The Greenhill JCL Torch: Volume III Issue I

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The GHS Torch The official publication of the Greenhill Junior Classical League Volume III Issue I

PG. I-II

Nationals 2015 TAKES PLACE IN TEXAS FOR THE 5TH TIME

PG. III

Pg. III-IV CLUB RECAPS

MIDDLE SCHOOL INITIATION CEREMONY

visit us online! www.issUu.com/thegreenhillJCLtorch

Page I-II

“The JCL’s Alive and Well,

Convention Recap

102

The highest temperature in Farenheit JCLers faced in conevntion. Data from The Weather Channel.

22 285 The number of top-10 place awards Greenhill students won in total. More detail on page 5.

The apporoximate number of miles Greenhill students traveled by bus. to get to Trinity University.

This year, the National Junior Classical League (NJCL) annual weeklong convention was held in Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. This would be the fifth time the convention was held in Texas since 2003 and the third time it was held at Trinity University.

Greenhill took 23 students, four Upper Schoolers and eighteen Middle Schoolers.

At convention, Greenhill students participated in various competitions for sports, academics, creative arts, and visual arts. They attended various colloquia and enjoyed the campus and its facilities.

Since the convention was held in Texas, more Texas Classics students were able to go.

However, problems arose from the convention being held in Texas for both attendees from outside of Texas and the Texas delegates (TSJCLers).

Attendees from outside of Texas faced the heat and climbing temperatures.

Temperatures rose to the hundreds many of the days.

Delegates from states, whose summers are not quite as hot, were not used to the Texas temperatures. This led to many people suffering from dehydration throughout convention.

In an effort to

prevent dehydration, drinking water was emphasized in every assembly, but when the number Texas students suffering from dehydration grew, Texas stepped in to make drinking water a game.

The last two days of convention, nearly every Texan was seen with a water bottle at the daily two-hour long General Assembly to play “Hydration Situation.”

The rules: every time a state name was called, Texans would drink a sip of water. At one assembly, Texans took at least 48 sips of water in a row because a list of all the states at convention was called.

The idea that Texas delegates were dehydrated from the intense heat of their own state was strange, even to Texas delegates themselves.

However, it was because students would spend more time outside than normal at convention. The distance between testing locations, dining halls, competition locations, etc. required more walking and time outside than even a Texas student was used to. All this time outside in the heat required more water than delegates were willing to drink,

Want

TSJCL Torch: tsjcl.or Torch: US: njcl.org in

Deep in the HEart of Texas” causing dehydration.

This predetermined expectation that delegates from the host state should be able to withstand their own temperatures was one of many set standards that are set on the host state.

For example, typically, attendees from the host state are expected to represent the state in a hospitable and welcoming manner. They are expected to help an attendee in need and if they do not know the answer, they are supposed to help find the answer.

As a school from the host state, Greenhill students volunteered by welcoming attendees and their schools.

They directed busses to the registration desk, helped pass out welcome bags, and more.

To signify a Texas delegate, every Texas delegate wore fluorescent pink and yellow shirts, which read, “VOLUNTEER,” the first two days.

However, the shirts were often misleading since Texas students were asked many times where to go on campus when they themselves were lost.

more?

Sometimes, this led to an awkward interaction between attendees because the Texas student did not know what to do or where to go although he or she wore a prominent volunteer shirt.

Nonetheless, Greenhill students continued to help out, volunteering to be a runner, spirit leader, or help with any thing else that was needed.

The notion of being a host state put pressure during spirit competitions as well.

Spirit competitions in NJCL take place for 15 minutes before the General Assembly, where all attendees meet for a one to two hourlong daily assembly. These competitions judge how much spirit each state has.

Each day, there is a new theme for spirit. This year the themes were: Old Western Classics, Lone StarStruck by Latin, Throwback Thursday #purpleandgold, and Tiber River walk.

Each state is placed into different categories to be judged- Extra-Small, Small, Medium, and Largedepending on the amount of people in the delegation. The delegations in each category compete for first, second, or third. Each delegation that placed received a small reward, like rubber ducks or blow-up animals.

Texas was the

rg in the “Media” Tab n the “Members” tab.

largest delegation in the convention, with approximately 300 attendees. This put pressure on the state to win since it should have no problem making noise. However, spirit competitions are judged according to presentation, organization, unity, props, and other aspects.

