New England
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July 26, 2022
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Students hand in hand in a long row try to pass a hula hoop along without breaking the chain

Having begun to work together in the classroom, the students of the New England High School Summer Program spent Monday afternoon working together at a different venue — the athletic fields — in the Section Games.

A “section” at Thomas Aquinas College is a group of about 17 students who, for the duration of the academic year, take all their daytime classes together. The idea behind organizing classes this way stems from the College’s use of the Discussion Method. Because the method depends on open discourse — which, in turn, relies on trust — it is important for students to come to know each other well. By taking nearly all of their classes together, the members of each section achieve a sense of intimacy and come to rely on one another in their shared pursuit of the truth.

For the Section Games, students from each of the Summer Program’s five sections faced off Monday afternoon in a variety of games to help them grow in trust and friendship. The groups started off with a few icebreaker games, including relay racing down “ladders” constructed of their peers and moving a hula hoop along a line of people — without letting go of each other’s hands! They also practiced trust by splitting each section into two and tossing an egg back and forth. This game brought plenty of laughter to the athletic field as the students discovered that some eggs were far bouncier than others!

Section Games
  • Students sit and stand around the field, chatting
  • A student runs, carefully stepping over his fellow students who are lying in a row
  • Another student doing the same with his team
  • Another student does the same with her team
  • Another student doing the run
  • Another student leaps over her teammates
  • Another student does the same with her team
  • Students line up to high-five one another post-game
  • Holding hands in a line, students try to pass a hula hoop down the line
  • Another team passes the hula hoop
  • In the foreground, a student runs by the camera cheering; other students in the background also applaud
  • Students high-ten one another
  • Students "race" across the field, each holding an egg in a spoon in their mouth
  • A student focuses on the egg balanced on the spoon
  • One team cheers, eggs and spoons in hand
  • Another team discusses their strategy
  • A student gently tosses an egg to her teammate
  • A student about to catch the flying egg in one hand!
  • Water balloon fight! Students grab ammo from a tub of balloons
  • Students and prefects mid-throw
  • Close-quarters water-balloon warfare at the bin. Water is flying everywhere!

Next, all the students gathered into a circle, expecting another team-building activity, when, suddenly, their prefects ambushed them with a bucket of water balloons! The prefect vs. student water balloon fight quickly became a free-for-all, until the last balloon was burst, the buckets overturned, and the sections reunited in one big, wet group.

For the afternoon’s final event, the prefects opened a giant slip-and-slide. Chaos ensued as students were drenched in a messy mélange of suds and sod, but it was all so much fun that nobody really cared. Even the prefects got in on the action, dousing each other with dish soap and sliding down together. “The first half of the games was pretty fun,” reflected programmer Mara C. “My favorite part was the slip-and-slide, though, when everyone was able to do something fun and silly all together.”

Slip 'n' Slide
  • A smiling student speeds down the slide
  • Two dive onto the slide while a prefect sprays water onto it in the background
  • A student speeds down the slide
  • Soapy water splashes up as another student prepares to dive onto the slide
  • A student jumps onto the slide
  • A student speeds down the slide
  • Another student going down the slide
  • Another student goes down the slide
  • Three go down the slide
  • Two splashing on the slide
  • Six pose together, covered in suds
  • A student goes down the slide sitting
  • Three pose for a picture, covered in suds

Once everyone showered and changed into fresh clothes, the group went to dinner, which consisted of orecchiette pasta with sausage and spinach. The meal was lively, with students attempting to figure out which section really won the games and bragging about their best races. Then, it was time for the first study hall, which opened with a few announcements and a roll-call race. After Admissions Director Jon Daly overwhelmingly defeated prefect Luke Cecchi (’24) with his speedy attendance-taking, the students found desks and couches where they could study their readings for the next day.

Study Hall
  • John Jost addresses the students in the library
  • Jon Daly takes roll call with a flower pen
  • Another shot of Jon Daly taking roll
  • Another prefect takes roll
  • A prefect poses for the camera holding a book over the library's interior balcony
  • A student studies in front of a miniature Pieta
  • Four study in a ring of couches and armchairs
  • Students and prefects study in one corner of the library
  • Two lay out their books at a table
  • Students at individual desks study in the lower floor of the library
  • Students study in one corner of the library
  • A student studies at an individual desk
  • A student studies in a quiet corner amid the bookshelves
  • A student studies at an individual desk
  • Two study in armchairs across from one another
  • Over-the-shoulder shot: two studying in armchairs across from each other

Afterward, the group went to Our Mother of Perpetual Help Chapel to pray the Rosary, led by Head Chaplain Rev. Greg Markey and the prefects. Then it walked down the hill to the Bl. Frassati Student Center, where peach and strawberry Italian sodas were on offer. The students were happy to take some time to relax and visit with friends. The foosball, ping-pong, and pool tables were all teeming with students engaged in friendly competition.

Coffee Shop
  • Four play doubles foosball
  • Three play darts
  • Four pose with drinks
  • Four play doubles foosball
  • Playing pool: a student attempts the classic "behind-the-back" shot
  • Ping-pong: the ball hurtling through the air after a speedy forehand
  • Three chat at a table over drinks
  • Two chat by the water cooler

To finish off the night, Fr. Markey and fellow chaplain Rev. Carlos Viego visited the residence halls to lead the students in saying the Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The snack of the night was salami sandwiches, which were quickly devoured before everyone headed to bed to rest up for day two of classes — Sophocles’ Antigone and the Pre-Socratics. Visit the Summer Blog this afternoon to see how they went!