Students in Shaler Area's thriving Latin program took top honors at an annual convention.
Several students placed in a variety of competitions in the 65th annual Pennsylvania Junior Classical League convention held May 20-22 at Penn State University.
High school Latin teacher Jessica Alexander said 22 students went to Penn State for the annual convention to compete and socialize with Latin students from 20 schools across the state.
“It really is a wonderful weekend,” Alexander said. “They meet Latin students from Hampton, Butler, North Allegheny, Seneca Valley, and there's schools from the Philadelphia area. It's a chance not just to compete in Latin activities but also to mingle with other Latin students.”
Students have the entire school year to decide what competition they want to participate in and prepare for it. There are academic, artistic and athletic competitions in categories such as oratory, dramatic interpretation, jewelry, textiles and volleyball.
Shaler Area's Latin program has grown since restarting in 1999, when teacher Kristen Barie joined the world languages department. Barie said there was one class of Latin students that first year, and now there are nearly 300 students in grades 8-12 and three Latin teachers. Ellen Driscoll teaches at the middle school, and Barie and Alexander at the high school.
The Shaler Area Junior Classical League has nearly 90 students. Junior Classical League was formed in 1936, and is intended to promote classical languages.
Alexander said Shaler Area's chapter meets every two weeks after school. Members do a variety of community service projects throughout the year, and attend the annual convention in May.
They also do activities with the neighboring Hampton Township School District's Latin students.
Senior Josh Bartosh, president of Shaler Area's JCL chapter, has attended the state convention each year since he was a freshman. This year he took second place with his volleyball team at the convention, and also took third place in Advanced Oratory.
He said the convention is a nice time away from school and family to interact with other Latin students. It's especially fun to participate in the spirit competition, in which students get to dress up in togas and other traditional Roman and Greek costumes.
“It's always fun to see how many Latin nerds there actually are,” Bartosh said.
Barie said she and her fellow Shaler Area Latin teachers attended the annual state convention when they were high school students, so it's fun go back as teachers and take students.
“They're busy the whole time, constantly at different events, and these kids come from all over,” Barie said. “A lot of good things come out of it.”
Rachel Farkas is a Tribune-review contributor.