In addition to this standard, additional pressure was on Texas to at least place in its division because it is the host state.

Therefore, Greenhill junior and TSJCL 2nd VicePresident Nikhil Rao organized over 200 delegates with various props and chants to try and meet these preconceived expectations.

He would do additional work, such as mapping out formations and placing props on all the seats Texans were sitting in before the competition.

In addition to his work, a couple of ‘spirit leaders,’ or people who made sure everyone was screaming the right chant as loud as possible, were assigned to different areas to ensure all Texans were on the same page. Two Greenhill students, such as freshman Ananias Hayes, were spirit leaders.

These people found their voices hoarse by the end of convention, otherwise known as ‘spirit voice,’ because they screamed as loud as possible.

Nikhil’s work led to a 2nd place victory on the “Throwback Thursday” day.

NJCL Results on Pg. V

Page III

Club REcap: Middle School JCL Consuls Veda Velamuri and Mohan Desai

Events This Year Initiation Ceremony: Oct. 20 Saturnalia in Dec.

The GHS Torch

Movie Night in Nov.

9/8/15 9/22/15

2015-2016 Officers

Aediles Michelle Liang and Sarthak Reddy

Historicus Eli Read Scribae Caroline Greenstone and Varsha Gande

10/26/15 Initiation Ceremony (Info below)

Movie Night!

11/2/15

Students watched the Lion King while eating pizza and snacks.

Volume III

Initiation Ceremony On October 26, the Middle School officially welcomed new JCLers to their JCL through the annual initiation ceremony.

The Initiation Ceremony is the official Greenhill JCL ceremony to initiate new Middle Schoolers into their JCL. The students being initiated have to go through “the Underworld” blindfolded. They will feel objects like gummy bears, but the objects would be called “Argus’ eyeballs.” Many students were convinced the objects were what they were called since they were blind-

folded, Because of its history and its concept, many students were scared before taking the journey.

“I don’t know what’s in there, they may make us do something weird or crazy, like cut off our fingers” said sixth grader and new JCLer Caroline Ross.

Many also screamed or squealed either in fear or since the objects felt like what they were called.

However, in the end, most realized the journey was not as terrifying as

it seemed.

Though some students were scarred by the experience.

“I was scared [before the ceremony.]” said seventh grader and inductee Timothy Owens. “I’m still scared.

LAND OF THE DEAD, HOME OF THE JCL: The Initation Ceremony featured many “events from the Underworld” like Caesar’s blood (grape juice), food from the Underworld (pomegranate seeds).

Page IV

Club REcap: Upper School JCL Contribute to The Torch

Important Dates

Email amera@greenhill.org if you want to submit anything.

9/17/15 Be on the look out for more Community Service/ Activities this year!

Photo Credit: Magister Worcester Welcome Back! 19 USJCLers attended the first USJCL meeting, including 10 underclassmen and 9 upperclassmen.

2015-2016 Officers

The GHS Torch

President Lily Pigott Vice-President Megan Marshall Secretary Nikita Jindal Editor Areeba Amer

10/22/15 CARDS FOR HUMANITY: Senior Kas Tebbetts and sophomore Nikita Jindal decorated cards like the other USJCLers.

Nota Bene:

10/3/15

All Area C Competitions JCLers plan to compete in should be confirmed

by December 11th.

Volume III

Finalized T-shirt Designs for Area C

Community Service Project Cards for Ronald McDonald House

This past meeting, the Upper School JCL made cards out of construction paper for children undergoing treatment for a severe illness.

Page V

NATIONALS RESULTS Nota Bene: Only the top-20 places were listed. For more detail, visit njcl.org.

School Awards

Overall Graphic Arts: 19th

Local Publications: 4th place for The Greenhill JCL Torch.

