Fall Workshop on State Dept. Evaluation for High Schools

SCCA is planning a workshop in the fall on October 17, 2009, at Cardinal Newman in Columbia, in conjunction with other language associations. While the workshop is still in the planning stages, for the Latin portion of the workshop, I plan to address the State Department's evaluation of high-school Latin programs. I plan to offer the following:
--step-by-step composition of unit plans, including developing themes, writing the integrated performance assessment (oral, interpretive, and presentational modes), composing essential
questions, how to develop interim performance assessments, etc.
--writing lesson plans
--writing interim assessment plans
--composing rubrics for the three modes of communication
--how to avoid pitfalls and point deductions
My qualifications: I helped develop the Latin template for the unit plans (so that we were not being assessed by modern language standards), I wrote the sample units for levels 1 & 2 at the SDE, and I passed the assessment myself with top marks. For more information, please email Tracy Seiler.

Upcoming Charleston Latin Workshops

There will be a two-day Charleston Latin Workshop for individuals at the College of Charleston in Charleston, SC on July 13 and 14, 2009. You may find information about the workshop and an OPDE one credit course associated with it at the website. At the same link you will also find information about workshops scheduled for June 18 and 19 in Montclair, NJ and June 29 and 30 in Long Beach, CA. Please contact Frank Morris with any questions.

AP Latin Syllabus Decided

The College Board has decided on the syllabus for AP Latin. In their words, "Using [the findings of their recent survey], the AP Latin Development Committee met in late March 2009 to make some preliminary determinations about a future AP Latin course and exam, and have proposed the following:

*Revise the future AP Latin course to be a two-author course that contains poetry and prose readings.
*Retain Vergil, but reduce significantly the number of lines of the Aeneid currently required in the AP Latin: Vergil syllabus.
*The prose author will be Caesar.

AP teachers should bear in mind that it will take three to four years to develop and launch any revisions to the AP Latin course and exam. This means that for May 2010 and May 2011, and probably May 2012 as well, the current AP Latin: Vergil course and exam will remain in place without modifications."

SCFLTA Conference February 19 and 20, 2010

SCFLTA's conference will be held February 19-20, 2010 at the Brookland Conference Center in Columbia SC. The theme is "Languages: More Than Just an Elective." For more information, visit the webpage. The deadline for presentation proposals is November 1, 2009. Please consider proposing a Latin session so that we can have a full slate this year!
The SCCA plans a spoken Latin workshop on Friday, Feb. 19 with David Morgan of Furman University. Please plan to attend!

AP Latin Authors Online

The Department of Classical Studies at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro will be offering LAT 693: AP Latin Authors -- Vergil, a 3-week, online course designed for Latin teachers, this summer. We will meet in our virtual classroom Monday through Friday, July 6th-24th, from 1:00-3:30 PM. The cost for the course will be $427 tuition (plus fees) for North Carolina residents living in North Carolina, and $870 (plus fees) for non-North Carolina residents living out of state. We must enroll at least 5 students to offer the course so, if you are interested, please contact Jon Zarecki by June 15.

AP Course Audit

Beginning in January 2007, teachers of Advanced-Placement courses in all subjects will be required to submit syllabi to the College Board in order to have their courses authorized and labeled "AP". To obtain more information and to see the current timeline for completion of requirements, see the Audit page at the AP Central site.

University of Arizona at Orvieto 2009

The University's Orvieto Institute (in Umbria, Italy) will offer the following courses from May 24 to June 28: LATIN 413/513: The Legendary Landscape of Rome. Selections from Vergil, Tibullus, Propertius, Livy & Ovid (advanced undergraduate & graduate levels); Latin 101/102: Elementary Latin I-II. For more information on the Orvieto Institute, visit the website.

Summer Courses at U Texas

The Department of Classics at the University of Texas at Austin announces the following courses. Intensive Summer Greek will run this summer from June 5-August 17: all the fundamental elements of Greek morphology and syntax and extensive readings in Homer, Euripides, Lysias and other authors. The summer Advanced Latin course, Taming Tyranny: Seneca, Nero, and the Limits of Philosophy will run June 8-26. An advanced/graduate course in Menander will run from July 13-August 17. For both the advanced Latin and the advanced Greek courses, students may receive three credits of either graduate or upper-division undergraduate credit. For more information consult the department's web site or contact Lynn Gadd.

American Academy in Rome Classical Summer School

The Classical Summer School of the American Academy in Rome has extended its application deadline to 1 February 2009 and invites applications from High School teachers of Latin. Program details, eligibility, and the application, which is joint with an application for scholarships administered by the Classical Society of the American Academy in Rome, can be found by following the links for summer programs at the website. For questions contact the director, Prof. Gregory S. Bucher.

