Class of 2026’s First Day of Class and Orientation

Thursday marked the first full day on campus for the newly arrived freshmen. The day began with a hearty breakfast in St. Joseph Commons, after which the students took to St. Cecilia Hall for their formal orientation. Members of the College’s faculty discussed the essentials of life and study at TAC, and explained how the freshmen could make the most of the budding school year. To finish the morning, the Chapel filled with congregants for morning Mass.

The early afternoon was filled with the practicalities of registration, but at 3:00 p.m. the students gathered for their first seminar — and class — of the year. Sections discussed C.S. Lewis’ essay “Learning in Wartime”, which addresses the notion of education for its own sake, regardless of whatever conflict lies beyond campus. After their discussions, students unwound for a bit: socializing, calling home, and preparing upcoming assignments.

The highlight of the evening was the Freshmen Soirée on the patio of St. Gladys Hall. As the students arrived they discovered delicious chocolate strawberries, crackers and fine cheese, and other delightful refreshments prepared by the prefects. Beneath hanging lights, students laughed while they mingled and played icebreaker games. Soon the evening’s activities transitioned into another icebreaker game, but not for the freshmen — for the prefects.

Lined up in front of the fountain, prefects had funny — and often embarrassing — anecdotes from their lives narrated by the night’s emcees. The twist? Three possible prefects were presented alongside each anecdote, and students cheered to vote for which prefect they thought the anecdote was about. The result was an hour of rip-roaring laughter, as the prefects revealed all manner of funny stories, ranging from hiking expeditions gone wrong to the terrors of vacuum cleaners. Finally students headed off to their dorms to end the day with consecration prayers.

Orientation activities will continue through Friday, culminating with Convocation on Monday — the official start of the school year.