A Great Mix of Everything

California

July 15, 2025

Throughout the last week, we have witnessed various athletic tournaments, on the California High School Summer Program — the Section Games, basketball, and volleyball — and on Monday, we saw the last one on the schedule: the Soccer Championship.

During the afternoon’s recreation period, dedicated student athletes practiced for the game on the athletic field, while others hit the gym for a relaxing workout. At the same time, a large group of young women hopped into cars for an afternoon of thrift shopping in Santa Paula. Singing along to music and chatting on the way, they were delighted to find some great deals at the local stores, while feasting on fries or ice cream for a snack. “The Summer Program is a great mix of everything,” said Miranda V. “You get to see the city, the classes, the school spirit with the games. It’s work hard, play hard. It’s been super fun!”

Photos: Thrift Shopping and Study Hall

Energized by a dinner of carne asada burritos, chips, and fiesta corn, the students commenced reading Boethius’s Consolation of Philosophy, which they will study over the course of three days. The programmers also prepared the last of their Euclidean propositions with their classmates, relying on yesterday’s propositions for a full understanding of the theorems. After the Rosary in the Chapel, it was time for the much-anticipated soccer match.

Photos: Soccer Championship

Fans gathered by the field for a stirring competition between prefects and students, cheering on their teams the whole way. Men’s Head Prefect Anthony Santine (CA’25) “sportscasted” the game, though he spent more time entertaining the crowd with jokes than reporting on plays. “Many people have asked Fr. Sebastian what his greatest fear is,” said Anthony, “Well, being someone who spends a lot of time in a white habit … it’s spaghetti sauce.” At the end of play, the prefects won the game, but, as James E. put it, the students “still played really hard, and played really well.”

Back in the residence halls, the men chowed down on hotdogs, and the women enjoyed some fresh fruit. They sang and strummed guitars around the courtyard bonfires, made s’mores, and got ready for bed.

Today will see the programmers’ final class on Euclid and a turning to the questions of man’s nature and his purpose in life. Stop by the Summer Program Blog later today for a full coverage of the morning’s academics!