Conventiculum Bostoniense 2009

The Conventiculum Bostoniense is a full-immersion residential experience, specifically designed for teachers in schools and universities, who want to gain some ability to communicate ex-tempore in correct Latin on a wide range of subjects. Days are filled with instructional activities, opportunities for social interaction and excursions to the beach and local attractions. Two courses are available: Latin 570 Active Learning Methodologies for Teachers of Latin (3 graduate credits) and Latin 575 Living Text: Vergil's Ecologues (3 graduate credits). An audit option is designed for international attendees, school teachers over the age of 60 or college faculty who would like to attend the Conventiculum but who do not need graduate credit for their participation. Costs for 2009 are TBA. 2008 fees were $1500 for credit/$800 for auditors, which includes room, materials, all entrance fees and several meals. For further information and application see: www.conventiculum.org or contact Emily McDermott at UMass Boston: emily.mcdermott@umb.edu or 617-287-6124.

Rusticatio Virginiana Summer 2009

SALVI offers two sessions of RUSTICATIO this summer. Week one from July 13 - 19 does not exclude beginners but is designed primarily for experienced Latin speakers. Week two is for
beginners only and runs from July 20 - 26. Established over ten years ago, RUSTICATIO has a proven track record for creating programs that foster growth in living Latin in a congenial and down to earth atmosphere that is both fun and supportive. Our site is the historic Claymont Estate in scenic Charles Town, WV, just one hour by car from Washington-Dulles International Airport.
Information and application are posted to the web page of the Classical Association of Virginia. Deadline has been extended to June 1, 2009.

SC JCL Spring Forum

was held at Hammond School in Columbia, SC on Saturday, March 7, 2009. Visit the website. Questions? Email Matt Ramsby.

Latin Sample Units for State Assessment Available on State Dept. Site

The South Carolina Department of Education Modern and Classical Languages website is now posting sample Latin level one and level two units. These include rubrics. Scroll down to "Classical Language Sample Units".

Nota bene: The new template for Classical languages is posted on the site. Be sure to use it rather than the template for the modern languages!

Idem nota: Email Ruta Couet for information about Jeanne Neumann or Bonnie Adair-Hauck's presentations about the new Latin IPA unit assessment. Both presentations were taped by ETV.

Faculty Achievements at College of Charleston

New Faculty
Brian Lush (Ph.D. Wisconsin) has joined the Classics Department at the College of Charleston as a visiting assistant professor. His research interests include Greek tragedy and Homeric epic, and as such, provide an enriching complement to the faculty and program.

Recently Published Articles
Carmichael, Noelle
2007 “Perfecting the Ideal: Molding Roman Women in Statius’ Silvae,” Arethusa 40: 165-181.
2007 “Statius’ Language of Wealth” (from Nothing Ordinary Here, Routledge 2005), reprinted in Classical and Medieval Literature Criticism 91: 359-375.

Gulizio, Joann
2007 "Mycenaean Religion at Knossos.” In Colloquium Romanum. Atti del XII Colloquio Internazionale di Micenologia, Roma 20-25 Febbraio 2006, edited by A. Sacconi, M. del Freo, L. Godart, M. Negri. Rome.

Newhard, James
2007 "Appendix D: The Chipped Stone" in G. Walberg, Midea: The Megaron Complex and Shrine Area. Excavations on the Lower Terraces 1994 - 1997. (Prehistory Monographs 20) Institute for Aegean Prehistory, Philadelphia, pp. 483-508.

Phillips, Darryl, W.J. Hellenius, and S.J. Rehorek
2007 “A new lachrymal gland with an excretory duct in red and fallow deer by Johann Jacob Harder (1694): English translation and historical perspective.” Annals of Anatomy 189: 423-433.


News from the Department
The Avkat Archaeological Project completed its first full season of fieldwork on August 8. The project is a long-term interdisciplinary study of human activity in north-central Anatolia, under the direction of John Haldon (Princeton), Hugh Elton (Trent University) and James Newhard (College of Charleston). During their 1-month field season, the international team surveyed nearly 6.5 square kilometers, yielding one of the largest and most detailed datasets for understanding long-term patterns of human activity and organization. The team of 40 undergraduates, graduate students, and senior researchers included 10 students from the College of Charleston. For more information, contact James Newhard, Assistant Director of the project (843-696-5485; newhardj@cofc.edu).

After leading the department for 5 years, Darryl Phillips has stepped down as chair of the Department of Classics. During his tenure, the program in Classics grew from 3 tenured/tenure-track lines to 5, and became its own academic and administrative unit. The new chair, James Newhard, began on July 1.

Vergilian Society Summer 2009 Tours

Tours include "Egypt", "Cicero's Italy", "Romans, Etruscans, and Ancient Greeks", "Roman Villas and Gardens", and "Naples Bay as Melting Pot: Always at a Boil". For more information, visit their website.

