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Mission
Students begin their study of Latin in the third grade. Their Latin studies during the grammar stage focus primarily on the memorization of vocabulary and grammatical charts. Students are introduced to the translation of simple sentences and short stories during these early years as well. In the sixth grade students begin the dialectic phase of their Latin studies with a comprehensive review of everything learned in the previous years. The focus of Latin shifts from memorizing and parsing words to parsing and construing longer more complex sentences. Students also begin reading adaptions from original pieces of Latin Literature. The capstone of the Latin program is the Latin Literature course taken in ninth grade. In this course the goal of our program is fully realized. Students spend the year reading and discussing the works of history's great authors from Caesar to Augustine to Luther in the original language in which they were all written - Latin. Students who choose to continue their Latin studies beyond ninth grade may enroll in the Advanced Placement course on Vergil's Aeneid in tenth grade. Completion of this course will give students the opportunity to earn college credit through the AP Exam given at the end of the term (see recent AP results posted below). Students in grades ten through twelve may also enroll in our classical Greek courses. This two year program provides students the opportunity to read selections from Greek Literature, the original Greek texts of the New Testament, and the writings of the Apostolic Fathers.
The GA Latin Club is a chapter of the Texas State Junior Classical League and the National Junior Classical League, organizations dedicated to the promotion of classics in secondary schools. Club membership is open to all students in grades six and above. The goal of this academic club is to enhance the students' Latin studies by providing opportunities to apply their Latin skills outside the classroom. Club activities have included: certamen tournaments, Latin Christmas Carolling, the Area and State JCL Conventions, a Latin play, and a gladiatorial exhibition. Visit the school calendar for news on upcoming Latin Club events.
(what's new) Know Your Stuff! Members from the GA Senior Class of 2011 were the first members of a new internship with Classical Academic Press. Their task was to create an online game that would review the material in the Latin Alive text series (co-authored by our own Mrs. Moore). The interns were required to call upon their knowledge of the Latin language, the history and culture of Rome, as well as their own creative skills. What they came up with was a quiz show game that resembles the certamen tournaments they participated in as members of the Latin Club. The result is outstanding. We challenge you to test your knowledge in this arena to see how well you Know Your Stuff! Austin Area Latin Convention, 2012
The GA Latin Club is a chapter member of the National Junior Classical League. Each year we attend conventions at the area and state level. At the area level approximately 600 students from schools both public and private come together from all across the Greater Austin Area to compete in events inspired by the Greco-Roman civilizations. We had two teams attend this year. Grades 6 and 7 competed in the Middle School Division, and grades 8 - 12 in the Upper Level Division. These levels are divided according to years of Latin study. Despite our small size (and the fact that our students had just completed a grueling week of semester exams the day prior to the convention) both of our teams performed very well. What is not reflected below is that a number of our students came in fourth, missing the ribbon recognition by only a point or two.
Soli Deo Gloria! Olympika: Middle School - 1st Place Trophy! Girls' Frisbee: 1st place, 2nd place Boys' Frisbee: 3rd place Girls' Softball Throw:1st place, 2nd place Girls' 50 yd run: 3rd place Boys' 50 yd run: 1st place Boys' 100 yd run: 1st place Girls'200 yd run:2nd place; 3rd place Boys' 400 yd run:1st place; 2nd place Girls' 400 yd relay: 3rd place Boys' 400 yd relay: 1st place Olympika: High School - 2nd Place Trophy! Girls' Frisbee: 1st place Girls' Softball Throw: 2nd place Girls' Standing Broad Jump:1st place; 2nd place Boys' Standing Broad Jump: 2nd place Girls' 50 yd run: 1st place Girls' 100 yd run: 1st place Girls' 200 yd run: 1st place Girls' 400 yd run: 1st place Girls' 400 yd relay: 1st place Classical Civilization: Middle School Boys' Costume: 1st place Couples' Costume: 3rd place Monochromatic Art: 3rd place Classical Civilization: Upper School Monochromatic Art : 1st place
Certamen Tournament: Third Place Trophy! Our team of 8th grade students competed on the intermediate division level against high school students in 9-10th grade. They did an oustanding job. Congratulations team! Academic Events: Middle School (4th place over all) Mottoes: 2nd place (level 1/2 A) Vocabulary: 3rd place (level 1/2 A) Mythology: 3rd place (level 1/2A) Grammar : 2nd place (level 1/2 A) Ancient Geography: 3rd place (level 1/2 A) Greek Life & Literature: 2nd place (level 1/2 B) Greek History : 1st place; 2nd place (level 1/2B) Dramatic Interpretation : 1st place; 2nd place (levels 1/2 A, 1/2 B, and 1) Latin Oratory :, 1st place (levels 1/2 A, 1/2 B, and 1)
