Game of Sections

California

July 16, 2024

The students of the California High School Summer Program spent the early part of Monday discussing some great works of Greek literature and philosophy, their sections working together in the classroom to contemplate big questions about fate, justice, and piety. In the afternoon, they found out how well their sections worked together outside the classroom!

The students met on the field on lower campus for the TAC Section Games, where they competed for the honor of their sections and bragging rights for the victors. All eight sections — groups of 16 students who will be attending all their classes together for the next two weeks — faced off in a series of challenges: a hula-hoop pass, a wet-clothes relay, an egg-spoon relay, and an egg toss. The high schoolers cheered on their classmates as they raced against the other sections.

Photos: The Section Games

The games ended with a water-balloon fight, and then everyone, already wet, took a swim in the campus ponds, where they splashed each other, played chicken fight, and used the rope swing to jump into the water. “It was so fun!” Catherine S. said of the afternoon.

Photos: Visit to the Ponds

The group then returned to the residence halls to shower and dry off before dinner. Students crowded into St. Joseph’s Commons, having worked up an appetite from their afternoon activities, and filled up on chili cheese dogs, broccoli, and French fries. After dinner, the students went to St. Bernardine of Sienna Library for Study Hall, where they read Antigone, the sequel to Oedipus Rex, and selections from the pre-Socratic philosophers in preparation for Tuesday’s classes. “I’m excited to talk about Antigone,” said student Mikayla W. “I’ve read it before, but when I read Oedipus Rex and then we discussed it here, I found there was so much there I hadn’t noticed before!”

The students left Study Hall to pray the nightly Rosary in Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel, then made their way to St. Patrick’s Coffee Shop for Roy Rogers and Shirley Temple mocktails. The Coffee Shop filled with laughter and excited conversations as the high schoolers sipped their sodas and gathered in groups to play energetic games of pool, foosball, ping pong, and cards. Some headed outdoors to play volleyball on the sand court, while others watched the game. Programmer Will K. played his guitar, and the group sang under the night sky.

Photos: Coffee Shop & Volleyball

Before too long, the evening ended, and it was time to go back to the residence halls. There, the students closed the day by saying night prayers, then enjoying a late-night snack of Buffalo chicken wings. They stayed up chatting in their common rooms until it was time for bed.

Come back to the Summer Blog this afternoon for updates about today’s classes on Antigone and the pre-Socratics!