Advanced Math and Science Latin Club Scores High Nationally

On Monday, June 13, the Latin Club at the held an awards ceremony, honoring club achievements and individual accomplishments on national exams. Dozens of parents joined over 120 students to fill the AMSA cafeteria after school to enjoy refreshments, view prize-winning art, and to applaud students who had won academic awards. Although the club had a mere six members in 2008, today there are over 100 members. Students in the AMSA Latin Club are members of the Massachusetts Junior Classical League and take part in many competitions hosted by the JCL.

As they arrived, students and parents could view a slideshow highlighting club activities of the year or look at the AMSA JCL Scrapbook which placed first at the Mass JCL Convention. Held at the end of April at Barnstable High School, the state convention was the culmination of club competitions throughout the year. In 2008, AMSA finished in tenth place, but moved up in succeeding years to fifth and then fourth place. This year was their strongest finish to date. The thirty one participants from AMSA finished second, only ten points behind Boston Latin Academy, the perennial winner. Strong community service, focused publicity, a first place newsletter, and great school spirit were responsible for some of the points earned in whole school contests.

Other factors were excellent certamen teams. Certamen is a Jeopardy-like team competition in which students answer questions about Latin vocabulary, grammar, mythology, and history. At the state convention, AMSA’s Novice team finished second, and the Intermediate team place first, besting their long-time rivals from Boston Latin School. Outgoing Club President, Bill Warner, opened the program with an address that praised the hard work of everyone who had contributed to the club’s success.

Awards got underway with Dean of Students Brian Pare reading the names of students who were admitted to Latin Honor Society while students received certificates from their teachers. Latin Honor Society requirements include being a member of the JCL, maintaining an A average, and being a good citizen. Eighty six students in grades six through twelve qualified for Latin Honor Society.

Next, students with high achievement on the National Mythology Exam received their medals. In March, 238 AMSA students in grades 6-9 took this exam which is sponsored by the American Classical League. Over fifty percent of the AMSA students won a medal. There were 59 Bronze Medals (90-94%), 50 Silver Medals (95-99%), and 28 Gold Medals (100%). Mythology is a part of the sixth grade Latin curriculum at AMSA, and the Iliad and Odyssey are key components of the English curriculum.

Also in March, AMSA students took the National Latin Exam. Of the 115 students participating, 72 received recognition. Awards included 4 Cum Laude, 9 Magna Cum Laude, 15 Silver Maxima Cum Laude, and 14 Gold Summa Cum Laude awards. Students who took the Intro to Latin Exam do not receive the same awards, but 19 AMSA students received certificates of achievement and 9 earned outstanding achievement recognition at the Intro level. In addition, ninth grader Rahi Punjabi earned a perfect paper, one of only 98 students in the country to do so on the Latin 2 exam. Nationally, about 38 percent of the 137,819 students who took the NLE received an award; AMSA beat this average with 62.6% earning awards.

Members of the AMSA Latin Club also took part in two online exams and an international mythology exam. Students had already received their medals for the National Classical Etymology Exam which was taken in November. In March, 15 students took the National Roman Civilization Exam, answering questions on culture and history, and 9 won gold, silver, and bronze medals. In April, 10 AMSA students took the Medusa Mythology Exam, and all ten won medals or certificates of achievement, including two gold medals.

The advisors to the AMSA Latin Club, Nancy Sinacola and Emily Lewis, agree that this was an extraordinary year. Students were focused and willing to work hard to succeed. But the secret to their success is simple.

“If you give students a challenge and tell them you believe they can do it,” says Mrs. Sinacola, “they will achieve more than you can imagine.”

The challenges are not over. In late July, six AMSA students will be attending the National JCL Convention at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, Kentucky. Each year, the convention is held at a different university and students in grades 7-12 come together to compete in art, academic, and athletic events. Five of the AMSA students will be competing on the state certamen teams, and they are preparing weekly meetings and practice over the internet. Although school is out, certamen runs year round.

Next year, the AMSA Latin Club officers hope to see many more awards, but right now their focus is on working with their teammates from BLA and BLS to get the Massachusetts teams to the finals in National Certamen competition. 

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date on the latest Marlborough news, or simply hit the "like" button at the top of this page.