Academic Events: High School (5th place overall) Vocabulary: Berkli Johnson, 2nd place (Level 2); 3rd place (level 3) Greek History: 2 of our gentlemen finished with a 2nd place tie (level 2) Roman History: 2nd place (level 2) Greek Life & Literature:1st place (level 5) Dramatic Interpretation: 1st place (level 2), 3rd place (levels 3 -5) Latin Oratory: 2nd place (level 3); Daniel Eynon, 3rd place (level 3);1st place (levels 4-5) One of our seniors also received the High Score Trophies for Greek Life & Literature and Latin Oratory. This means she received the highest score for all levels in those two events. Congratulations, on a spectacular senior performance! Latin, How Sweet It Is?! Each year the GA Latin Club re-creates an ancient architectural marvel entirely out of gingerbread and other edible materials. The edible architecture is then submitted to the Georgetown Library's annual Gingerbread Extravaganza. Past entires have included the Roman Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Trojan Horse, a Greek Theatre, and a Roman Domus. This year the students looked toward the northern boundaries of the empire and chose Hadrian's Wall. Grace Academy Junior Wins Top Honors at National JCL Convention for Second Consecutive Year! Last year we had the privilege of announcing the top honors won by one of our sophmore ladies at the 2010 National Junior Classical League Convention. Well, we are pleased to announce that she did it again. Having just completed her junior year at Grace Academy this young lady returned to the NJCL convention, held this year at Eastern Kentucky University, determined to improve on last year's performance. Each year over a thousand students attend this national convention to compete in a variety of categories involving classical language, history, and civilization. For the second consecutive year she has been awarded the First Place Sweepstakes Trophy for Individual Achievement (awarded to the individual who earns the highest number of point at the convention overall) and the Lillie B. Hamilton Trophy (awarded for earning the highest number of points in three separate categories). These two tremendous trophies, the highest honors awarded at the convention, are earned through placing in the top five in the various events at convention. This marvelous young lady outdid herself this year by earning 78 points more than at last year's convention. The following are a list of those events in which she placed in the top five. Olympika Senior Girls 100 Meter Dash: 3rd Senior Girls 200 Meter Dash: 3rd Senior Girls Discus: 2nd Senior Girls 50 Yard Breaststroke: 3rd Academics Hellenic History, Level IV: 4th Greek Life and Literature, Level IV: 2nd Creative Arts: 10th place Overall Senior Girls Costume: 2nd 11th Grade Girls Essay: 2nd Advanced Poetry Latin Oratory: 4th Graphic Arts: 1st Place Overall Cartoons, 11th-12th Grade: 2nd Illustrated Quotations, 11th - 12th Grade: 2nd Maps, 11th-12th Grade: 3rd Drawn Posters: 1st Acrylic/Oil Paintings 11th Grade: 1st Black Ink, 11th Grade(?): 2nd Black Pencil, 11th Grade: 1st Chalk/Pastel, 11th-12th Grade: 1st Charcoal, 11th-12th Grade: 1st Colored Ink, 11th-12th Grade: 1st Colored Pencil, 11th Grade: 1st Mixed Media, 11th-12th Grade: 2nd Watercolor, 11th Grade: 1st Decorative Stitching, 11th-12th Grade: 1st Games, 11th-12th Grade: 4th Jewelry, 11th Grade: 2nd Mosaic, 11th-12th Grade: 1st Pottery, 11th-12th Grade: 1st Sculpture, 11th Grade: 2nd Impromptu Art, 11th Grade: 1st Traditional Photography, 11th Grade: 2nd
Grace Academy hosts the 2011 Austin Area Latin Convention! On February 25 - 26 more than 560 students from across the Greater Austin Area convened to celebrate their enthusiasm for the classics. This year the annual Junior Classical League convention was led by the Area Chair (a GA 11th grade student) and the students at Grace Academy of Georgetown and their teacher, Karen Moore. Participants compete in a wide variety of events from academic contests, to dramatic performances, costume, vocals, art, and olympika (track and field events). This year's convention also welcomed Legion VIII Augusta, a troupe of Roman reenactors who put the arms and weaponry of ancient Rome on display for the students. The main attraction this year was a SAVE LATIN rally held during the closing ceremonies. The rally was held in response to alarming news that Austin ISD administrators may completely eliminate the Latin programs at three of Austin's six high schools. I told our team repeatedly as we prepared that winning trophies and ribbons was secondary. Our primary goal this weekend was to honor God by serving others. We did that. I must say that I am immensely proud of our students and their parents. They were always present, willing, and ready to serve in any way they could. When asked, they did not drag their feet, they ran! I have received numerous emails from teachers, university professors, and a phone call from one of our state JCL chairs. Each one expressing congratulations and admiration for a wonderful convention. Several have said they genuinely believe it was one of the smoothest and best run conventions in recent history. Everyone who needed help knew they needed to look for the t-shirts bearing the cross with the SDG. We glorified God, so we won big. Great Work, Team!
And now the results . . .
~ 2009 - 2010 Events ~Grace Academy Student Receives Top Awards at National Latin Convention! Over 900 students attended the annual National Junior Classical League Convention held at North Dakota State University in Fargo. Among them was a sophmore student from Grace Academy. This young lady went all out this year. Her goal was to land in the top ten for individual achievements. She far surpassed this goal to win the first place trophy for individual achievements! Below are a long list of this young lady's achievements. As you can imagine, her success has brought much attention. You can listen to a podcast interview with Chris Perrin on his Inside Classical Education blogsite. Academics:
Creative Arts:
Olympica:
Graphic Arts:
Those last two are HUGE achievements! They go to the student who scores more points than anyone else, in any level, at the convention.
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School News
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