During the week of March 13-17th, LCHS Latin students took the National Latin Exam which is offered under the joint sponsorship of’ the American Classical League and the National Junior Classical League. As reported by the National Latin Exam committee . . . “More than 148,000 Latin students across the U.S.A., Australia, Belgium, Canada, England, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Niger Republic, Poland, Switzerland, Zimbabwe took the NLE took the 2005 National Latin Exam. This year for the first time, students from China and France also took the exam..

Many students distinguished themselves this year. Please see “National Latin Exam Awards” for this year’s results! Lindsay Wilhelmus earned a summa cum laude gold medal rating for all four years of Latin and will receive as an award an Oxford Classical Dictionary from the National Latin Exam Committee. Madeline Aulisio received the third gold medal of her Latin career. Gratulationes!

About 45 Lexington Catholic students, parents, and teachers will tour Italy in June through EF Tours. The itinerary includes three days in Rome and excursions to Florence, Ostia Antica, Pompeii, and Capri. There are currently spaces for four students (cost $2,208) remaining on the trip, and anyone interested should contact Ms. Larkey at blarkey@lexingtoncatholic.com.

Important Dates
January 31 - extended travel requests must be submitted
February 21 - all fees due
March 22 - tour dates confirmed
March 26 - enroll in optional all-inclusive insurance plan
April 11 - enroll in optional excursions: Florence ($65), Catacombs ($35)

Anyone who still needs a passport should apply NOW! EFTours recommends that participants bring $35 - 65 per day for spending money to cover lunch expenses and souvenirs. Ms. Larkey recommends changing some American money into Euros before departure. Credit cards are widely accepted in Italy, but participants should inquire about fees on purchases made in other countries and also contact their banks and credit card companies to advise of travel plans. Some credit card companies refuse payment on purchases made from out-of-character locations!

LCHS Latin students are fortunate to have Mr. Gollan as a student teacher this semester. Mr. Gollan, a native of Australia, got an undergraduate degree from the University of Sydney and is a graduate student in the University of Kentucky’s Institute of Latin Studies, a program which cultivates fluency in spoken Latin. During summers he has studied in Italy with Father Reginald Foster, resident Latin scholar at the Vatican. Mr. Gollan comes to teaching after a technical career with Sun Microsystems in California. In the mornings Mr. Gollan teaches Latin to fourth and fifth graders at Northern Elementary and Booker T. Washington Academy. He is student teaching in Ms. Larkey’s afternoon Latin I classes. He will also work with students participating in the dramatic interpretation competition of the Kentucky Foreign Language Festival, and will accompany us to Italy this summer.