New England
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July 17, 2023
Although the weather held up for Saturday’s volleyball tournament and excursions, it did not, alas, for Sunday’s planned kayaking trip along the Connecticut River. So that outing has been postponed, and the New England High School Summer Program team members had to find other ways to make this day of rest fun and fulfilling while keeping the programmers dry — and did they ever!
The day began with two Masses, in the Ordinary and Extraordinary Forms, in Our Mother of Perpetual Help Chapel. Everyone then gathered in Gould Commons for a brunch of cheesy eggs, bacon and sausage, and hash-browns. Students were free to spend their down time in whatever way they liked — whether sleeping, studying, or visiting with friends — but many found their way to the Pope St. John Paul II Athletic Center for a student vs. prefect basketball game!
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The two teams began with a prayer from Program Chaplain Fr. Miguel, and then the game was off to a start! The prefects took the lead, but the students weren’t far behind. The court was full of many talented basketball players, and everyone brought their best game. In the end, the prefects emerged victorious. “They really held their own,” said prefect Matthew Bohrer of the students. “They had a great team!”
Meanwhile, many of the girls took the opportunity to hit the town and go shopping! The prefects took them to T.J.Maxx, where they all found fun t-shirts, snazzy shoes, and most importantly, dresses for the end of the week’s banquet and dance! Some groups also stopped at makeup stores and Walmart for other goodies, including a giant orange rubber ball. Why? For fun, of course!
Otherwise, the afternoon was open to resting and socializing. Some students went on a rainy-day walk, napped, or gathered in the Commons and Bl. Frassati Student Center to read, talk, doodle, and crochet. At five o’ clock, all gathered for a burger dinner, chatting about their day.
After the dinner hour, the group headed back down to the Student Center for another dance lesson with Dan Selmeczy. Now familiar with swing dancing’s footwork and simple spins, the gentlemen confidently asked the ladies to dance, as Dan went over some new steps. At the end, the floor was once again open, and students had a grand time!
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At the end of the session, students found their way to the Dolben Library for study hall, when a burst of sound came from behind the coffee shop curtains. All of a sudden, a group of prefects came forward with party hats and a birthday cake, cheering for programmer Tim D. Everyone sang happy birthday and enjoyed some cake before hitting the books.
With just one class today, study hall lasted only an hour. Students read through the definitions, common notions, and postulates of Euclid’s Elements, getting familiar with the geometric terminology before heading up to the Chapel for their evening Rosary.
By this time, the rain subsided, and when students left the library, they discovered that the prefects had set up chairs and tiki torches for a community bonfire! They sang songs and roasted marshmallows, grateful for a peaceful day and the company of new friends. Eventually, it was curfew, and the students bid each other goodnight.
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The weekend is over, but the Summer Program most certainly is not. Be sure to come back to the Summer Program Blog later today to read about Monday’s class: our students’ first encounter with Euclid!
