Paws Romana Volume I Issue I | Page 2

In this issue Magistra Moguel Ada Chai II Welcome to BLSJCL III Certamen at States IV Certamen at Nationals V My First States VI Newcomer at Nationals VII Convention in Photos VII Meet Your Officers VIII Meet Your Officers Emperor Forum how much BLSJCL will enrapture your entire body and soul. I haven’t experienced love yet, but I bet you that falling in love would feel like being a member of the JCL. IX X Graphics Spotlight XI Creative Writing XI Certamen Corner XII Mythologicall XII Dear Reader, Welcome back to another JCL year! BLSJCL is currently as busy as ever, preparing various publicity, community service, and outreach events throughout the year. Before all the excitement of the upcom- ing year begins, though, we can take a look back at some highlights and successes from last year. In this issue, we have a lot to share with you, from State Convention all the way to Nationals. Included are recaps of Certamen rounds, bios of your officers, and a welcome from one of the triumvirgines. We want you to make the publication your own: tell us which em- peror you think is worse, try your hand at the Certamen Corner, or send your own Latin fun facts. Stay tuned to BLSJCL news through social media and/or the website (bostonlatinschooljcl.org)! Enjoy the issue and get ready for an awesome year ahead! Your Publications Editor, Michael Gao Editor’s Note Welcome to BLSJCL Photo Credit: The Boston Latin School Junior Classical League (BLSJCL) will transform your life as you know it. Yes, you read that right. Let me re- peat it one more time: BLSJCL will transform your life as you know it. It won’t be instantaneous. No mir- acles here. You won’t immediately feel the urge to pump your fists re- peatedly for an hour or shout from the top of Mt. Olympus that you love the Junior Classical League. At first, you might not even notice Now I realize that I am setting up our little club (correction: it’s ac- tually the largest JCL chapter in the entire UNIVERSE) for absurdly high expectations. I mean compar- ing some club that celebrates dead languages to falling in love? How believable is that? And I get that, I totally do. In fact, I was in your very shoes in ninth grade, when BLSJ- CL was actually a much smaller chapter. I joined JCL on the whim that Certamen was like Jeopardy! (because of the persuasive pow- ers of Henry Tsang and Ms. Hau- sey) and, of course, because my “academic, artisic, creative, athletic” —something for all Latin teacher offered extra credit Don’t worry, it isn’t that scary. Certamen is essentially a team competition in which several teams compete with buzzers and are tested in their knowledge of Latin grammar, mythology, his- tory, culture, literature, etc. So if any of these things interest you, go join Certamen! BLSJCL boasts some of the greatest players alive. We have several National cham- pions and even one Hall of Famer! But BLSJCL is more than just Certamen. Much much more. You can make catapults or tre- buchets, attend workshops and perform in skits, and show off your academic, artistic, creative, and/or athletic prowess at state and national conventions. This year, BLSJCL is also introduc- ing several publicity, spirit, and community service initiatives. But what makes BLSJCL truly great is the people. I was a painfully shy Asian girl in the 9th grade, but through the laughter and endless support from a bunch of endlessly quirky and friendly JCLers, I think I have come out of my shell now. So we invite you, fellow prospec- tive member, to join us. Welcome, to the greatest club, scratch that, family in the entire universe. You won’t know what hit you.