25_26_Keystone Spring Magazine

PENNSYLVANIA JUNIOR CLASSICAL LEAGUE

KEYSTONE EXPLORING ANCIENT CULTURES AND MODERN CONNECTIONS

SPRING 2026

HTTPS//TINYURL.COM/PAJRCL

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF SILVIIA KAUR KANG MANAGING EDITORS JOY BECKISH ANDREW CICALESE MAYA GAVRIN EDEN JOSEPF AVA MORICONI ANRUI XU CONTENT DIRECTOR TRACI DOUGHERTY ART DIRECTOR ARLO DALGARNO PLATT CONTRIBUTING LEADERSHIP BETH FOOTE CHRISTOPHER CHANG SILVIA KAUR KANG

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Three OJR students participate in the Olympics event during Fall Fest, bringing energy and teamwork to the day’s festivities.

KEYSTONE

ELISE BRASCH HAZEL CHABALLA MORGAN CHAMPAGNE CHRISTOPHER CHANG ANDREW CICALESE NATHAN CICALESE ANTHONY CIVELLO MAYA GARVIN JULIA GREGG EDEN JOSEPF SILVIA KANG GRANT KUCHLER SOPHIA LOPEZ JACOB LUPOTSKY LILY MATSUURA JOVI NEISWENDER ABIGAIL NICULCEA SAVANNAH SEKULSKI, ALEKSANDRA SHAPOVALOV CLAIRE WHITLOCK TRACI DOUGHERTY

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FROM THE EDITOR 07 07

Dear Latin Community, As another season of PAJCL unfolds, I am excited to share this Spring issue of Keystone. Each edition is a reminder of the creativity, dedication, and passion that define our community, and this issue especially highlights the many ways the ancient world continues to inspire us today.

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What makes this issue truly special is the voice of our students. From original writing to analytical pieces, these works reflect both intellectual curiosity and imagination. They show that Classics is not simply a subject of the past, but a living field shaped by the ideas and creativity of today’s scholars.

This spring also marks an exciting time for PAJCL, as we look ahead to Convention and continue to grow as a community. The enthusiasm, collaboration, and spirit seen throughout this issue are the same qualities that bring us together beyond the page.

Every contribution in this magazine is a testament to the vitality of Classical studies. I hope you find inspiration, enjoyment, and perhaps even a new perspective as you read.

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Front Cover: Upper Dublin High School Contributors' Page image: Upper Dublin High School Editor’s Letter image: Harriton High School Back Cover: Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy

Gratias,

SILVIA KANG PAJCL KEYSTONE EDITOR

OJR students complete Latin League tests, demonstrating their engagement with classical studies.

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SPRING 2026 | ISSUE NO 7

TABLE OF CONTENTS

14

PRINCETON CERTAMEN 24

IO SATURNALIA!

Follow Harriton students as they compete, reflect, and grow through teamwork at Princeton Certamen.

See three schools unite for cupcakes, Roman activities, armor, and festive celebration.

18 EDITORIAL COMMITTEE

26 FALL FEST HIGHLIGHTS

Meet the student editors behind Keystone and recognize the team shaping this issue.

Explore Fall Fest events, from chariot racing and Certamen to Roman armor demonstrations.

28 ROMAN SUPERSTITIONS Discover Roman beliefs about omens, mirrors, salt, birds, and unlucky traditions.

26 ROMAN VALUES TODAY Compare Roman education and discipline with modern classrooms, respect, and student learning.

22 HARITON SATURNALIA Experience Harriton’s multi-school Saturnalia through games, service, fundraising, and PAJCL spirit.

KEYSTONE

28 CIRCE’S SPA RETREAT Read a myth-inspired story where Circe turns magic into unexpected relaxation.

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FROM THE PRESIDENT Salvete Omnes, As we enter into the final months before the Convention, I would like to acknowledge the hard work put in by our board members. The money fundraised by Saturnalia was put into two convention scholarships. Our Keystone Editor, Silvia Kang, recently competed at PMEA.

Call to Action!

The PAJCL Statewide Service Project is coming!

Whether you are in Pittsburgh, Philly, or

More than 250 people have registered to attend the Convention, which is an expansion from the last few years.

