The CoJCL Torch: Spring 2010

Volume XIII Issue II Spring 2010

The CoJCL Torch non est ad astra mollis e terris via

CoJCL Open Certamen 2010 Join the CoJCL for the premier certamen event of the year!

Saturday, February 27, 2010 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM The Classical Academy North Campus The annual CoJCL Open Certamen will be held at the north campus of The Classical

Academy in Colorado Springs on February 27, 2010. The event will include two hours of intense certamen competition followed by games such as Psyche’s Task. Pizza will be

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Latin Speaks Congratulations Fairview for their accomplishments at the CCFLT video contest!

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Trick or Treat Cherry Creek Latin students have fun and help kids.

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Fun Stuff Pictures from Fall Forum and Latin puzzles.

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The CoJCL Torch Spring 2010

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From the Editor

Salvete, omnes! We, your JCL board, have been busy planning and preparing for what is destined to be an epic CoJCL convention. We are particularly focused on ensuring that the schedule runs as smoothly as possible so that delegates may participate in as many Olympika and Performing Arts competitions as possible. We’ve been reworking the opening assembly and lunch schedules to maximize time and will give all of you details shortly. Additionally, our new Joel Berk scholarship will assist students who need financial aid to attend convention. If you’re interested, ask your sponsor for more information.

Thank you to everyone who contributed articles and photos to this Torch! They are much appreciated.

I hope you enjoy reading about some of the exciting things Latin clubs across the state have been doing, and that you and your school’s club come up with some exciting activities and fundraisers yourselves! Be sure to tell the Torch about anything you do. See the last page for contact information.

In the meantime, did you know:

• In the Vatican City, ATMs offer Latin as a language option.

• The Anglicized pronunciation of ‘Caesar’ does not share a single sound of the original Latin pronunciation.

• The derivation of the word ‘trivia’ comes from the Latin "tri-" + "via", which means three streets. This is because in ancient times, at an intersection of three streets in Rome (or any other Italian place), they

would have a type of kiosk where ancillary information was listed.

All right, I’ve held you long enough. Go explore the rest of the issue. If you have any suggestions for the CoJCL, e-mail us at [email protected].

Erika Davidoff

CoJCL Editor


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Latin Speaks Melissa Mika Fairview High School

This year, Fairview entered the video contest sponsored by the Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers. We are happy to report that Meridith Richter and Maiji Castro won first place for their imaginative Beginning Latin language entry. Meridith and Maiji wrote and performed a skit about two girls who like swords instead of dolls. Andie Brent and Gia Nyhuis were runners up. Their skit involved Sextus, Flavia, and Cornelia sub arbore. In Intermediate Latin, Sam Rock and Sam Urdang won first place. Urdang said "I would recommend this contest to anyone interested in perfecting their Latin, it is an amazing opportunity to speak Latin." Urdang is a highly acclaimed actor in the FHS theatre department. His charisma is contagious. FHS Latin urges more students, statewide, to participate in this wonderful contest. Congratulations, Fairview!

Intermediate Winners Sam Urdang and Sam Rock

Beginner Winners Meridith Richter and Maiji Castro

Beginner Runners Up Andie Brent and Gia Nyhuis


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by Sophie Gibert, Fairview Historian

Fairview students are kicking off Convention season with the sale of VARSITY LATIN T-Shirts, available for $8.00 each before convention and $10.00 each at convention. These white t-shirts with black letters work for any school. You can use paint pens to personalize your shirt. Just e-mail our club sponsor ([email protected]) and we’ll reserve your shirt. Checks should be made out to Fairview with Latin Club written on the memo line. Mail checks to Latin Club/co Sophie Gibert, Historian, 1515 Greenbriar Blvd., Boulder, CO 80305. We will bring shirts to Open Certamen on Feb. 27 if you’d like to get them before April. We have small, medium, and large sizes. There are only a few XLs, so order quam celerrime—first come, first served. Bumper stickers with the saying “If you can read this, you are very well educated but far too close” in Latin are available as well. Bumper stickers are $3.00 each. Again, to serve you best, e-mail our sponsor and send your check to FHS. We hope that these generic Latin products can unite all of us in Colorado in our pursuit of learning Latin and Greek and in expressing our classical pride.

On a different subject, for the first time ever, twelve FHS students took the National Etymology Exam, offered online through the National Junior Classical League.

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Quid Novi? The Fairview Latin Club kicks off the 2010 JCL season


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available for purchase for $2 a slice. T-shirts (see page 4) will also be available. All students, parents, and teachers are invited! We all hope to see you there. In the event of snow, Open Certamen will be held on Saturday, March 6.

