Calliope_Geneva School of Boerne

this unity, but it often goes un-recognized. House System. If the House System were to
The House System also provides students magically disappear the school’s community would
slowly begin to morph into something not as closely
with many opportunities in leadership and service. knit together and start to become a very selfish
The leadership roles are important in House place. The House System keeps the balance of the
organization: students elect one person from each classes together and maintains an attitude of service
grade to serve as a House captain. Throughout the and brotherhood. Without it, Geneva would be a
school year, each of these House captains takes on different and most likely darker place. So, the next
various roles such as student senate or leading House time you say or hear the question, “Who cares?” stop
meetings, thereby strengthening their leadership and think about what you really mean by those two
skills. The Houses continuously promote service, words. The House System is something that makes
and this promotion leads to the improvement of the Geneva what it is and helps create the environment
school and to a healthier campus life. The Houses that surrounds you. Don’t fight the hand that feeds
change service from something to grumble about you.
into a delightful chore most of the time. Students are
usually glad to help with anything or even do tasks The purpose of the House System has been
without asking because of the small impetus behind forgotten by many and replaced with selfishness. If
the system of friendly competition. Providing mints the students of the Rhetoric School were to reclaim
before a final exam having fun games during lunch the House System’s true purpose, the campus would
benefits campus life. Over the years, the House change drastically for the better. If you do not listen
System has encouraged a positive outlook towards to me, at least hear the words of one of my house
service and continues to do so among the student members: “I think it’s better to have the House
body. System than no House System at all. There’s a lot
more good in it than the bad; it’s a good thing to
However, the major complaint often heard from be a part of.” This is how we should all think about
the student body is that the House System is a waste the House System. Positive outlooks can change
of time. Really, the only time you hear this is once a things, so appreciate it and don’t take it for granted.
month when there are House Meetings at lunch and Moreover, there is no reason to degrade the Houses.
students would rather stare at the homework they If you have a problem with them or about them,
didn’t do or the food they wish they had. One lunch bring it up in the meetings—you have a voice and we
a month is not a big requirement, plus the House want to hear it. The House System is an integral part
meetings are not some prison yard; they’re necessary of the structure of the Rhetoric School. It is more
and more productive than what you might think. important than what we see of it, but it is up to us
Another major complaint is the big question that, to strengthen and improve it. Most of all, enjoy it.
for some, is the source of distaste towards the House There’s nothing else like this place and the Houses
System: “Who cares?” The answer to that question are a big part of it. Get involved and don’t miss out.
is that you do; deep down you do care about the

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Photographed by Erin Kasprowicz

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Photographed by Jacqueline Knox

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Artwork by Abbey Lipe

�pencil�

THE FINAL JOURNEY
Short Story by Mariah Lowery

Breathe. It will be ok. This is what I tell myself in the isn’t so. My mom calls twice while we are driving to ask
car as my siblings and I drive to the hospital, fairly certain how far away we were, she is obviously uneasy. After 30
about what is happening but praying that is isn’t so. But minutes of driving through traffic, we finally arrive. And
before I get to that, let me back up to earlier that day… of course, my family being rule breakers, Johnny drives to
the Physician’s parking section of the garage. You don’t
October 20, 2014. It was a normal Monday, last have to pay for your parking there and that was where
Saturday was the homecoming dance and all was well. I mom and dad were parked; but of course, they are actually
arrived at school and went to the Lyceum for assembly physicians.
where we sung “Happy Birthday” to Mrs. Evans and then
continued the normal assembly rundown. The day was We speed walk through the winding hallways to
fairly good, I was engulfed in my classes and joked with the elevator up to the fourth floor room 412. We stop at
my friends at lunch; and then I had Latin. In Latin, we the door and see my mom with tears in her eyes, so I turn
were translating Virgil’s “Aeneid” when the call came. and take one glance at my grandfather. I knew that he was
going to die. He had been in the hospital for a week and
“Dr. Rosheger, can you please send Mariah to the one day.
office?”
We saw him the day before after church and he was
I immediately knew but prayed that I was wrong. doing so much better but then when we were about to
I gathered my things as quickly as I could and ran out of leave, he started having a hard time breathing. It got so
the class, down the boardwalk to the gym where I met bad that they brought in a machine that was basically
Caitlin. Seeing that Johnny still was not there, we both breathing for him and even then his oxygen level was only
grabbed our sports bags and I ran to Mr. Southwick’s up to 78%, which was really bad. My mom took us kids
room to tell him that I was leaving and would not be there out of the room and she went down the hall and called
for class. I ran back to the gym and saw Johnny pulling my uncle Mike in California and told him that they “need
up. As we were putting our things in the truck, Coach to fly down soon, probably not tomorrow but in the
Boerboom drove up and I quickly told him that I had to next two or three days because he may not make it much
go and would not be at practice. The three of us then got longer.” She never guessed that grandpa would die the
in the Car and drove away in silence. next day.

