Lafayette Latin Students Attend Summer Latin Academy

Caroline Utne and Emily Council, Latin students of Judy Bristow at Lafayette High School, took part in the Summer Governor’s Latin Academy held at Randolph-Macon College. They were among 45 Latin students from public and private schools across the state chosen by merit to attend.  Latin Academy students enjoyed a field trip to the state capitol in Richmond to explore classical influences on architecture and the ancient collection at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.  They also visited the excavation site at Jamestown and Colonial Williamsburg. 

While at the Academy, students were visited by Legions XX and IX, Roman re-enactors, who in full regalia shared their knowledge of Roman warfare.  The toga-clad academy participants marched in a local parade in Ashland.  Each day, students were stimulated by lectures, classes, and hands-on projects including Greek dancing, Greek and Roman coins, and Greek games.  Students learned about Greek vase painting and painted pots of their own. Other electives included such topics as Dionysus, women in mythology, frescoes, Harry Potter in Latin, Roman games, and more.  The three-week experience culminated in the student produced performance of “Curculio” by Plautus, a comedic Roman playwright.  The students’ parents and teachers were invited to attend.

Photo at left:  Emily Council (with eye patch) participates in Roman-style play.  Photo above:  Emily Council, left, and Caroline Utne.