Middle Schoolers Demonstrate Certamen Strength

By Chrissy Gianni ’96, Middle School Latin Teacher

 

Early in the morning on Saturday, February 27, seventh graders Ruby Albert and Barron Linnekens and eight graders Zach Saidiner and Anya Shah represented Crossroads at Princeton University’s Virtual Certamen (Latin for contest). In this college bowl-style contest, three teams of up to four students buzz in to answer questions about Latin vocabulary, grammar, mythology, mottos, abbreviations, history and culture.

 

Crossroads Middle School students can take a Certamen Options class with coaches Alison Wedding and Moc Le Nguyen, where they practice for these competitions. For the Princeton Virtual Certamen, our team of students played three rounds each against two other novice student teams from across the country. In the end, Crossroads placed 27th out of 45 teams!

 

On Saturday, March 6, seventh graders Karlissah Laguerre, Natalie Storm and Blake Roberts and eighth graders Alek Golubchik and Anya Shah represented Crossroads at the California Regional Certamina (CaRCer). Crossroads faced some tough competition from the Willows, Harvard-Westlake, Mirman and the Gooden School, as well as the Harker School and CHD Academy from Northern California. Our teams qualified to represent Crossroads Middle School at the California State Latin Convention, which will be held April 9-10. Wish them luck!