Three years ago, my students and I began studying Latin in conjunction with our social studies curriculum. This, in the years that followed, eventually became two-day-a-week class. We’ve translated Greek myths, read The Iliad, conjugated hundreds of verbs, and debated the appropriate grammatical case of Latin nouns ad nauseam. In short, it hasn’t been exactly easy; these students have given their very best for the sake of an enriched education, a deeper understanding of the Mass, and an appreciation of the classics.
I could write, at this point in an article that some of you might already find dull, of the merits of studying Latin, the history of the National Latin Exam, or my own pitiful attempts as a student at passing, let alone winning an award on, the exam, but none of these things matters so much as the recognition of my students.
Ava Arn 8th Grade (Cum Laude)
Aurora Bishop, 6th Grade
Ashleigh Boldman, 6th Grade
Alexandra Depenbrock, 8th Grade (Cum Laude)
Zoey Durham, 5th Grade (Maxima Cum Laude)
Griffin Ernst, 7th Grade
Elli Hedges, 7th Grade (Cum Laude)
Cheyenne Mondragon, 5th Grade
Kowin Offutt, 5th Grade (Cum Laude)
Leah Poe, 5th Grade
Avery Poole, 5th Grade
Ella Seip, 6th Grade
Leah Seip, 8th Grade (Maxima Cum Laude)
Josie Sentney, 5th Grade
Congratulations to all of the above! You have brought, through your hard work and love of the classics, great honor to our school and to yourselves. Here’s to many more years of Saint Michael School’s participation in the NLE and many more students raising the bar!
Per aspera ad astra,
Harry Pedigo