Officer applications have opened, so those that wish to apply should.

anywhere in between, we want YOU involved.

What to expect: A unified charitable goal

Gratias Vobis et Valete,

for all PAJCL chapters.

A chance to show that JCL spirit extends beyond the classroom.

CHRISTOPHER CHANG PAJCL PRESIDENT

Don't miss the launch: Details will be sent out soon.

Conrad Weiser students meet a Muse actress from the musical Hadestown while visiting New York City.

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SPRING 2026 | ISSUE NO 7

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Where ancient stone meets new life: Rome in spring breathes history and renewal in every sunlit corner

30 WHY I LOVE LATIN Reflect on Latin’s history, word roots, grammar challenges, and lasting modern influence.

39 PROMETHEUS Reimagine Prometheus’s punishment through rebellion, sacrifice, and reflections beneath the stars.

32 FROM FARM TO FEAST

40 WOMEN’S CLOTHING

Learn how Roman food revealed daily habits, wealth, status, and cultural values.

Examine Roman women’s fashion and how clothing reflected identity, rules, and resistance.

36 HUMOR & GAMES Enjoy Latin mottos, mythology emoji puzzles, and playful Classics-themed challenges.

44 EARLY PIZZAS Trace pizza-like foods in Rome through flatbreads, toppings, and ancient dining culture.

39 ORPHEUS & EURYDICE Follow a modern retelling of Orpheus’s journey, loss, and tragic final mistake.

32 A LOVER’S LIGHT Follow a summer romance shaped by family expectations, freedom, and a glowing lighthouse.

36 THE ROMAN PANTHEON Explore the Pantheon’s architecture, oculus, and lasting Roman engineering legacy.

KEYSTONE

40 ROMAN PIETY See how service at a shelter connects modern volunteering with Roman virtue.

44 WEATHER WATCHERS Discover how Romans predicted nature through winds, skies, animals, and observation.

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CALENDAR

g n i m o c p U s t n Eve

MAY

MAY

JUL

SOCIAL MEDIA ACTIVITY | YEAR IN REVIEW

21-26

PAJCL 75TH CONVENTION

25

PAJCL event

PAJCL event

NJCL event

23-24

2026 NJCL CONVENTION

HE

7

NOV

NOV

NOV

1

22

21-23

YALE CERTAMEN

PCS FALL PROFESSIONAL DAY

ACTFL CONVENTION

Competition

teachers only

teachers only

SPRING 2026 | ISSUE NO 7

FROM THE STATE OFFICER Salvete,

“I am currently working with Cambridge Latin Course to aid in bringing the 6th edition to the United States.”

Salvete, My name is Connie Ramsey. I have been teaching for 22 years. I teach at North Allegheny Senoir High School, and I am currently teaching Latin I, Academic and Honors Latin IV, Honors Senior Latin V and AP Latin. I am currently the co-chair of the PAJCL graphic arts.

A description of the officer duties: Along with my colleague, Beth Foote, we are in charge of project guidelines, registration, aiding judges and compiling results for the graphic art categories.

A personal touch about hobbies or interests outside of PAJCL work: I have two children, a 9th grader and a 6th grader, and I have two dogs, Cooper the sheltie and Pip the pomperanian. My favorite color is pink!

CONNIE RAMSEY PAJCL STATE CO-GRAPHIC ARTS CHAIR

KEYSTONE

KEYSTONE

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NATIONAL LATIN HONORS SOCIETY

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Princeton Certamen 2026 Princeton Certamen was an amazing experience, although it was the night before that really mattered. The night before Princeton, I was motivated to write a speech for my team (it was so peak). “You either win or learn, losing is a mentality.” But I didn’t just present the speech to my team or even just the other underclassmen. I actually stood up in front of the whole club and spoke from my heart. I talked about why we spend so much time practicing, buzzing in on questions, and waking up way too early for tournaments. I talked about how Certamen isn’t just about winning: it’s about trusting your teammates, taking risks, and learning something new every single round.

We weren’t just there to compete. We were there to challenge ourselves, support each other, and prove that no matter the outcome, we would either win or learn.

