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Following the first day of classes on Monday, students on the One-Week California Great Books Program rushed down to the fairway to compete in section games!

As part of this beloved Summer Program tradition, the four classroom sections competed against one another in a half dozen games designed to put their teamwork, camaraderie, and communication to the test. Each section paired with a few members of the prefect team, who got the students pumped for the competition as music blasted on the loudspeaker. For the first game, sectionmates tossed a volleyball around a circle, calling out their fellow teammates’ first and last names until everyone was able to name each classmate. The next few games included passing a hula hoop down a line of people with linked arms, a relay race in which competitors ran across the field while balancing an egg on a spoon and spun around a baseball bat, and finally, the grand conclusion: a water-balloon toss.

Unbeknownst to the programmers, the prefects planned a surprise ambush at the conclusion of the game, and once the final round was over, chaos quickly ensued as a giant water-balloon fight began! No one was safe as water balloons, and even a few eggs from the earlier challenges, launched around the field. To end the games, programmers and prefects raced to the ponds and jumped in, swinging on the rope swing, breathless from their victories at section games. 

Then, it was off to dinner: cheesy beef lasagna, Caesar salad, and warm bread. The Commons was lively as students munched and chatted, feeling comfortable with their new friends after a day of classes and athletics.

Next was study hall, so programmers headed to St. Bernardine of Siena Library, where they prepared their readings for the next day, including the first of Euclid’s propositions and Plato’s Euthyphro. After a few hours of reading and presenting Euclidean propositions for peers, all gathered in Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel to pray the Rosary as a group. The Chapel was quiet and reverent as all took a pause in the day’s activities to sit and visit with the Lord. 

It was then off to coffee shop for smoothies and recreation! The rec room was loud with the sounds of conversations over games of Bananagrams, Ping-Pong, and pool. Students slurped on mango and berry smoothies prepared by the prefect team and continued to get to know one another, kicking soccer balls and tossing frisbees around the field before it was time to head off to the residence halls for curfew. 

Back in the dorms, a late-night snack of buffalo wings awaited the programmers, and all feasted one last time before heading off to bed to get some rest for the next day’s activities. Come back to the Summer Program Blog this afternoon to hear all about Tuesday’s academics!

More photos from the High School Summer Program

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