Beauty, Structure, and Function

We started our day bright and early, not knowing what to expect.

We would never have anticipated that the actual structures built to house our government would be so thoughtfully planned. Those who built our government intentionally incorporated so many symbolic, artistic, yet functional components.

In the rotunda of the Capital Building, the story of our nation is told through art. Given its beauty, it’s hard to believe that so many people actually go to work there. Laws are still being passed, and in fact, the Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, walked through the room during our tour. Another group saw news crews prepping for interviews with lawmakers.

The Library of Congress is certainly one of the most beautiful buildings we had seen.   The art was absolutely stunning and the architecture and mosaics had an absolute wow factor. We are still in awe of it. It seems almost odd to think that it is still a functioning library, with over 20 reading rooms. In fact, Mrs. Brodrecht went to get a Library of Congress library card while we were there, and we later found out that one of our chaperones already had one.

The Supreme Court building was filled with symbolism, including a depiction of Moses. Students were able to enter the courtroom where cases have been heard since the 1930’s. We were surprised to see how small the actual courtroom is in relation to the grandeur of the building.

We ended our day at the National Archives. This building houses some of the most important documents ever written. Students were excited to view the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. They saw the Emancipation Proclamation and also the Magna Carta, which even though it was written in the 1500’s is still relevant and important today.

Thanks to what they had learned at Geneva in fourth, fifth, and sixth grade, our students already understood the context and significance of the documents and were happy to see the real deal.

It was a great day.

15,000 Steps

It all started bright and early at Orlando International Airport with 65 excited students, chaperones, and teachers.

Friends were excited to find out who was in their group for the week. Parents said their goodbyes. Teachers did a little last minute boarding pass shuffling to make sure students were all seated together. Flight attendants did their best to fit all of our carry-ons into the overhead bins.

Once we arrived at our destination, we realized that the teachers hadn’t been exaggerating when they’d said there would be a lot of walking.

After navigating the METRO, we walked to our hotel to drop off our bags. Then we headed in the direction of the National Mall and walked around the Washington Monument. We went to the Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial, then stopped by the Lincoln Memorial, made our way by the Vietnam Memorial, and finished at the World War II Memorial.

The springtime weather was beautiful and perfect for a day of walking. Flowers were in bloom. Dandelions dotted the lawn, and dried cherry blossoms were on the pathways throughout the memorials. Students enjoyed their time moving between the memorials laughing, playing games, taking pictures, and spending time together with friends.

We ended our day quietly, settling into our hotel, with everyone looking forward to tomorrow. It was a great first day in D.C!

The Geneva School
The Geneva School
October 5, 2024
  • Varsity Cross Country Meet - Harmony High School

    Date: October 5, 2024 - October 5, 2024
    Time: 7:00 am- 9:00 am
    See more details

  • MS Volleyball Blue Team Away Games at TP

    Date: October 5, 2024 - October 5, 2024
    Time: 9:00 am- 11:00 am
    See more details

October 7, 2024
  • Chamber Orchestra

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

  • 6th Gr - Hobbit Day

    Date: October 7, 2024 - October 7, 2024
    Time: 8:00 am- 2:50 pm
    See more details

  • Moms in Prayer

    Date: October 7, 2024 - October 7, 2024
    Time: 8:15 am- 9:30 am
    See more details

  • K4&K Art Adventures

    Date: October 7, 2024 - October 7, 2024
    Time: 2:15 pm- 3:15 pm
    See more details

  • Lower School NHS Tutoring

    Date: October 7, 2024 - October 7, 2024
    Time: 3:25 pm- 4:10 pm
    See more details

  • Philharmonia Orchestra

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

  • Girls Golf Match vs. Lake Mary Prep

    Date: October 7, 2024 - October 7, 2024
    Time: 3:45 pm- 5:45 pm
    See more details

  • 5/6th Grade Volleyball Game vs. St. Luke's Grey

    Date: October 7, 2024 - October 7, 2024
    Time: 4:30 pm- 5:30 pm
    See more details

  • MS Volleyball Blue Team League PlayOffs

    Date: October 7, 2024 - October 7, 2024
    Time: 5:30 pm- 7:30 pm
    See more details

  • College Counseling - Financial Aid

    Date: October 7, 2024 - October 7, 2024
    Time: 6:00 pm- 7:15 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Football Away Game vs. All Saints

    Date: October 7, 2024 - October 7, 2024
    Time: 6:30 pm- 10:30 pm
    See more details

October 8, 2024
  • K4 - Fire Department Visit

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

  • K4 Garden Club

    Date: October 8, 2024 - October 8, 2024
    Time: 1:10 pm- 2:10 pm
    See more details

  • 5/6th Grade Volleyball Practice

    Date: October 8, 2024 - October 8, 2024
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:45 pm
    See more details

  • Percussio

    Date: October 8, 2024 - October 8, 2024
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

  • 1st-3rd Garden Club

    Date: October 8, 2024 - October 8, 2024
    Time: 3:20 pm- 4:20 pm
    See more details

  • Typing

    Date: October 8, 2024 - October 8, 2024
    Time: 3:20 pm- 4:20 pm
    See more details

  • K-6th Youth Tennis

    Date: October 8, 2024 - October 8, 2024
    Time: 3:30 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

  • MS Volleyball White Team Away Match vs ICS

    Date: October 8, 2024 - October 8, 2024
    Time: 4:00 pm- 5:00 pm
    See more details

  • JV Volleyball Away Match vs ICS

    Date: October 8, 2024 - October 8, 2024
    Time: 5:00 pm- 6:00 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Volleyball Away Match vs ICS

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

October 9, 2024
  • Chamber Orchestra

    Date: October 9, 2024 - October 9, 2024
    Time: 7:15 am- 8:15 am
    See more details