At first I was really nervous, but once I started talking it felt real. It reminded me that even though we all want to win, what really matters is

Harriton students attend Princeton, excited to show off their classical skill through intense competition.

CHAPTER EVENT

Harriton students pose with a Harriton alumni and national Certamen champion after competing at Princeton.

our mindset. When we walked into Princeton, we weren’t just there to compete. We were there to challenge ourselves, support each other, and prove that no matter the outcome, we would either win or learn.

We sent five total teams to the tournament, one novice, one intermediate, and three advanced.

For a few players, it was even their first tournament. But Harriton showed out loud and proud to represent Pennsylvania. My novice team racked up 325 points in preliminary rounds, going into semifinals as the 6th seed.

Our intermediate team managed an amazing 285 points, going into semis as the 8th seed.

And, incredibly, two of our three advanced teams earned 370 and 300 points, advancing as 6th and 9th seeds respectively.

Unfortunately, nobody moved past the semifinal rounds, but our efforts and skills shone through.

Everyone had a great time and met some really great competitors. I can’t wait to win or learn more at our next tournament!

Kyle Xie is a 9th grader at Harriton High School. Although he doesn't take Latin, he is a very involved and enthusiastic member of the school's Latin club and Certamen. He loves his Latin-related activities for the learning, friends, and fun.

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CHAPTER EVENTS

Harriton hosts a multi-school Saturnalia For the Romans, Saturnalia was the greatest of days, with role reversals, gifts, feasts, and many days of celebration. The holiday occurred near the Spring solstice to celebrate the titan Saturn, who ruled over agriculture and time.

As members of PAJCL, bound by a pledge to uphold the traditions of Classics, we hold celebrations as a club, a school, and a state.

For the third year in a row, Harriton has hosted a multi-school Saturnalia, with each year increasing in fun, participation and excitement.

But Saturnalia wasn’t built in a night. In fact, the preparations for this event starts many days before the culminating holiday. Many students from Harriton, led by our very own PAJCL VP of Public Relations, Olivia Lee, worked intensely towards creating banners,

Students help organize and celebrate Saturnalia with games, crafts, and community activities.

Participants gather around the table, enjoying food, games, and festive traditions together.

setting up Streetamen rooms, and creating games for the carnival. Many schools attended from all around the area, with each school bringing a different kind of spirit to the event.

Conrad Weiser supported our service efforts, writing a multitude of cards for the elderly around Pennsylvania. Owen J. Roberts brought their most spirited foot forward, with one of their students being the princeps of Saturnalia. Radnor continued their love of Certamen with a stellar performance in our streetamen tournament. Haverford returned to once again dominate the court in dodgeball.

We also had our first attendance of middle schools from our district, which was a great addition that we hope to continue in future years.

“Small gifts, often wax figurines, known as sigillaria, or gag gifts, were exchanged, and a coin was hidden in a cake to choose a temporary “King of Saturnalia.”.”

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CHAPTER EVENTS

Harriton hosts a multi-school Saturnalia Harriton Saturnalia also featured an important new addition: fundraising towards two scholarship funds.

With all of these great schools and years of experience, we were able to once again pull off a great Saturnalia, full of dancing, games, and PAJCL spirit. I could not be any happier to be involved in planning and running the event, as both a member of Harriton Latin Club and PAJCL.

Through raffles, games, and amazing spirit from all of our participants, we managed to raise $400 to go into these scholarships and help two amazing PAJCLers attend our convention

Students perform a lively Saturnalia skit, bringing ancient traditions to life through costumes and storytelling.

Christopher Chang is a senior at Harriton High School. He has taken Latin for the past 6 years, and plans to continue studying Classics in college. He is the former Secretary of PAJCL and the current President of PAJCL. He serves as an officer in his own Latin Club and Certamen chapters. Aside from Latin, he participates in Squash, Badminton, and Science Olympiad.

KEYSTONE

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CHAPTER EVENTS

Io Saturnalia! Three Schools Unite for a Joyful Celebration We had a packed house this year with 3 schools joining forces to celebrate Saturnalia!

There was lots of joy, enthusiasm, and candy exchanged! We had over 30 people attend, including those from Germantown Academy and Phoenixville High School, who happily joined us in our celebrations this year!