Sponsor: Magistra Romanosky Editor: Areeba Amer Staff: Sam Bovard, Veda Velamuri, Natalie Neiman

Natalie Neiman Costume Jr Girls: 5th Charcoal- Grades 7-9: 4th Computer Photo- Grades 7-9: 8th Long Jump Jr. Girls: 4th Overall Creative Arts: 14th Elizabeth Nuth Hellenic History II: 20th

The GHS Torch

Middle School Sam Bovard Latin Literature II: 13th Latin Derivatives II: 14th Impromptu Art-Grades 7-9: 2nd Luke Contreras Latin Derivatives I: 19th Cartoons- Grades 7-10: 10th Marathon Jr. Boys: 11th Mohan Desai Ancient Geography I: 20th Andrew Estrada Reading Comprehension II: 13th

Natalie Park Academic Heptathlon I: 13th Impromptu Art-Grades 7-9: 7th Tyler Pitts Latin Derivatives II: 19th Marathon Jr. Boys: 4th Victoria Shelswell-White Mosaics- Grades 7-9:5th Long Jump Jr. Girls: 2nd Overall Olympika: 20th

Ananias Hayes

Nicole Stachowiak Classical Greek I: 11th Mythology I: 14th Latin Derivatives O: 16th Essay- 7-8th Grade Girls: 3rd Impromptu Art- Grades 7-9: 6th Overall Creative Arts: 12th

Michelle Liang Latin Literature I: 4th Roman History I: 15th Black Pencil- Grades 7-9: 2nd Mixed Media- Grades 7-9: 2nd

Carter Truitt Latin Derivatives I: 19th Essay- 7-8 Grade Boys: 3rd Dramatic Interpretation1/2&1 Boys: 7th

Kate Franklin Colored Pencil- Grades 7-9: 4th Watercolor- Grades 7-9: 6th

Volume III

Timothy Owens Mythology I: 19th Dramatic Interpretation Level 1/2&1 Boys: 8th

Illustrated Quotes -Grades 7-9: 5th 800-Meter Jr. Boys Track: 1st Long Jump Jr. Boys: 4th Overall Creative Arts: 12th Overall Olympika: 17th June Turbevill Veda Velamuri Sight Latin 1/2&1-Girls: 7th Essay-7-8th Grade Girls: 8th Christine Wu Roman Life II: 19th

Upper School Areeba Amer Reading Comprehension Poetry III: 19th Latin Literature III: 20th English Oratory- Lower: 5th Essay-9th grade Girls: 7th Justin Estrada Roman History IV: 14th 100 Meter Sr. Boys Track: 2nd 400 Meter Sr. Boys Track: 2nd Overall Olympika: 16th Nikita Jindal Latin Literature III: 11th Mottoes III: 20th Marathon Jr. Girls: 6th Nikhil Rao Mottoes III: 13th

Page VI

Dear Editor,

The GHS Torch

Oh wait. I am the editor. In fact, I’m the only editor and have been since I cofounded The GHS Torch my 8th grade year. This makes this the third volume of the Torch (*throws confetti*) and, if you’ve known me long enough, you would’ve known it’s gone pretty far since the obnoxious yellow and purple layout in Word with the god-awful headline font.

To kick off the third year, I’m going to address probably the biggest question I get when I tell someone I write a publication for Latin club: “WHY?” Why? Because I love the JCL and I want to do what I can to keep it up. Because communication or lack thereof can make or break a

club and with the new club schedule for both Middle and Upper School, it can be hard to attend every meeting or keep up to speed with all things JCL. (Also because I find it fun to play with, which is why it looks so different every year.)

But this ‘relationship’ between me and The Torch vs. the readers seems one-sided. I’m not exaggerating when I ask some people to read it, even the ones in JCL, a) laugh b) awkwardly smile c) say no upfront. It sounds like I’m ranting, but I’m serious, why do you not read it and how can I make fix it so you will? I mean, if you are going to laugh, tell me why you are. It can’t possibly send a worse message than what you already told

SEE YOU NEXT TIME!

NEXT ISSUE JAn. 27

STAFF

SPONSoRS

Staff Writer

MAGISTRA HUDEC MAGISTRA ROMANOSKY

SAM BOVARD

EDITOR

AREEBA AMER Volume III

me through your actions or vague words.

Even if the only person reading this is my junior/senior self, who probably is still the editor of this, I want you to know that I’m doing this now for the JCL and I’m so stubborn you and I both should know I’m not giving it up until I have to (who said I can’t write it after I graduate?), so help me out here.

Remember: anything is possible if you are stubborn enough. Ita, even a Latin publication.

Dear everyone, Don’t give up.

Dear editor, Don’t give up.