A Little Bit of Everything

California

June 26, 2024

After spending the earlier part of their day with Euclid and Euthyphro, the students of the High School Summer Program took off Tuesday afternoon to explore the TAC campus and its many opportunities for fun. Some spent their time in the sunshine playing spike ball and volleyball, or swimming in the outdoor pool. In the Pope St. John Paul II Athletic Center, others worked out in the men and women’s exercise rooms or shot hoops on the basketball court. The Athletic Center’s climbing wall was also open for the afternoon, and prefects shared their love for climbing, teaching students how to work together to scale the wall safely. Those looking for a creative outlet found drawing and paint supplies in the art room and impressed each other with their artistic talent.

Photos: Recreation

Reinvigorated by their recreation time, the students next filled up on a chicken and pasta dinner in St. Joseph Commons. At the ensuing Study Hall in St. Bernardine of Siena Library, they worked through their reading for the next day’s class and studied their Euclid propositions.

Photos: Study Hall

Next, the group headed over to Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel to pray the nightly Rosary. Summer Program Chaplain Rev. John Paul Erickson (’02), offered an opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation as the students prayed.

Admissions counselors Joseph Guinee (’21) and Anna Van Wijk (’24) then gathered the students together to introduce them to a TAC favorite — swing dancing! The dance lesson took place on the St. Gladys Hall patio, where students paired up and practiced the basics of rock-step swing dancing and learned some spins and dips. The high schoolers will get to show off their new skills on the dance floor later this week at an informal dance on Saturday night.

Photos: Dance Class

But the night’s festivities didn’t end with the dancing. The students returned to their residence halls to compete in dorm games! The games featured dodgeball, piñatas, and, in the men’s residence hall, a tug-of-war. The high schoolers also chatted by bonfires in their courtyards and in their common rooms until it was time for lights out. “It was so, so fun,” said Isabel H.

Photos: Women's Dorm Party

Students will tackle fresh challenges in today’s classes, where they will discuss the philosophies of the Pre-Socratic philosophers and, of course, more Euclidean geometry. Be sure to check out the Summer Program Blog later today for updates on another day of discussions and camaraderie!