We spent much of our time celebrating the joys of dining together and learning about classical history! Many students brought in their own cupcakes for the cupcake-decorating contest.

We had over 10 entries and lots of delicious cupcakes to go around. At one station, students had the opportunity to use craft materials such as pipe cleaners to recreate a traditional Roman Saturnalia dining scene.

Thanks to the expert cupcake crafting of members from our very own Tori, Upper Dublin took home the People’s Choice and Judge’s Award for best cupcakes!

Highlights: Chariot racing - Students had the opportunity to compete excitedly for a spot to be the ultimate Roman embodiment of bravery!

VR Experience - A great experience to see what life was like as a Roman competing firsthand!

Frisbee - A nice opportunity to chill and hang out with friends while also staying active!

Leadership Spotlight: Olivia Moriconi shone brightly through her leadership and determination in creating a successful gathering for our friends! She directed younger officers to carry boxes, distribute tablecloths, set up snowflake decorations, and prepare food. She worked rigorously to ensure that every student had fun. As a Vice President within the Latin club, she assisted with judging the pipecleaner contest and sharing announcements with the club. We commend her great leadership skills and willingness to cooperate with everyone!

“Students were also able to experience what it is like inside a Roman arena by using an Oculus VR headset. A great way to experience an exciting time in ancient Rome right in front of you!”

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CHAPTER EVENTS

Io Saturnalia! Three Schools Unite for a Joyful Celebration Top Highlights From Attendees: Other notable events included the enthusiasm generated by Mr. Castanya’s realistic Roman armor! Students had the opportunity to ask questions and try on pieces of Roman armor that would have been worn in battle back in the BCs. Volunteers happily went up to ask questions and try on the armor, cultivating a fun-filled history activity. Students also shared smiles and laughter as they ate together to celebrate the coming of Saturnalia! The food and soda tasted great, and students from all over the Philadelphia area shared joy and laughter.

By the Numbers 3 Schools convened 30+ attendees 40+ cupcakes 5+ activities 1 guest speaker

Looking Ahead: Everyone had a great time gathering together to celebrate the magic of Saturnalia. We had combinations of creative students, fun competitions, and interactive activities to commemorate one of the most joyful and relaxed holidays. The winter season is a good time, and we look forward to hosting more events for our enthusiastic students. Io Saturnalia!

KEYSTONE

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CONVENTION EVENTS

PAJCL SCAVENGER HUNT Salvete, JCLers!

Looking for something to do between events?

Gather your team and complete challenges to earn tokens of Roman virtue. Work together, meet new people, and show your PAJCL spirit!

Officer

Challenges:

Earn

Roman Virtues Find each PAJCL officer, complete their challenge, and earn a Roman Virtue

Rules 1. Form a team of at least 4 students (maximum 8 recommended); only one team allowed per school.

2. Each team must have a Team Captain responsible for submissions.

Bracelet: Auctoritas (President) – “Recreate a

Greek/Roman

statue

with

Christopher”

3. Stay within designated convention

Veritas (Editor) – “Find the hidden

areas at all times.

4.Every challenge must be completed with a

message in the Keystone and relay

photo that clearly shows your PAJCL sign.

5.Submit photos via - Instagram DM to the official PAJCL account 6.Be respectful - do not disrupt events or enter restricted areas.

7.Follow all instructions given by officers

it to Silvia” Fides (Parliamentarian) – “List 5 Latin words that begin with the letter S” Pietas (Secretary) – “Take a picture of your team making a heart around Olivia M”

Timing Begins after the Opening Assembly Paused during the Entertainment Show, Leadership Meeting, Academic Testing.

