New England
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August 2, 2022
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Two practicing props at the board

After invigorating, if heady, classes on Euclid’s definitions and The Consolation of Philosophy, the students on the New England Summer Program were ready to spend some time on the athletic field. Monday afternoon saw the annual students v. prefects soccer game.

The prefects started out strong, with Jean Carlos Guerreiro (’22) making the first goal as the crowd on the sidelines went wild. Their energy never faltered, and though the programmers played their hardest, the prefects won the day with a final score of 4-0. Then, they celebrated by running into the gym and jumping in the pool.

Soccer
  • Fr. Markey leads the students in prayer pre-game
  • A student blocks the ball with his body
  • A student does a header
  • Students playing soccer
  • Students playing soccer
  • Students playing soccer by one of the nets
  • Two compete for the ball
  • Students playing soccer
  • Students playing soccer
  • A student kicks the ball
  • Students playing soccer
  • Seated students spectate
  • Seated students spectate
  • Behind the seated students, another prepares to prank one by pouring Gatorade on him
  • Two seated smile for the camera
  • Two seated smile for the camera

As the students return to reading Boethius, they may have a new appreciation for the consolation that Lady Philosophy proposes: Fortune, like soccer scores, is unpredictable.

Next came a dinner of pork loin and potatoes, followed by an unusual variation of the evening study hall habit. After discussing the definitions and common notions of Euclid’s Elements, tutors assigned the first three “propositions” of Book 1 for students to demonstrate in Tuesday’s classes. In Euclid, a “proposition” is the thesis statement for a mathematical argument, which he unfolds in the text. “Demonstrating” a proposition means a student, randomly selected by the tutor, will go to the white board and unfold Euclid’s argument without the text, recreating a diagram to illustrate the argument. There are few better ways of internalizing concepts, but few more daunting for those facing the task for the first time!

Study Hall
  • A student gives "thumbs-up" while another practices a prop at the board behind her
  • Two study Euclid at the table
  • Three study Euclid at one corner of a table
  • Two practicing at the board
  • A student practicing at the board
  • Two practice proofs on the board
  • One practices props at the board while another laughs
  • A student practices prop 2
  • A prefect explains a prop to a student at the board
  • A prefect goes over propositions with a student
  • A student practices prop 2 at the board
  • A student does a practice demonstration
  • Two practice prop 2
  • A student practices at the board
  • A student does a practice demonstration
  • A student practices at the board

Prefects joined each section in a classroom, not only providing example demonstrations, but also giving tips for studying the propositions over the course of the week. Although some arrived at the evening’s study period with misgivings about what the next morning might bring, the students left the classrooms ready and eager to bring Euclid’s Elements to life in their Tuesday classes!

With study hall behind them, students and prefects gathered in Our Mother of Perpetual Help Chapel to pray the Rosary, after which they convened in Bl. Frassati Student Center to take it easy with Shirley Temples and Roy Rogers, courtesy of the prefects. Conversations touched on Boethius, on Tuesday’s impending Euclid demonstrations, as well as on lighter matters, unfolding over snacks and the ambiance of foosball, ping pong, and — rather spontaneously — dance practice!

Coffee Shop
  • Three chat over drinks
  • Three pose for the camera making faces
  • Students play foosball
  • Students play pool
  • Students eat pizza around a table
  • Students chat by the pizza
  • Eight students pose for a picture
  • Two pose for a photo with pizza and Cheez-Its
  • Two students play ping-pong
  • Two practice dancing on the upper floor
  • Two practice dancing on the upper floor
  • Two practice dancing
  • Overhead view of students eating pizza
  • Two practice dancing on the upper floor
  • Two practice dancing
  • Two practice dancing
  • Three pose for the camera with drinks and pizza
  • Doubles foosball
  • Fr. Viego plays pool with the students

By 10:30, worn out from their daylong exertions in the classroom and on the athletic field, students returned to their residence halls, where some gave Euclid or Boethius another glance before going to bed. Check the Summer Blog later today for photos and updates from Tuesday’s classes!