The GHS Torch

The official publication of the Greenhill Junior Classical League“Per aspera ad astra”

November 2014

In this issue...

ExploringAreeba Amer, GHS Torch Editor TheJCLove

“Rident stolidi verba latina, “ as Ovid said, or, “Fools laugh at the Latin language.” This quote humors us classicists today, but were we the fools originally with our miscon-cieved perceptions of the language? A survey was taken by 50 Latin students and teachers. The results showed that two-fifths of our current Latin student popula-tion went into the lanuage, with very little interest in the language or Ro-man culture. As it turns out, that’s how two of our three Magistri ended up even studying the language. “I had taken two years of French at my school and I signed up for the third year, but there were only two of us who signed up,” said Magistra Romanosky, MS Latin teacher. “I had two choices-Latin or Physics. I decided that I really liked languages, so I would take Latin. “ “By the time

I got into 9th grade,

we had two languages, Latin and French, two teachers, Latin teacher and French teacher.” said Magis-ter Worcester US Latin teacher. “I heard horrible stories about the French teacher, so I took Latin.” Within a few weeks of taking Latin, Magistra Romanosky knew that she wanted to become a Latin

teacher, since she had already decided when she was three that she wanted to become a teacher. Magister Worcester, on the other hand, only ex-pected to be a Latin teach-er as a day job. Entering college, he had other plans

for his career choice. “I had every intention of becoming a stand-up comic,” he said. “My day job was going to be teaching Latin and then I would go off and become this famous, rich, wonderful comedian.” Much to his disapointment, Magister’s first job was in an all-boys boarding school in New Hamp-shire, where there was no time to pursue his desired career choice. Both teachers, clearly, ended up loving the language and teaching

as a full-time job. “ What

I love about Latin is being able to teach a little bit of everything,” said Magistra Romanosky. “ You’re not stuck only teaching grammar.” “I like the stories. I like the fact that you can find things in Latin that you have no reason to tin-ker with it,” said Magister Worces-ter. “There are so many cool things about it that are just waiting to pop up.” As the survey showed, con-ventions and events were the most loved thing about Latin/JCL, with 23 out of 50 people choosing that op-tion as their favorite. Eleven out of fifty chose “Everything” and one-fifth chose mythology. Only one out of 25 regrets taking Latin. All the Latin students can find an interest in the language, no matter their original perception of it .

“I had every inten-tion of becoming a stand-up comic,” said Magister Worcester.}

Pg. 2 Pg. 3 Pg. 4“Down to the Underworld” Book Reviews Ludi (Games)

Page II The GHS Torch November 2014

From left to right: Magistra Romanosky, the nine eighth graders, five seventh graders, and seventeen sixth graders. Photo credit: Sam Bovard

Initiation was fast-paced and spooky, like always, this year. 8th graders were initiating 6th graders, a fresh group of souls to compete for Greenhill. There were many stations in the Underworld that they were guided through, including drinking the blood of Caesar and feeling the bones of our ancestors. This year JCL is larger than ever and a closer community. Seventh and eighth graders guided them through a maze blind-folded, where the sixth graders ate,

drank, and felt their way through Pluto’s kingdom.

This batch of kids was very large, which

hopefully means that we will

be a force to

be reckoned with at Area, but that’s a long way away, so cross your fingers and get studying. Now although this is their first year of Latin, the JCL is sure that they will do well at Area, and continue to do so over their hopefully long JCL career. The afternoon was filled with chaos, giggles, and terrified screams as already initiated JCLers watched their peers stumble though the room. The whole room had an energy to it that pulsed through each kid and flooded the room with smiles. This energy is what JCL is all about, and on the whole communi-ty’s behalf, The Torch would like to welcome all the newest JCLers into our wonderful family.

Down to the UnderworldSam Bovard, MS staff

This year the MS JCL had a great election, four people ran for consul, and two ran for scriba. JCLers voted and as close as the elections were, 8th graders Sam Bovard, who is also a Torch contrib-utor, and Christine Wu are the MS consuls for this year. The Scriba, who acts as a secretary, is 8th grader Jennifer Rojas. Congratulations to all!