Resumes after those events conclude

Industria (VP of Public Relations) – “Take a photo that resembles a popular

Roman/Greek

Myth

with

Olivia L”

Ends before the procession to the track

Virtus (VP of Membership) –

begins

“Make a Roman legion/battle formation with Aleena”

KEYSTONE

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CONVENTION EVENTS

General Challenges

Final Challenge: “Virtutes in Manibus” (Virtues in Our Hands) Take a photo of your team’s hands

Take a photo at the Creamery Find and photograph a Latin word on campus Take a photo with JCL members from at

around your PAJCL sign, clearly

least two other schools

displaying all the Roman virtue

“We All in This TOGAther” Create a team photo where everyone is

bracelets you have earned

→

dressed in togas “Bread and Circuses” (Panem et Circenses) Show your support and love for the performers of the Entertainment Show

→

KEYSTONE

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EDITORIAL COMMITTEE SPOTLIGHT

Meet

the Editorial

PAJCL Keystone

Committee

Eden Josepf

Andrew Cicalese Joy Beckish Radnor High

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Harriton High

Upper Dublin High

Maya Gavrin

Harriton High

KEYSTONE

OLIVIA MORICONI Secretary

WHY DID YOU TAKE LATIN? I studied Latin because I enjoy learning about ancient Roman/Greek history, and I thought Latin would give me more insight into how the language developed. I also enjoyed the class & the teacher throughout middle school, so I continued to take it! It’s also a great base language that I can use to apply to other languages that I may take in the future.

WHAT’S YOUR TOP MEMORY? Going to all the Latin club meetings & events such as Fall Fest & Saturnalia!

SILVIA KANG Keystone Editor

WHY DID YOU TAKE LATIN? WIth a deep interest in classics and languages, notably Spanish and Latin, I love exploring the overlap of my subjects and aim to connect others to these fields. Studying Latin inspired me to share those voices more widely, through writing, and projects that celebrate stories. Latin isn’t just A SUBJECT; it’s where my love for words meets history and humanity.

WHAT’S YOUR TOP MEMORY? The toga-march to the elaborate roman buffet at the state convention.

SPRING 2026 | ISSUE NO 7 18

CONTEST RESULTS ETC Nationwide Game Results: Rome’s Birthday April 16, 2026 Thank you to the following teachers who prepared their students for ETC’s Spring Nationwide Game: Magister Savage from Flint Hill School in Virginia Magistrae Weidler and Keshishian from the Baldwin School in Pennsylvania Magistra Masoni from Harker Middle School in California Magistra Goldstein from the Bullis School in Maryland Magistra Mccormick from Whitcomb Middle School in Massachusetts Magister Posey from Mountain Brook Junior High in Alabama Magistra Brogden from Walnut Hills High School in Ohio Magistra Dougherty from Upper Dublin High School in Pennsylvania Magistra Loscalzo from Daviess County High School in Kentucky During our live game the top five middle school finishers were: 1st Mackey V from Bullis 2nd Ingrid L from Bullis 3rd Leo C from Bullis During our live game the top high school finishers were: 1st Bria G from Flint Hill 2nd Amber L from Flint Hill For the asynchronous assignment, our top scorers were: Sami R from Walnut Hills High School Sophia M from Walnut Hills High School Amadou D from Walnut Hills High School Isis P from Daviess County High School Connor R from Upper Dublin High School Lily M from Upper Dublin High School Eden J from Upper Dublin High School

Results provided by the National Junior Classical League

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KEYSTONE AWARDS - WINTER NOMINEES

The Keystone Awards are a testament to the creativity and talent of our members throughout the year. The process begins with our publications: the Fall, Winter, and Spring issues. Nominees are carefully selected from the published pieces within each section of the previous publication.

Art and Archeology: In Awe of Aqueducts by Jacob Lupotsky - Owen J Roberts High School Business and Sports: The Miles Romanus Debate by Latin 3 Class - Owen J Roberts High School History and Mythology: Brutus: Misunderstood? by Savannah Sekulski - Harriton High School Lifestyle & Culture: Roman Beauty by Aleksandra Shapovalov - Owen J Roberts High School Modern Reception: Beam Me Up, Caesar by Elise Brasch - Upper Dublin High School Sciences and Education: The Grammar Gambit by Julia Gregg - Upper Dublin High School

KEYSTONE 20

KEYSTONE This year’s Fall Fest introduced exciting additions and upgrades that made the day even more dynamic: Group Photos: Captured before & after New Activity Track: Offered Kahoots Fourth Activity Block: Added more time First Adult Guest Speaker: Mr. Castangna shared insights on Roman

Students play ultimate frisbee while basking in Roman environment.

soldier gear and reenactments.