National Board for Latin Update

Latin is still not available as of 3/12/08.
Last update: August 2008:

ACL, ACTFL and the Standards Collaborative Board have been working with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) on expanding the languages and teaching levels available for National Board Certification. NBPTS has assembled a committee of language educators to draft a revision to the original standards developed in 2001. There was an ACL member on this committee. The revision of the standards is a necessary step before new assessments can be developed to expand National Board Certification to additional languages and levels. Link to the National Board Standards for World Languages Other than English web page and the survey. The survey deadline was Sept. 5, 2008.

Ecce Roma Summer 2009

Ecce Roma is a tour designed for teachers, historians, and all those interested in the ancient Roman world – July 2-11, 2009. The itinerary is based on the textbook series ‘Ecce Romani’ and will follow the Cornelii family from the Bay of Naples to Rome, visiting major places of interest. Visits to Cumae, the Phlegraean Fields and Lake Avernus. For more information, visit the website. College Credit and CEUs will be available. Cost: $2980 – includes all travel and admissions in Italy; all meals in Campania; all breakfasts in Rome. (This price does not include airfare to and from Italy, transport to and from the Rome airport and single supplements. It is based on the current dollar-euro exchange rate and 15 participants.)

Clemson Declamation 2008

Clemson University hosted its 36th annual declamation contest Saturday, November 8. To view results, visit the website.

Columbia Teacher Wins Scholarship

George Kaupp of Cardinal Newman School in Columbia SC received an Ed Phinney Commemorative Scholarship to attend the ACL Institute in June 2008. George teaches Latin at CN and will be offering a new Introduction to Ancient Greek class in 2008-2009.

College Board Cancels AP Latin Literature

The College Board has decided to cancel the Latin Literature syllabus after the 2009 examination. Their excuse? They want to "significantly scale up [their] support for AP world language and culture teachers, and [they] cannot continue to offer two separate AP Latin courses and exams." They plan to "enhance" the AP Vergil syllabus instead. This will eliminate all Catullus syllabi (Catullus-Horace, Ovid, and Cicero).
If you would like to protest this decision, please write to the College Board, 45 Columbus Avenue, New York, NY 10023-6992. I suggest putting something about Latin Literature on the envelope so that the letter does not go astray. You can also add your name to the petition on Andrew Reinhard's eLatin site.

USC OPENS UNDERGRADUATE FL TEACHING CERTIFICATION PROGRAM (Including Classics)

This a four-year degree program offered by the Dept. of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures with a major in Classics. For more information about the program, visit the website, call 803-777-4881, or email Catherine Smith, program adviser.

FIELD WORK IN TURKEY 2008

In collaboration with Princeton University, the University of Birmingham (UK), Trent University (Canada), Koç University (Istanbul), the University of Fribourg (Switzerland), and the University of Arkansas, the College of Charleston will begin fieldwork in the region of Avkat, Turkey. A preliminary season is scheduled for summer 2007, with full investigations beginning in summer 2008. The project, under the directorship of John Haldon (Dept. of History, Princeton), is a regional study focused around the ancient city of Euchaita, known as being a town of some importance in the Roman and Byzantine periods. Investigations will consist of geophysical and intensive and extensive archaeological survey. James Newhard will serve as director of the intensive survey component of the project.

PUBLICATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR CLASSICISTS

• The Classical Outlook, published by the American Classical League, invites submissions of articles, poetry, and books for review. Contact: Mary C. English, Dept. of Classics, Dickson Hall, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ 07043.
• The editors of the Newsletter of the American Classical League welcome submission of news or essays. Submission deadlines: 1 December (Winter Issue), 1 March (Spring), and 1 August (Fall).
• Pro Bono, newsletter of the National Committee for Latin and Greek, seeks submissions of news, announcements, or articles from your classical organizations. Send to Virginia Barrett, 11371 Matinicus Ct, Cypress, CA 90630-5458. Submission deadline: March 1.
  
• The Classical Association of the Middle West and South accepts manuscripts for The Classical Journal. See the submission guidelines and editor contact information on the CAMWS site.
• Prima: Excellence Through Classics (elementary and middle school levels) invites submission of articles (300-500 words in Microsoft Word) from teachers of Latin and Greek. Submit to Jacque Myers via email (include Prima in the subject line). Current deadline: March 15.
  
• The American Philological Association welcomes scholarly contributions for its Transactions. Submissions will be refereed anonymously. Click here to see the guidelines.

CARISTIA GRANTS FROM CAMWS

CAMWS' Committee for the Promotion of Latin is giving out Caristia grants of $200-400 for projects of your choice. For more information, contact Carin Green of the University of Iowa or visit the CAMWS website.