New England
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July 16, 2024
When their first day of Euclid and Boethius came to an end, students at the New England High School Summer Program rushed down the hill to Bl. Frassati Student Center. What had them so excited? Dance practice!
Social dancing is a beloved part of the culture at Thomas Aquinas College, so to give the attendees the authentic TAC experience, swing dancing is built into the Summer Program schedule. Prefect Stephen Brown (’25) again took the mic as dance instructor, building off the four-step swing students learned on Friday. Today, the students learned to waltz and foxtrot, completing their basic dance repertoire. There was lots of good-natured laughter as the programmers perfected their footwork and form. “Swing dancing is the best!” said Grace B. “It’s such a fun way to get to know people.”
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To make sure everyone got to practice, Paloma Gallivan (’27), Andie Margand (’26), and Dani Van Wyk (’26) dressed up as comedic caricatures of TAC men, wearing oversize shirts, neckties, and faux facial hair. “We dance the guys’ part so the girls can practice even when there’s an uneven number,” said Dani. “Plus, it makes everyone laugh when they see us with fake mustaches!” After the lesson was over, the floor opened for students to continue dancing, working on steps they had already learned or teaching each other new ones. Many stayed all afternoon, while some headed to the gym for open recreation time.
When dinner rolled around, programmers filled their plates with fettuccini, chicken, and a choice of pesto or alfredo sauce. Attendees enjoyed their noodles with a side of sauteed garlic spinach and salad.
Then it was time for study hall, which was a bit different from yesterday. After an hour of reading Boethius in the library, prefects led the students to St. Gianna Molla Hall to study their first Euclidean propositions! “We go to the classroom building so that students can use the whiteboards and practice presenting to their section,” said Director of Admissions John Jost. “It helps with nerves, and it’s a great way to learn the props.”
Slideshow: Studying Props
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Once attendees had diligently practiced their props, they headed to Our Mother of Perpetual Help Chapel to pray the Rosary. A cool breeze wafted through the Chapel’s open windows as students and prefects prayed.
When students finished and arrived at the Student Center Coffee Shop, they were delighted to find icy cold milkshakes waiting for them! Prefects queued up dance music for programmers who wanted to dance, and as always, many students played pool, ping-pong or foosball, while some chose board games or simple conversation.
Tired out after an evening of studying and swing dancing, attendees were glad to head to their residence halls for a restful night. Come back to the Summer Program Blog later today to find out how the students’ first props went!