Mini Quizzes: Quick challenges in Kahoot Certamen Level Split: Fairer matches More Middle Schools: Grade 6-8 focus VR Gladiator Arena: Oculus simulation that placed students inside the arena.

Chariot Racing: A perfect mix of ancient tradition and modern fun.

Middle school students dress in Roman attire shields included.

Student leaders from PAJCL and UDJCL played a significant role in ensuring the day ran smoothly and memorably.

Officers coordinated lunch distribution, kept events on schedule, and energized participants throughout the day. They also served as judges for the mythology skits, blending fairness and fun into one of the festival’s most creative events.

Outdoor Olympics are a hit this year outside on the astro turf field.

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SPRING 2026 | ISSUE NO 7 KEYSTONE

CHAPTER EVENTS

Falling into Fall: Upper Dublin Latin club officers celebrate a job well done.

One of the standout moments was the school spirit boost from Clyde the Cardinal’s surprise appearance, which set an enthusiastic tone early on. Leaders also helped organize the Cornucopia build for Equus October.

By the Numbers 10 schools

For attendees, Fall Fest was packed with experiences that brought classical learning to life. Mr. Castanga’s Roman soldier demonstration was a fan favorite, offering a hands-on look at authentic armor and the daily life of Roman soldiers. Outside, Olympic-style relays and chariot races filled the field with cheers and laughter, turning Sandy Run’s campus into a modern-day arena.

Inside, the cafeteria buzzed with energy as students from across Pennsylvania connected, shared stories, and made new friends.

Many enjoyed crafting and taking photos during the Cornucopia build, which provided a creative, relaxed break between competitions. Together, these moments captured what Fall Fest is all about—community, curiosity, and the joy of learning Latin in action.

The Upper Dublin Latin program is already looking forward to next year’s festival, eager for another unforgettable day of friendship and spiritus Latinus!

KEYSTONE

100+ attendees 150+ cupcakes 4 activity blocks 1 guest speaker

Olivia Moriconi is a 12th grade student in AP Latin at Upper Dublin High School. Inside of school, Olivia participates in various clubs (and holds officer positions), including Latin Club, Investments Club, Dance Club, and Key Club.

Jacen Glassman is an 11th grade student at Upper Dublin High School. They are the Latin Club secretary. They are also a member of their High School Thespain troop.Outside of school they enjoy reading and fencing.

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CLUB UPDATES

That’s a wrap! Students practiced toga wrapping at the Phoenixville Area High School club meeting—getting ready for upcoming events and bringing Roman tradition to life.

ACROSS THE STATE As Spring settles in, PAJCL chapters across the state are staying busy with creativity, camaraderie, and plenty of seasonal spirit. These Spring activities capture the joy, energy, and strong sense of community that keep classical studies thriving in student life today.

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SPRING 2026 | ISSUE NO 7

KEYSTONE

The year is fast wrapping up, and looking back, it has been an amazing run for Harriton JCL, largely thanks to our outstanding leadership team.

Olivia Lee not only led the Latin Club, but also pulled off what may go down in history as the greatest media stunt. Her humorous Instagram reels on “Latin Teacher Struggles” didn’t just entertain, they went viral (one reached 1 million views!) and built a following that can rival JCL pages from some of the most prominent states.

Maya Gavrin and Andrew Cicalese led our Keystone submissions, contributed to the editorial team, encouraged others to enter NJCL writing contests, and was simply instrumental in the life of our club.

Our Certamen Head, Sansan Lu together with her loyal coaches wrapped up the Ivy League Certamen season with incredible results. There was not a single tournament where our teams didn’t place in the top 10. Even more impressively, our Novice team took 1st place and our Advanced team earned 3rd at the UPenn finals. Harvard proved to be our greatest challenge, but also the moment where our students gained confidence and momentum for next year.

Violet Kerns led the Latin League at Harriton, managing everything from scheduling test dates to creating study guides, and helping our teams achieve strong rankings on the national stage.