Breathe. It will be ok. This is what I tell myself But now back to Monday. I hugged my grandma and
in the car as my siblings and I drive to the hospital, my Uncle Kevin and walked over to my grandpa with
fairly certain about what is happening but praying that is

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tears silently falling from my eyes. I had one hand on grandma’s everyday after school and then to someplace
my grandpa and the other holding Caitlin’s hand. I kept for dinner. I still came to school the next day and did not
looking at my grandpa’s face, his eyes were barely open tell anyone what had happened because I did not want
and I could tell that he was doing everything he could to it to be real. While at school I wrote a poem for grandpa
keep them open. Grandma told me that we were waiting about that day.
for Aunt Eileen, Uncle Dave and Jessica, my cousin.
I walked in the room and saw you there
When they walked in my aunt started bawling and a I saw your face and I was scared
steady stream of tears was flowing from my eyes. We all I knew what would happen to you
gathered around my grandpa’s bed and my mom said a It broke my heart when I looked at you
prayer. We then all went to grandpa and whispered our I couldn’t help it as a tear rolled down
goodbyes. My dad called my Uncle Mike so that he could Sniffles and beeps were the only sound
say goodbye to his father, he and his family were boarding We gathered around you to say a prayer
the plane that would fly them there, but they never got to We held hands and I knew God was there
see grandpa alive again. Once all had arrived and said their goodbyes
Tears were freely falling from everyone’s eyes
When it was my turn to say goodbye, I did not know I told you I love you and gave you a kiss
what to say so I whispered in his ear, “I love you so much The sound of your voice I really will miss
grandpa, you are the best grandpa that I could have,” and The nurse came to start unplugging you
I kissed him. The nurse there began to cry as well and I sang a lullaby in my head to you
grandma gave her the ok to let grandpa go. The nurse Your breaths were slowing
gave grandpa morphine and started unplugging him from Your eyes were closing
the machines. I started to sing in my head to grandpa and The nurse was crying too
I watch as his chest rose and fell for the last time and he God’s hand was now upon you
died. I stood there at his side clinging to him for the next You closed your eyes
five minutes in silence as the rest of my family hugged And I said my final goodbye
each other and started to pack up. I finally turned away It was now Thursday and I heard that my Uncle
and into my Uncle Dave’s arms and he gave me a big Tom was coming. Nobody has seen him in 19 years, he
hug. My aunt was crying while hugging my dad and said, left our family and nobody knew where he was but my
“I hope he gets to heaven soon,” and my dad said,“he’s
already there looking down on us.”

After a bit of conversation in the hall, we headed
to my Grandma’s house. I do not remember much that
happened the next few days other than going to my