  • Lower School Chapel

    Date: October 9, 2024 - October 9, 2024
    Time: 8:30 am- 8:55 am
    See more details

  • Upper School Chapel

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

  • K Garden Club

    Date: October 9, 2024 - October 9, 2024
    Time: 2:10 pm- 3:10 pm
    See more details

  • K4-Kindergarten Youth Soccer

    Date: October 9, 2024 - October 9, 2024
    Time: 2:30 pm- 3:15 pm
    See more details

  • 1st-2nd Youth Soccer

    Date: October 9, 2024 - October 9, 2024
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:00 pm
    See more details

  • 3-4 Grade Volleyball Practice

    Date: October 9, 2024 - October 9, 2024
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

  • 3-6th Youth Archery

    Date: October 9, 2024 - October 9, 2024
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

  • Brioso Choir

    Date: October 9, 2024 - October 9, 2024
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:15 pm
    See more details

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

    Date: October 9, 2024 - October 9, 2024
    Time: 3:30 pm- 5:00 pm
    See more details

  • US Talent Show Rehearsals

    Date: October 9, 2024 - October 9, 2024
    Time: 3:30 pm- 6:00 pm
    See more details

  • Swim Meet vs. Trinity Prep & Lake Highland

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

October 5, 2024
  • Varsity Cross Country Meet - Harmony High School

    Date: October 5, 2024 - October 5, 2024
    Time: 7:00 am- 9:00 am
    See more details

  • MS Volleyball Blue Team Away Games at TP

    Date: October 5, 2024 - October 5, 2024
    Time: 9:00 am- 11:00 am
    See more details

October 7, 2024
  • Chamber Orchestra

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

  • 6th Gr - Hobbit Day

    Date: October 7, 2024 - October 7, 2024
    Time: 8:00 am- 2:50 pm
    See more details

  • Moms in Prayer

    Date: October 7, 2024 - October 7, 2024
    Time: 8:15 am- 9:30 am
    See more details

  • K4&K Art Adventures

    Date: October 7, 2024 - October 7, 2024
    Time: 2:15 pm- 3:15 pm
    See more details

  • Lower School NHS Tutoring

    Date: October 7, 2024 - October 7, 2024
    Time: 3:25 pm- 4:10 pm
    See more details

  • Philharmonia Orchestra

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

  • Girls Golf Match vs. Lake Mary Prep

    Date: October 7, 2024 - October 7, 2024
    Time: 3:45 pm- 5:45 pm
    See more details

  • 5/6th Grade Volleyball Game vs. St. Luke's Grey

    Date: October 7, 2024 - October 7, 2024
    Time: 4:30 pm- 5:30 pm
    See more details

  • MS Volleyball Blue Team League PlayOffs

    Date: October 7, 2024 - October 7, 2024
    Time: 5:30 pm- 7:30 pm
    See more details

  • College Counseling - Financial Aid

    Date: October 7, 2024 - October 7, 2024
    Time: 6:00 pm- 7:15 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Football Away Game vs. All Saints

    Date: October 7, 2024 - October 7, 2024
    Time: 6:30 pm- 10:30 pm
    See more details

October 8, 2024
  • K4 - Fire Department Visit

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

  • K4 Garden Club

    Date: October 8, 2024 - October 8, 2024
    Time: 1:10 pm- 2:10 pm
    See more details

  • 5/6th Grade Volleyball Practice

    Date: October 8, 2024 - October 8, 2024
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:45 pm
    See more details

  • Percussio

    Date: October 8, 2024 - October 8, 2024
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

  • 1st-3rd Garden Club

    Date: October 8, 2024 - October 8, 2024
    Time: 3:20 pm- 4:20 pm
    See more details

  • Typing

    Date: October 8, 2024 - October 8, 2024
    Time: 3:20 pm- 4:20 pm
    See more details

  • K-6th Youth Tennis

    Date: October 8, 2024 - October 8, 2024
    Time: 3:30 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

  • MS Volleyball White Team Away Match vs ICS

    Date: October 8, 2024 - October 8, 2024
    Time: 4:00 pm- 5:00 pm
    See more details

  • JV Volleyball Away Match vs ICS

    Date: October 8, 2024 - October 8, 2024
    Time: 5:00 pm- 6:00 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Volleyball Away Match vs ICS

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

October 9, 2024
  • Chamber Orchestra

    Date: October 9, 2024 - October 9, 2024
    Time: 7:15 am- 8:15 am
    See more details

  • Lower School Chapel

    Date: October 9, 2024 - October 9, 2024
    Time: 8:30 am- 8:55 am
    See more details

  • Upper School Chapel

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

  • K Garden Club

    Date: October 9, 2024 - October 9, 2024
    Time: 2:10 pm- 3:10 pm
    See more details

  • K4-Kindergarten Youth Soccer

    Date: October 9, 2024 - October 9, 2024
    Time: 2:30 pm- 3:15 pm
    See more details

  • 1st-2nd Youth Soccer

    Date: October 9, 2024 - October 9, 2024
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:00 pm
    See more details

  • 3-4 Grade Volleyball Practice

    Date: October 9, 2024 - October 9, 2024
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

  • 3-6th Youth Archery

    Date: October 9, 2024 - October 9, 2024
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

  • Brioso Choir

    Date: October 9, 2024 - October 9, 2024
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:15 pm
    See more details

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

    Date: October 9, 2024 - October 9, 2024
    Time: 3:30 pm- 5:00 pm
    See more details

  • US Talent Show Rehearsals

    Date: October 9, 2024 - October 9, 2024
    Time: 3:30 pm- 6:00 pm
    See more details

  • Swim Meet vs. Trinity Prep & Lake Highland

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

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