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Today marks the last full day of the first New England High School Summer Program, and there was palpable excitement in the air, mixed with the sad realization that the week was almost over. At breakfast, all the students talked over the week, laughing at the fond and funny memories that they had made, and running through propositions on paper napkins for the last time. “We never let Euclid’s props get us discouraged…” joked Isabel C., “because that’s not the point!” All too soon, they were off to their last Euclid class and their last three demonstrations. 

As soon as their class on Genesis ended on Monday afternoon, the programmers walked down the hill to Olivia Music Hall for their last dance class. The afternoon proved to be the warmest of the week, with temperatures rising into the 90s. But the heat did not deter the students from continuing with their new steps and the day’s elaborate dips. The dancers took frequent breaks to enjoy cool lemonade before returning to the dance floor, with no interest in finishing early on account of the heat. 

Following a very busy Saturday, Sunday began with Mass and brunch, after which prefects and programmers hurried to board a bus for the Clark Art Institute. In no time, they cruised through the majestic Berkshire Mountains toward Williamstown, Massachusetts, and the museum. The bus ride flew by as students talked, played Imposter and other word games, and prayed the Rosary together. 

It was day three of Euclid this morning, and faces were cheery at breakfast as students looked forward to demonstrating the next three props in Book I. Classes and conversation have a unique way of bringing people together, and though the students haven’t known each other long, fast and firm friendships have already sprung up. The breakfast tables were circled with enthusiastic faces, students confident in their eagerly awaited class conversations. 

Another breathlessly busy afternoon began as students came straight from their Euthyphro class down to Olivia Music Hall for dance lessons. Prefect Teresa Bingham (’26) partnered with Stephen Brown (’25) to give a quick tutorial on East Coast swing steps before letting the students pick partners and try out the new steps together.

With one full day of the High School Summer Program complete, the dining hall was alive at breakfast this morning as the programmers geared up for their first Euclidean demonstrations. Volumes of Euclid’s Elements were open at almost every table as students ran through the props with their peers and prefects over coffee.

After their afternoon Euclid discussion, students on the New England High School Summer Program hurried to the dorms to change for the afternoon activities. On the athletic field, the programmers divided into two teams according to class section. They scrambled with spoons during the egg relay and hopped over teammates for the human log race, fighting to be first at the finish line!