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dad’s cousin found him and he was coming! I had never After my dad was through, it was his turn to read the
seen him before and was sad that it was under such poem that I wrote for grandpa. I got through the first six
circumstances that he was coming back but I knew that words and started bawling, it took a little while to pull
grandpa would be happy that his son came back even if he myself together but I did and I read the poem.
never got to see him before he died. I know we are feeling sad,
That we’ve lost our Grandpa, our friend and our dad
Friday was going to be my grandpa’s funeral; however Together we have cried an ocean of tears
that was also the day that the cross-country team was As we feel so empty and hold so many fears
driving up for the state meet on Saturday. The bus was
going to wait for us but we decided we would drive up But Grandpa would want us to know he’s in a good place
ourselves and meet them there for dinner. And that he is watching us all with a smile on his face
As we have made him so proud, as proud as can be
We arrived at the church and my grandma, aunts and That he has raised such a beautiful and special family
mom were talking to my cousins and I (I am the youngest
of my cousins) about what we were to do. The service Thinking back now I really must say
began and the time came for my father to go up and speak, I feel lucky and privileged to have known Grandpa to this
I walked up there with him and he held my hand so tight, day
I was his rock. My dad was the one of his siblings who Although he has gone, we will always be together
was willing to come up; the others knew they would not And his spirit will live on in each one of us forever
be able to make it through. My father got up there and he
started crying; I had never seen my father cry before and And now I would like to thank the good Lord above
it broke my heart. When he started talking, he told stories For blessing us with our Grandpa with his kindness and
that each individual family member recalled. He told how love
grandpa was a great brother and how he, in his youth, We know when God called you, you had to go
would race his car. Dad talked about grandpa’s train that But we want you to know, Grandpa, we miss you and love
he would set up at Christmas and how the grandchildren you so.
would be mesmerized by it. The most touching of these
stories was the story of my grandpa and grandma; they I then sat down with my family. Near the end of the
were married for 56 years and they were the perfect image service, each of the six grandchildren received a rose to
of love. They spent everyday together, for 56 years they place next to grandpa’s picture. Then the service was over
traveled together and went everywhere together; they did and I said goodbye.
not spend one single day apart.

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�pencil�

Artwork by Maddie Jones

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Artwork by Claire Williams

�charcoal�

Artwork by Miranda Ward �colored pencil�
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SMALL It’s easy to misallocate
THINGS Our energy and time,
To dwell upon the details
Poem by Delaney Young Of some self determined crime.
To sweep the large and looming questions
Underneath the rug
And dissect every detail until
We’re upset enough.

We spend our days reciting
Excuses to ourselves

To help us shrink and blend in more
With everybody else,

“I know that God is living,
I believe the grace he gave
And sure, my maker died for me,
But I can’t live that way.

To say I put my hope in something
Other than myself,

To say my hope hung on a cross?
A scandal in itself.”

We love to talk the small things,
The trivial, the trite,

And try our best to barricade
the thoughts that come at night.

But making sure of small things �colored pencil�
Has wasted all our lives.

Our souls forgotting how to live,
Two lungs to keep us alive.

This faith we live is brave and bold,
The offer, free for all

So call this beauty blasphemy
But do not call it small.

Its our duty and our charge,
As humans we are called

To keep all the big things big
And all the small things small

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Artwork by Sara Beth Stolle61

Artwork by Nathan ZunigaPhotographed by Arianna Flores

�charcoal� Artwork by Mary Liz Winston

�watercolor�

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Photographed by Arianna FLores

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Artwork by Adison Cate,

�watercolor� 64

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Artwork by Mary Liz Winston

�watercolor�

Emma Ingram

Editor-in-Chief

Becky Ryden
Administrator

SELECTIONS:

All verbal and visual content is solicited and selected by the
Calliope Staff of the Geneva School of Boerne. A panel of
teachers across each discipline jury select the finalists. All
final work is approved by the adviser and headmaster.
Bylined writers are held accountable for their work.

MAGAZINE FACULTY JURORS:

Mrs. Cathy Lester, art
Mr. Aaron Southwick, poetry
Mr. Paul Johnson, song lyrics
Mr. Chad Swanson, photography
Mr. Rob Shelton, essays and overall

SCHOOL INFORMATION

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.
genevaschoolboerne.org
Phone Number: 830-755-6101

Fax: 830-755-6102
Rhetoric student population: 200
Rhetoric faculty population: 22

JOURNALISM AFFILIATIONS:

The Geneva Quarterly and The Calliope
are members of the Columbia Scholastic

Press Association and the Texas
University Interscholastic League.

*Please note that all names in navy are
current students and all names in light

blue are either teachers or alumni.

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