva Cheer (2nd-6th Grade)

    Date: September 17, 2025 - September 17, 2025
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:15 pm
    See more details

  • 3rd–6th Gr - NHS Tutoring

    Date: September 17, 2025 - September 17, 2025
    Time: 3:20 pm- 4:00 pm
    See more details

  • Stitch Lab (3rd-6th Grade)

    Date: September 17, 2025 - September 17, 2025
    Time: 3:20 pm- 4:20 pm
    See more details

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