Welcome to Magistra's regnum (kingdom!):
"Valete" to all the Graduating Latin Scholars.....
We are beginning to say "good-bye" to our graduating Latin students. Soon, seven wonderful discipuli will be leaving Pallotti and heading out into the larger world. We hope that they thrive and that having studied Latin gives them an edge!
Each student will be missed.
Justin Donlan * Steven Wilson * Lucas Klopfer * Joseph Criscuoli * Kevin Ellis * Kaitlin O'Hara * John Russo
Please check Magistra's "Photo Gallery" periodically over the next few weeks because she will be adding photos from all her classes.
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Pallotti Students Excel on 2008 National Latin Exam!!
Terrific results on the NLE this year! The average score of Pallotti's Latin students was above the national average in each class.
In fact, the average score of Pallotti's amazing Latin II students was 14% higher than the national average!!
Six out of nine Latin III students received awards on the Latin III/IV test (which is an extremely difficult test for Latin III students--
and Theresa LaMirande won a gold medal!), seven out of nine Latin II students received awards, and twelve out of twenty Latin I students received awards
(with Stephen Nagle achieving a PERFECT score!)
Thank you, discipuli, for working so hard-- I am incredibly proud of you!!
Latin III
Gold: Theresa LaMirande
Silver: David Christo & Jeremy Sheehan
Magna Cum Laude: Steve Wilson
Cum Laude: Justin Donlan & Christine Palmateer
Latin II
Gold: Christine Neville & John Nwajuobi
Silver: Leilani Johnson, Louis Heying, & Brandyn Phillips
Magna Cum Laude: Lucas Klopfer
Cum Laude: Cristina Moya
Latin I
Gold: Stephen Nagle (Perfect Score), Joe Criscuoli, & Samuel Whitfield
Silver: Alexis Brown & Kaitlin O'Hara
Magna Cum Laude: Kevin Ellis, Brett Portch, & Amber Crouse
Cum Laude: Tim Gannon, Paul Nycz, Tabia Berry, & Rachel Bacarella
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Latin is not a dead language at Pallotti!
Our department currently offers 3 levels of Latin, and next year: Latin IV Honors.
Use your Latin to achieve high scores on the SATs, to become a better writer, to broaden your English vocabulary, to go to Rome and order an ice cream cone (just kidding, the shops in the Vatican do not use Latin--sorry!)
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Magistra Besse's Biography
Imagine me at age 11 (long hair, blue glasses, and skinny), being dragged out of the Colosseum and still taking pictures. That was the true beginning. My parents took us on a family vacation to four European cities. I never forgot those Romans!
Seven years later, on a full Biology scholarship at King's College, I called home crying, "Let me transfer to UMBC (sob, sob)." Was what happened next a coincidence? The UMBC advisor for the transfer students was a Classics professor. He recommended: The Ancient Roman World. One Ancient Studies course that Spring. The following Fall: Latin 101, Introduction to Archaeology, and The Ancient Greeks. I never looked back!
High School diploma from: Pallotti High School!! Yes, I am an alumna..... Mrs. Shipman taught me how to learn a foreign language.
Bachelor of Arts Degree: UMBC. I majored in Ancient Studies with a concentration in Ancient History. Since then, I've taken enough Latin classes at UMBC, UMCP, and the College of Notre Dame (CND), to have an additional degree in Latin.
Currently, I'm pursuing my Masters at CND.
Even for volunteer work, I can't separate myself from Latin. I am on the Management Committee of an international organization, The Primary Latin Project (PLP). The PLP promotes Classics for elementary and middle-school students. Under the PLP's auspices (meaning the committee gave me a grant and paid for everything!), I traveled to Britain this past April. Lots of the pictures on this site are from that trip. I write the newsletter for North American teachers interested in the PLP.
My life outside of the classroom is filled with my two sons, Edward and Sam, and our new miniature schnauzer puppy, Ginny. We live right here in Laurel and belong to St. Nick's parish.
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Latin Classes Available at Pallotti
Latin I 4171
Prerequisite: None
Credit: 1.0
Description: This two semester course introduces the student to the basic grammatical concepts of the Latin language. They include the four verb conjugations and the five noun declensions as well as the case uses. There is an emphasis on classical culture and it is explored through readings in both English and Latin.
Honors Latin II 4171H
Prerequisite: Latin I
Credit: 1.0
Description: Latin II will build upon the skills acquired in Latin I. Students will complete most of the grammatical structure of the language and enhance vocabulary. Towards the latter part of the year, students will be exposed to original readings in classical Latin, primarily Julius Caesar's Gallic Wars. A cultural component, looking at the history of ancient Rome, will complement this course.
Honors Latin III 4371H
Prerequisite: Honors Latin II
Credit: 1.0
Description: Latin III will be based on adapted passages from ancient authors. Students will encounter the Subjunctive, Deponent Verbs, more Impersonal Verbs, the Ablative Absolute, the Passive Periphrastic, Gerunds, Gerundives, and additional sophisticated grammar concepts. The fact that our daily lives are still greatly influenced by the contributions of the Ancient Romans will be highlighted. The influence of Latin on English will also be emphasized.