National Convention Adam Safadi Fairview High School

Salvete amici!

Do you love Latin Convention? Enjoy spending time with other students of the Classics? Wish you could do it more than once a year? Well, there is a way! Every year the National Junior Classical League hosts a convention at a United States college campus. These five fun-filled days are packed with your favorite activities, from Certamen to Orations and the Costume contest to themed dances every night! Not only that, but by attending you will be able to witness the most spectacular That’s Entertainment show in which students, SCLers, and teachers perform everything from instruments to wacky skits. Tired of tests? Visit the swimming pool or game room for some free bowling! Want to just hang out? Each state has its own fellowship every night. Want just to learn about Latin? Go sit in on a Colloquium – subjects range everywhere from Roman History to Zeus’ various mistresses, even to a session on how to speak Latin! Why would you not want to go? Mark your calendars for July 27th through August 1st, 2010, when the National Convention will be held at North Dakota State University in Fargo, doncha know? Contact Adam Safadi ([email protected]) for more information!

E corde, Adam Safadi 2009-2010 NJCL Technology Coordinator

Has your school’s Latin club done anything unique or exciting in celebration of everyone’s favorite language? If so, write a short article about it and submit it to the Torch! See

submission information on page eight for more details.

School Latin Clubs

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Trick or Treat for UNICEF Sara McGee Cherry Creek High School

Latin Clubs across the state, including at Cherry Creek High School, dressed up to raise money for UNICEF on Halloween. Students at Creek wore togas and other authentic Roman apparel to demonstrate their Latin pride for a good cause and walked around the school the week before Halloween asking for donations from their class, teachers and friends. UNICEF, which stands for the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, is a global organization working to improve the lives of children in impoverished nations. The donations UNICEF receives provide food, water, medical care, education, and other necessary supplies to these children. This year Creek raised the most money for Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF, over $600. With that money, UNICEF could provide 13,343 water purification tablets, 600 polio vaccinations, or 244 sets of school supplies for a year. Congratulations on raising so much money this year!


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We credit Adam Safadi, our Latin Club president currently serving as National Technology Coordinator of NJCL, for the idea of taking this test. The 45 minute exam had to be administered between February 1 and 5. We had no technical difficulties. Students found it manageable and even easy!

Another bit of news is that Ms. Gibert offered a new prize at FHS and wants to share the idea with other school sponsors. Each semester one student from all Latin classes is chosen as the Best All Around Student. The student’s picture goes on the Latin board and a formal announcement is made in a school publication. The student receives a certificate and prize book. In fall 2009, sophomore Emma Lazaroff in first year Latin was awarded the prize. Magistra wrote, “Emma is an outstanding student with great academic talent, but more importantly she is exceptionally well prepared for class and is the most engaged student every single day. Emma demonstrates daily what it takes to be a strong Latin student. Clearly, Emma loves learning.”

Finally, FHS Latin is selling roses at school for Lupercalia…Valentine’s Day. Cupidgrams, written in Latin by all 154 FHS Latin students, will be drawn by rose buyers from a large urn. Let’s all share fundraising ideas. The money earned from all our fundraisers will cover our $450.00 bus to Estes Park in April. We look forward to seeing you up at Estes. Gratias ago vobis et nunc valete !

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Fall Forum 2009 Top: Attendees learn how to make some delicious Roman food Bottom left: Connor Lehr and Morgan Jones are fierce certamen competitors Bottom right: Mary Kent and Heather Job are impromptu artists

Photos to Erika Davidoff

Photo Page

The CoJCL Torch Fall 2009

The CoJCL Torch

Do you want to write something for the Torch? Do you have any pictures from JCL events? Has your school’s Latin club done anything interesting recently? Please e-mail all submissions to:

[email protected]

I try to publish as much as I possibly can in every issue – if I can’t fit it into the next issue I’ll save it for later. Please keep articles shorter than 1000 words. Include your name and school with all submissions, including articles, puzzles and photos, to be credited.

Roman Deities Word Search

See how many primary Roman deities you can find in this word search!

CoJCL Co-Chairs: Amy Sommer [email protected], Mary Zang [email protected], Missy Johnson [email protected], Jim Broderick-King [email protected]

Please contact Erika Davidoff, CoJCL Editor, for Torch questions, suggestions, or submissions. [email protected]

CoJCL Facebook Group

If you haven’t already, please join the new CoJCL Facebook group! The group is a great way to keep in contact with the CoJCL officers and learn about important

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The CoJCL Torch: Spring 2010