MS Election ResultsNatalie Neiman, MS staff

November 2014 Page III The GHS Torch November 2014

Rick Riordan has, once again, successfully written a young adult masterpiece. The Blood of Olympus had very big expectations from fans, and it catered to them. This book is the long-awaited con-clusion to the Heroes of Olympus series. It is necessary to read the other books in the series to understand the story, especially being the last book. The Blood of Olympus follows a multitude of demi-gods, teenagers with one Greek or Roman god parent and one mortal parent. These diverse characters are rushing to Athens to prevent Gaea (Mother Earth Monster) from waking. Along the way they meet a variety of gods and monsters. The book proved to be an exhilarating read, but was a

definite young adult book. While adults could enjoy this book, it doesn’t have a major theme or moral, other than friendship and violence is not the answer. The rules of mythology in the other books meant nothing in this one, and the hints and what was

thought of as fore-shadowing actually turned out to lead to nothing, especial-ly things that were important in other books in the series.

The battles and other big moments that the other four books had been leading up to were generally anti-climactic and went too fast. It’s unfair to the readers, because these moments were greatly anticipated by them, and they were almost rushed through to get to the next part, to cram in

every resolution in the last fourth of the book, while the rest of the book was used introducing new characters and scenes that didn’t move the plot along. The ending was a classic example of Rick Riordan endings, leaving you wanting to learn more, but because this was the end of the series, and because his next series is completely different from this one, it actually just made me a little irritated. Altogether the book gave resolution to the problems, but left more than a little wanting. It was written well and will be enjoyed thoroughly by anyone who reads it, if they have read the rest of the series and are okay with little plot holes.

The Blood of Olympus ReviewSam Bovard, MS Staff

“This book proved to be an exhilirating read...” }

The Fangirl Who WaitedRa

nked

4/

5

s

tars

Areeba Amer, GHS Torch Editor

2008- the year of the Percy Jackson fangirl. I was a tiny 4th grader in my old elementary school. In a book exchange 4th grade year, a book titled The Lightning Thief landed on my lap. My life was never the same. I recall finishing the Percy Jackson and Olympians series within a month of getting the book, hun-gry for more once finishing. What I got in return was the news of a 2nd series a year later in fifth grade. Naturally, I was counting days until the release date, but once the book came out, I regretted wishing for a

2nd series. First of all, my Percy was not present in the first book, the Lost Hero, in the 2nd series. I could not care less for a random Roman camp that popped out of nowhere, muchless about one of the Roman camper’s amnesia issue. Finishing the book with much dissapointment for the lack of Percabeth in The Lost Hero, I waited patiently for the 2nd book. Though I can rant on and on about the Heroes of Olympus series, it’s time to address a more relevant issue. Riordan is writing a 3rd spin-

off series titled Mangus Chase and the Gods of Asgard. The 2nd series was already doing so poorly, and now he writes a 3rd. It’s not even Greco-Roman mythology. I miss the times where Percy was the goofy hero and saved the world with his witty ‘girlfriend’ and a random half-goat human. Rick Riordan, please refrain from adding yet another random series. We all just want our good, old Percy with the occasional world crisis.

Page IV The GHS Torch November 2014

The Torch Staff Editor: Areeba Amer

Contributing Staff:

Veda Velamuri Natalie Neiman Sam Bovard

Issue III comes out... December 17th, 2014

Ludi

Across3. Goddess of Fire and Home

6. God of Wine7. Goddess of Wisdom

10. Goddess of the Underworld12. Queen of the Gods13. King of the Gods

Down1. Goddess of Agriculture

2. God of Smiths3. Goddess of Love4. God of the Sun

5. Goddess of the Moon7. God of War

8. God of the Sea9. The Messenger God

11. Greek God of Death

Compiled/created by Veda Velamuri, MS staff

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