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Even after yesterday’s beach and Santa Barbara trip, many students on the California High School Great Books Program arose at dawn to make the six-mile round-trip hike to the Punch Bowls. The Punch Bowl Hike is a staple for TAC students, featuring a waterfall and deep pools at the end. Despite the early call time, much laughter and chatter abounded as students hiked along the foothills of the mountain, many concluding their trek with a dip in the water. 

Students attended either the 7:15 a.m. early Mass or the 9:00 a.m. Mass, the latter of which featured a beautiful choir of programmers and prefects. Brunch followed thereafter, consisting of cheesy egg and sausage sandwiches, pancakes, tater tots, and chocolate-chip banana bread. 

Then it was back to study hall, for Euclid returns today! Once students finished their prop study, a period of relaxation followed. Some rested from the big weekend, others bouldered on the rock wall, and many made phone calls home, catching up their families and friends on the first week of the program. 

In the afternoon, students congregated in the gym for the prefects-versus-students basketball games. The women were first up, with a high-energy game that ended with a victory for the prefect team. The boys’ game was intense, with Isiah K. scoring many three-pointers for the students. However, the prefects didn’t let up, and after an intense match, claimed victory once again. 

Still recapping the game’s highlights, programmers headed to a bbq picnic, cooked up by prefect Luke Connelly (’27) outside St. Joseph Commons. Students reclined on blankets and feasted on brisket, macaroni, and watermelon with chocolate-chip cookies for dessert. 

A candlelight Rosary walk followed dinner, and then the group piled into St. Cecilia Hall for the evening’s main event: Open Mic Night! The event featured 17 acts, including a stirring rendition of “See You Later” by Jenna Raine (sung by Mariana R.), a band of prefects who performed “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac, and a beautiful version of “The Parting Glass” to end the night. 

Fellow students met the performers with a shower of praise, then all enjoyed popcorn and Oreos before settling down once more to watch Cinderella Man, a movie about a Catholic boxer who defies all odds to support his family during the Great Depression.  

Once the movie ended, the evening began to wind down. Students walked back to their residence halls, many going straight to bed, while some stayed up to get some last-minute prop studying in before lights-out. 

Come back to the Summer Program Blog this afternoon for a full recap of all of today’s academic accomplishments! 

More photos from the High School Summer Program

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