51����

Having spent their first full day of the High School Summer Program getting to know each other and participating in classes, California students burst from their last class on Monday and immediately raced to the residence halls to change. It was time for section games! 

After the group assembled at the flagpole outside St. Joseph Commons and divided into class sections, prefect pairs pumped everyone up for the competition. Energy high, the programmers raced down to lower campus where the real challenge awaited: a half-dozen teamwork-oriented games designed to put collaboration and communication to the test. The first game required the programmers to toss a volleyball to one another, calling out the person's first and last name, testing how well they had come to know each other in the past two days. The next games included moving through a hula hoop with linked arms, running across the field while balancing an egg on a spoon, and spinning around on a baseball bat. 

The final game was a water-balloon toss. As the game concluded, the prefects stole away to coolers, all placed strategically around the field. While students were distracted by their celebrations, the prefects attacked them with a surprise water-balloon ambush! Chaos ensued, and a full-blown battle began, ending with a race to the ponds, where many programmers and prefects jumped in — clothes and all! 

Wet and happy, students took it easy until dinner, some returning to their residence halls to change, others playing various sports outside, until they all piled into St. Joseph Commons for mealtime. There, they feasted on grilled chicken, fruit and veggies, and cheesy potatoes. Dinner also marked the first birthday celebrated on the program, and prefects brought a cake and candles to Claire A., who turned 17! 

Following dinner, the students filed into the library for the first study hall of the program, where they prepared for the next day’s classes on Antigone and the Pre-Socratics. Once study hall ended, all prayed the Rosary in the Chapel, complete with a blessing from Fr. Sebastian, then made their way to the recreation room and St. Patrick’s Coffee Shop. Programmers enjoyed a variety of beverage options, including Shirley Temples and dirty sodas. 

“I love it here,” remarked Josie B. “They give us so many snacks!” The coffee shop was full of happy hubbub as students played guitar and sang together, cheered on the USA in the World Cup, competed in intense games of Bananagrams, or challenged each other in pool and ping pong.

Curfew came too soon, and guys and gals said goodnight to each other and made their way to their respective residence halls. Once there, the prefects brought out an unexpected late-night snack of buffalo wings after evening prayers! Many students stayed up in the common rooms, munching and chatting about the day’s adventures. Then, it was time to get some much-needed rest in order to tackle Tuesday’s full calendar of riveting readings and exciting activities. 

Be sure to check back with the Summer Blog this afternoon for a report on today’s classroom exploits!

More photos from the High School Summer Program

Tap on the right center edge of the image to scroll through the album.