All of this reflects how much our students genuinely enjoy— and take pride in—being part of this program. While some might see the State Convention as the finish line, for many of Harriton students it’s only the beginning. We are already planning to send a team to Nationals… but that’s a story for the fall issue.

KEYSTONE

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HUMOR & GAMES

GAME: EMOJI CHALLENGE Think you can read myths in a modern way? In this puzzle, five little pictures hide some of the greatest names from Greek and Roman legend. Each row of emojis tells the story of a different hero — their trials, symbols, or most famous adventures — but without using a single word. Your challenge is to decode which figure each set of emojis represents.

Answer key next page.

Logan Balacki is a 9th grader at Upper Dublin High School. He is a Latin 2 student and participates in Latin Club. Outside of school, he likes to sleep more than necessary and read, play video games, listen to music, and play basketball.

MEME: LATIN MOTTOS We've all been there: staring at an assignment, trying to psych ourselves up for a study session, or getting up for that 7 a.m. practice. What do we tell ourselves? Luckily, our dedicated Classics students know the answer to true motivation. If you really want to achieve greatness, you need to channel the spirit of an empire!

Janiya Mayers is a 9th grade student at Upper Dublin High school. She is in Latin II. Outside of school she is a passionate dancer who also loves to swim.

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SPRING 2026 | ISSUE NO 7

KEYSTONE

26 Emoji Challenge Answer Key

1.Aeneas - The clues refer to the fall of Troy (Fire/Temple), Aeneas's duty (pietas), and his destiny to found the royal line in Italy. The father-son clue is crucial.

2.Hercules - The clues focus on specific, less-obvious elements of his story: the Madness (Hera's curse) and the Cretan Bull (one of the Twelve Labors).

3.Odysseus - The clues highlight his famous encounters and deceptions: turning men into Swine (Circe), the Underworld Sacrifice to talk to the dead, and the Sirens (the hearing clue).

4.Perseus - The clues reference the Divine Gifts (Cap of Invisibility, flying sandals) and his reward, the Royal Marriage to Andromeda, moving beyond just Medusa's head.

5.Persephone - The clues describe her myth: the Flower she was picking when abducted, the Pomegranate Seeds she ate, and her role as the Queen of the Dead in the Underworld.

WordSearch Solution Lily Matsuura is a 9th grade student at Upper Dublin High School. She is a Latin II student and participates in Latin Club.

Outside of school, she is active in two orchestras, a junior black belt in karate, an avid reader and writer, and adores her two cats.

Circle discovered words and cross them off the list when you've found them.

The words in the puzzle may be hidden horizontally, vertically, diagonally, forward, or backward.

Directions: Long before Caesar and emperors, the greatest city in the ancient world began with a basket, a wolf, and a fatal quarrel between twin brothers. Step back to 753 B.C. and relive the legendary origin story of Rome!

WORDSEARCH: FOUNDING OF ROME KEYSTONE

CREATIVE WRITING

ROMAN SUPERSTITIONS While we often remember ancient Rome for its armies and architectural marvels, the civilization existed in a world filled with omens, curses, and supernatural beliefs.

For the Romans, the boundary between the material and the spiritual was thin.

Natural events and divine meaning occupied the same space Broken Mirrors Has anybody ever told you that breaking a mirror would bring you seven years of bad luck? Another idea to thank the Romans for. The Romans believed that the human soul had a seven year cycle of renewal.

They also believed that the mirror was a window to the soul, since a mirror is where a person sees their reflection. Combining these two ideas, breaking a mirror is equivalent to damaging the soul, and cannot be cleansed until the next renewal.

Birds Romans also placed great importance on augury, or the study of bird’s behavior to predict fortunes. Owls were considered especially unlucky, and as bringers of death.

Evil Left Hand Left handed people were considered ‘sinister’ in Ancient Rome. ‘Sinister’ in Latin means having to do with the left side, or left-handed.

Due to superstitions about left handed people, the word sinister came to be associated with evil and maliciousness. The Ancient Romans avoided doing things with their left hand to avoid any bad luck.

Salt Spilling salt was also considered bad luck— and still sometimes is. This is because salt was used for preservation of food, and hence viewed as a symbol of lasting friendship and trust. In fact, when having guests over, it is thought that the Romans would salt their food extra to solidify their friendship with guests.

