February 2008 Archives

The fabled MUS academic testing study guides have now been posted online.  Since we don't want our rival schools to steal our preparation materials, we have posted them on Moodle.

Students will log in, using their regular MUS user name and password, create a Moodle account (if on Moodle for the first time), and then click on the Latin-JCL class link.  When prompted for the authentication code, type in bubones.

You should then see the list of study guides.  Click, download, print, and study!

A reminder that the National Latin Exam will be Wednesday, March 5 at 2:20 PM in the dining hall.  The exam will last about 45 minutes, so please make appropriate transportation plans.  This is required for all Upper School Latin students and for just certain Lower School students.  (They should know who they are.)  Students need to bring two sharpened #2 pencils with them; proctors will not have pencils or sharpeners.

A reminder that the convention poem / essay is due Tuesday, March 4.  Click here for the TJCL's detailed convention information booklet.

Click here for a list of students and their chosen events.

Please excuse the late notice on this.  The TJCL sent us the information -- incomplete information, at that -- just yesterday.  The bottom line: students who are eligible to attend must agree to complete the poem / essay, study for and take at least four academic tests, and participate in at least one other activity.  The poem / essay is due Tuesday, March 4.  Click here for a detailed information sheet.

Current Latin Three students recently made preliminary, non-binding foreign language course selections for next year.  For a student to continue into AP Latin (Vergil), I would recommend that he have maintained at least a high B average (i.e., 88 or 89) throughout Latin Three.  For borderline students, we will look carefully at performance in the fourth quarter, since our remaining course content (Ovid) will be very similar to the type of poetry covered in the AP curriculum.

After Spring Break, Latin Three students will move to the Ovid text (Jestin and Katz, 2nd edition), and Latin Five students will begin Horace (Ancona, 2nd edition). 

 

This week, Latin One students are selecting a foreign language course of study for next year, and a couple of issues have come up:

Latin IV and Latin V students are invited to attend a special cena Romana on Sunday, February 17 at Coletta's Italian restaurant in Cordova.  We are choosing this date to honor the birthday of former MUS Latin teacher Mr. Wayne Duff.

In one location, the fair website reads that the registration fee is $7.00 per student.  In another, just posted today, it reads $8.00.  Let's assume that $8.00 is the correct amount.  (I'll verify the amount with the department and post another announcement if $8.00 is NOT correct.)  I apologize for the inconvenience.

This is a competition for local students of Spanish, French, German, Latin, and Japanese.  It will be held on the University of Memphis campus on Saturday, April 5.  This is a nice event for language students, and I would like to have a high level of participation.

 

Students who wish to participate need to bring a check for $7.00 (payable to Memphis University School) by Friday, February 22.  Unfortunately, this is open only to Upper School students.  (Their rule, not mine.)

 

Click here for a short handout about the fair.

 

Click here for the official fair website.

All experienced poetry students (Latin IV and V) will soon be participating in the annual translation contest sponsored by the Classical Association of the Middle West and South.  Winners will receive letters of commendation, book awards, or $250 in cold hard cash.  The contest will take place during the third full week of February (exact time and date TBA).  MUS had three national winners last year, and we hope to equal or surpass that achievement this year.

A reminder that today marks the mid-way point of the 3rd quarter, so progress reports will be available soon.