California
|
July 13, 2022
Share:
Two students pose for a photo at the rock-climbing wall

After Tuesday’s rousing day of classes — seeking to understand the themes and characters of Antigone as well as parsing through the monumental writings of the Pre-Socratic philosophers — it was time for the High School Summer Program students to take a break.

All across campus, programmers made the most of their afternoon as they explored the campus’ offerings, particularly the newly opened Pope St. John Paul II Athletic Center. Students vied to beat their opponents in adrenaline-fueled games of basketball, volleyball, soccer, and tennis, while teams worked together to reach the highest heights on the rock walls, or pushed themselves in the weight rooms. To wrap up their sessions of hard play, many cooled off in the newly opened Athletic Center pool.

Recreation Period
  • Five students play water polo
  • Spikeball on the athletic field
  • Basketball on the indoor court
  • Student shoots a layup
  • The basketball game in full swing
  • Basketball on the indoor court
  • Soccer on the athletic field
  • Two students relax and chat in the pool
  • Mid-air: a student performs a complex dive
  • Basketball on the indoor court
  • Three students balance at the edge of the pool, arms in air
  • Three students on the treadmills
  • Mid-action: in the basketball game, a student takes a shot
  • Outdoor volleyball: a student serves the ball
  • Three students playing soccer
  • Close-up: tense players at the volleyball net watch to see which side the ball will come down on
  • A student send the volleyball over the net
  • Two water poloists applaud an outstanding move
  • Volleyball: post-game high-fives

Next it was time for an all-American dinner of hot dogs and fries in St. Joseph Commons, followed by study hall in St. Bernadine of Siena Library. With a careful eye, students read the Book of Genesis, in anticipation of today’s classes. Many then rounded off their study session in the Chapel to pray the Rosary.

That evening the prefects opened the coffee shop once more, serving up Italian sodas. While some played intense games of cards, pool, and ping-pong — facing off against the program chaplain, Fr. Sebastian — others took the evening as a time simply to visit and converse. Throughout the coffee shop, rec-room, and on the outdoor patio, groups of students engaged in animated discussion, finding common interests and discussing life beyond high school. The spaces hummed with warm conversation as budding friendships continued to take root.

Coffee Shop
  • Prefects pose around a table of newly-made drinks in the coffee shop
  • A student selects one of the drinks
  • Student smiles for the camera as another examines the drink choices
  • Two students pose behind a water bottle
  • Two students: one looks at the camera, the other, drink in hand, at the first
  • A small group of students gather around a table
  • Three students in the foreground study while two in the background discuss
  • A group of students chats at one side of a table
  • Two students pose for the camera with four drinks in hand
  • Three students at a table
  • Two play pool while a third watches
  • A group of students around a table play a Qwirkle-like card game

After curfew the residence halls hosted exciting dorm parties! Both the men and women enjoyed chicken quesadillas paired with chips and salsa, then broke open pinatas. Expecting candy, students were shocked to find only carrots and celery inside! Fortunately, prefects quickly brought out replacement pinatas, filled with much sweeter offerings. To conclude the night, the men then battled in intense games of dorm dodgeball, while the women cut loose with a dance party.

Women’s Dorm Party
  • Amid a crowd of girls in the women's dorm, two students smile at the camera
  • Indoor dodgeball in the women's dorm
  • Two pose for a photo in the dorm kitchen
  • Seven girls chat around an outdoor fire
  • Rock-paper-scissors faceoff!
  • Dorm dodgeball: despite severe attrition, the left team plays with enthusiasm
  • Students line up on one side of the dorm room, and one sticks her tongue out at the camera
  • On the other side, students ready for a running start
  • Four spectate from above, leaning over a Christmas light-studded railing
  • Afront the fireplace, four proclaim their victory
  • In the dorm courtyard, students prepare to play Limbo
  • Spectators observe from the balconies above
  • Two spectate from the balcony
  • Enthusiastic cheers as an enormous shark piñata is brought forth!
  • A blindfolded student takes a swing at the piñata
  • View from above: another student swings at the piñata
  • Students watch the piñata in suspense

Then it was time for bed. Genesis awaits!