Getting Into a Groove

California

July 9, 2025

Still discussing the day’s classes on Antigone and the Pre-Socratics, the California Summer Programmers enthusiastically welcomed a Tuesday afternoon of sports, dancing, and camaraderie.

They began the recreation period by hurrying over to the athletic field to play rounds of Spikeball and volleyball under the California sunshine. Prefects trained some students to use the rock-climbing wall in the Pope St. John Paul II Athletic Center and swam laps in the pool with others. Program Chaplain Fr. Sebastian even stopped by the basketball court to shoot hoops with the students! At the same time, auditions were held in St. Cecilia Hall for a staged reading of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, which will take place on Friday. Before long, recreation finished, and students made their way to St. Joseph Commons for dinner.

Photos: Recreation

Well-nourished and ready to study, the programmers read the definitions, postulates, and common notions of Euclid’s Elements at the nightly study hall in St. Bernardine of Siena Library, as well as chapters 1-11 of Genesis to prepare for Wednesday’s classes. After a Rosary and blessing by Fr. Sebastian, students participated in an East Coast swing dance lesson, taught by prefects Rose Anderson and Max Alvarez (both CA’26). The dance lesson introduced some basic swing steps as well as a few turns and maneuvers to the programmers.

Photos: Evening Fun

Following the dance lesson, the students headed back to the residence halls, where dorm life saw its peak with upbeat music, games of dodgeball, tug-of-war and wrestling for the men and a limbo competition for the women (Alyssa H. was the victor!). Finally, before bed, there was time for a snack of taquitos and the nightly consecration.

The Summer Program students are getting into a groove. “I don’t want to leave!” exclaimed Juana F. Be sure to check back this afternoon for a blog update about Wednesday’s classes on Euclid’s Elements and Genesis!