First Night

The 2022 New England High School Summer program is under way! Once everyone arrived on campus and settled in on Sunday, students and their families made their way back to Bl. Frassati Student Center for a delicious outdoor-barbeque dinner, including tri-tip steak and grilled chicken, with corn on the cob, watermelon, and orzo salad on the side. Despite the 96-degree heat, students, tutors, and prefects mingled at tables, sparking friendly conversations. “The thing I’m most excited for is the classes,” said student Lucy B. “I can’t wait to see what my section is like in action.”

After dinner, one of the campus chaplains, Rev. Carlos Viego, offered a travelers’ Mass in Our Mother of Perpetual Help Chapel. Meanwhile, students played pickup basketball in the Pope St. John Paul II Athletic Center, while others stayed in the cool interior of Frassati, playing pool and chatting. Finally, families said their goodbyes and departed.

Students then flocked to Dolben Auditorium for orientation, where Associate Director of Admissions John Jost (‘17) briefed the group about the goals and benefits of the program. “Not everyone gets to read the Great Books,” he said. “You are all so lucky that you get to experience these books among friends.”

When the students left the auditorium after orientation, they were greeted with a surprise thunderstorm. (Welcome to New England!) Everyone ran back to their residence halls, laughing and whooping in the heavy rain, which was a wonderful break from the intense heat. Upon arrival, they were greeted with seltzer and salty snacks, while the head prefects gave further orientation. The men even did a round of push-ups, joined by the prefects and Fr. Viego!

After a bit more socializing, the students headed to their rooms to prepare for Monday’s classes, where they will discuss Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex and Plato’s Euthyphro. Come back to the Summer Blog this afternoon for a report on the first day’s discussions!