2019 TJCL Convention

A total of 32 schools from around the state gathered in Chattanooga this weekend for the 63rd annual convention of the Tennessee Junior Classical League. I am pleased to report that MUS finished in 1st place overall for the 12th consecutive year. 

A dedicated group of 41 Upper School and Lower School students made up the MUS delegation, and all of them contributed in some way to the 1421 points that we scored as a team. 

Some highlights:

• Top scorers for MUS were Kerry Zhao, Mark Hieatt, Will Schuessler, and Forest Rudd, all of whom scored enough points to finish in the individual top ten.
• The Latin Two Certamen team won 1st place.
• Akbar Latif was elected as 1st Vice-President of TJCL for the 2019-2020 school year, the first time in almost a decade that MUS will have a student officer in this organization.

The Championship Trophy

The Spirit Contest

A final Certamen practice in the hotel lobby. The NFL draft provided only a modest distraction.

2019 CAMWS Latin Translation Contest

We have received the results of the 2019 Classical Association of the Middle West and South Latin Translation Contest, a competition that took place back in November.

A total of 26 MUS students received recognition in this year's contest. MUS had more winners than all of the other schools in Tennessee combined.

Approximately 1000 high school students from around the CAMWS region participated in this year's competition. Generally speaking, the cash award winners score in the top 2 to 3 percent, the book award winners represent the top 5 to 6 percent, and the students who earn certificates of commendation score in the top 20 percent.

Latin Two:

Cash Award: Mark Hieatt

Book Award: Kerry Zhao, Forest Rudd, Turner Bishop

Certificates of Commendation: Collin Craft, Matthew Mellone, Jack Zaptin

Latin Three:

Cash Awards: Hart Gowen, Ryan Peng 

Book Award: Max Shackelford

Certificates of Commendation: Cooper Grinspun, Will Schuessler, J.P. Wood, Fawwaz Omer, Walker Burks, Cullen Lonergan, Watts Miller, Samy Paul, Holden Pate

Latin Four:

Cash Award: Rob McFadden

Book Awards: Arjun Puri, Reid Chandler, Kyle Koester

Certificates of Commendation: Will Portera, Gregory Guo, Jonathan Huang

Convention Update

All students going to convention should have received a packet of final announcements and reminders. We have a mandatory meeting scheduled for these students on Tuesday, April 23 in the Wunderlich Auditorium during OP.

These students are also encouraged to sign up for TJCL updates via text. Details - and other information - are posted here.

National Latin Exam Results

We have received the results of the 2019 National Latin Exam:

75  Summa Cum Laude Gold Medals
33  Maxima Cum Laude Silver Medals
24  Magna Cum Laude
11  Cum Laude

Generally speaking, the top 10 to 15% of students nationwide earn Summa Cum Laude, the next 10 to 15% receive Maxima, and so forth. Everyone who scores above the national average qualifies for one of the four awards.

Special recognition goes to the students who earned perfect scores this year:

Latin One: Kevin Ma, Varun Krishnamurthi, Jaxon Hammond
Latin Two: Forest Rudd, Simeon Betapudi, Collin Craft
Latin Three: J.P. Wood, Fawwaz Omer, Max Shackelford

Congratulations to all of the students who received recognition in this year's contest!

April in Tennessee

It's almost the month of April, which can only mean one thing . . . Latin Language Appreciation Month in the state of Tennessee.

This marks the sixth consecutive year that the MUS Latin program has successfully petitioned the governor to make this proclamation. The pronouncement, signed by Governor Bill Lee, affirms the value of Latin and recognizes the MUS student-created motto “Musica e Montibus Fluit” (“Music Flows from the Mountains”) as the honorary state motto for the month of April.

Latin Club Co-Consuls Ty Williams and Loyd Templeton

National Latin Exam

The 2019 National Latin Exam will take place Wednesday, March 6 from 2:15 to 3:15 PM in Hyde Chapel. This is required for all current MUS Latin students, from Latin One through Latin Five.

In addition to the review and practice being done in class, students are encouraged to take advantage of the resources on the NLE website (including, but not limited to, the NLE Practice App).

Elvis As Classical Hero

In celebration of the centennial of the American Classical League, there will be a special event this weekend at the Guesthouse at Graceland: "Elvis As Classical Hero." Three professors from Rhodes College will speak about the connections between Elvis and the classical world. After the presentation, there will be a reception and a group photograph in front of the Graceland mansion.

There is no fee for the event, but parking will cost $5.00.

Saturday, February 23
Guesthouse at Graceland
Ballroom DE
11:00 AM

Latin Convention

Students are receiving information in class this week about the upcoming TJCL State Convention. This is open to both Upper School and Lower School students who meet the participation and eligibility requirements. The sign-up deadline is Friday, February 22.

The official TJCL packet is posted here.

Italy Trip

There is a meeting scheduled for students and parents interested in the next MUS Latin trip to Italy (Spring Break of 2020):

Tuesday, February 12
6:00 PM
Dunavant Lecture Hall (Lower School auditorium)

This trip is open to students who will be in Latin Two and Latin Three next school year (i.e., current Latin One and Latin Two students).

Questions? Please contact Mr. Gagliano.

NJCL Exams

Congratulations to the MUS Latin students who earned medals in the NJCL Classical Etymology Exam:

Latin One: Charles Hamlett and Jack Knighton - Bronze

Latin Two: Kerry Zhao, Mark Hieatt, and Matthew Mellone - Gold; Collin Craft, Evan Jones, Simeon Betapudi, and Forest Rudd - Silver; Jack Zaptin - Bronze

Latin Three: Cullen Lonergan - Gold; Fawwaz Omer - Bronze

Anyone who would like to participate in the two remaining NJCL online exams needs to email Mr. Gagliano this week. These are optional activities, open to any Lower School or Upper School students who joined the Latin Club.

Certamen

Upper Level Certamen practice (i.e., Certamen for students in Latin Three, Four, and Five) will take place Monday afternoons from 3:30 to 4:00 PM in US 216. We will begin Monday, January 7.

Students at any level of Latin who would like to prepare for the Latin convention in April are encouraged to attend.

Secret Saturnalia

Although the MUS Saturnalia has now come and gone, a student at another school is organizing a "Secret Saturnalia" program. If any MUS students would like to participate, information is posted here.

Saturnalia

The annual Latin Club Saturnalia will take place Tuesday, December 4 in the Wunderlich Auditorium during OP. All Upper School and Lower School Latin Club members are encouraged to attend. Everyone should bring a cash donation (recommended amount = $5.00) for our Angel Tree project.

CAMWS Contest

Our next competition is the Classical Association of the Middle West and South Latin Translation Contest. This contest, a requirement for students in Latin Two through Latin Five, is scheduled to be administered in the Wunderlich Auditorium after school on Wednesday, November 28. (Latin One students are not eligible to participate.)

Unlike many of our other competitions, there's not a lot that students can do to prepare for this in advance, other than studying the vocabulary words on the Dickinson College list.

Festivus Results

Results of the Latin Fall Festivus are posted here. Thanks to everyone who came out on a cold Saturday morning to participate, and congratulations to all of the winners!

Victorious catapult team (medium division)

Finalists in the Mythology Spelling Bee