Section Games and More!

With their first day of classes complete, California Summer Program students next turned their attention to the Section Games! 

Led by the prefects, the students competed in a sequence of competitions between “sections” — the groups of 15 students with whom they take their classes. They participated in a variety of relay races, an icebreaker, an egg race, and a hula-hoop game. The contest culminated in a water-balloon toss, which inevitably broke out into an all-out water war! Once every balloon had met its end, prefects and programmers headed down to the campus ponds where all swam and continued to play games, now as comrades instead of competitors. Afterward, they congregated in St. Joseph Commons for a much-needed dinner. 

Next, it was time to return to the books! Students made their way to St. Bernardine of Siena Library, where they prepared for Tuesday’s classes. After reading independently for some time, they once again broke off into sections, this time to practice demonstrating propositions from Euclid’s Elements. The prefects served as their guides, offering tips on how to read, understand, and explain these geometrical proofs.

When books closed for the evening, it was time to convene in prayer. Everyone gathered in Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel and said the nightly Rosary, kneeling in candlelit pews. Then, to round out the evening, the programmers made their way to the coffee shop, where they enjoyed refreshing fruit smoothies. The room was abuzz with conversation and cheer as some continued discussing the classes they had taken part in earlier, as well as the classes still to come, while others played board games, mastering stratagems and dealing cards. 

Finally, it was time to return to the residence halls, where the programmers feasted on chicken wings. When the time came to say goodnight, they did so joyously, with great anticipation for morning.

Return to the Summer Program Blog later today to read about the students’ first Euclid demonstrations!

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