Romans were very superstitious and some of their strong beliefs carried into today’s world.

Romans put bullae and lunulae on their sons and daughters respectively?

These were necklace charms that acted as wards of evil.

Laya Subramanian is a junior at Upper Dublin High School. She likes to play tennis, is a part of the orchestra, and a Scout. She plans to pursue a research career after school.

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SPRING 2026 | ISSUE NO 7

CREATIVE WRITING

ROMAN VALUES IN MODERN CLASSROOMS Roman ideas about discipline, respect, and education were very strict and traditional compared to modern schooling. Both systems want students to learn and have good behavior, but the way they do it is different. In Ancient Rome, discipline was extremely important. Teachers often punished students and had strict rules. If a student did something wrong, they would likely be whipped. The Romans thought fear would make students work harder. Today, schools usually do not allow physical punishment. Modern discipline focuses more on understanding. Students may be punished with detention or an email home. No physical punishments.

“Also, many girls and poor children did not have the opportunity for schooling. This made wealthy families have an advantage in society with the ability to publicly speak and read”

Respect was also a big part of Roman education and discipline. Students were expected to always show respect towards teachers and parents. Teachers were the masters and students were to listen quietly and follow orders. Respect was often shown through obedience and silence. Today, students are taught to respect both teachers and other classmates while participating in class. Modern students usually receive respect back from their teachers as well.

Modern students can ask questions, share ideas, and challenge what they are learning.

This was much different from the Romans' strict set-up.

Also, many girls and poor children did not have the opportunity for schooling. This made wealthy families have an advantage in society with the ability to publicly speak and read. Today, education is open to everyone and in many places is required until a certain age. Modern schooling also teaches subjects such as science, technology, art and many other things. Today, schooling helps prepare students for a wide variety of career paths and offers many options.

Additionally, Roman education focused on creating strong citizens. The education in Ancient Rome was usually a tutoring service.

Wealthy families would pay for their child to be educated and taught to read, write, and learn history.

Another difference was how the students learn. Roman students memorized lots of information and repeated lessons. In modern schools, students often work in groups, do projects, present, and use technology such as computers.

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CREATIVE WRITING Teachers try to make learning fun and interesting. Additionally, students are taught to understand topics and apply them in many ways. This is much more complex than simply memorizing something. Even with these differences, there were some similarities. The Romans believed education built personalities and character.

This is the same as today. Both ancient and modern students worked hard, respected others, and wanted to learn key ideas. Both Roman and modern parents wanted their children to thrive, learn, and set themselves up for a better future.

These Ancient Roman ideals have been brought through generations to modern times, and this is clearly seen with modern schooling resembling Roman schooling.

In conclusion, Roman ideals of discipline,

Education was private, not state-run. Rich children had tutors. respect, and education were very strict and different from modern schooling, which focuses on understanding and fairness.

However, both systems share the same basic principles of learning for a purpose and to become members of society. Also, today's schooling prepares students for today's world and Ancient Roman schooling prepared students for their society and lifestyle, which makes them different.

Ancient Roman students learning together in a structured and disciplined classroom setting.

Hazel Chaballa is a 10th grade student at Upper Dublin High School. She is in Mini-Thon and is apart of the SGA general assembly. She is on the UDHS water polo team and plays basketball for fun. Outside of school she enjoys hanging out with friends and spending time with family.

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CREATIVE WRITING

CIRCES SPA RETREAT Circe’s eyes glazed over the sight of the pearly white walls of her villa. A yawn escaped her lips; her mind folded between the events of the day. She spent her afternoon turning wicked men into pigs and goats. She quickly whipped up an herbal concoction to cure an ailment in a small Greek village. She sighed, the stress from everything clinging to her forehead.

“I wish I could just rest. There is so much work to be done, and I don’t have nearly enough time or energy to work through it all.” She waved her hands back and forth, little wisps of magic threading through her hair strands. Herbs and spice containers floated around her chair, the spin of her hands and flexed fingers maneuvering them.

“I wish I could just relax…” Suddenly, Circe caught a glimpse of a woman feeding her farm animals outside of her villa. She worked her arms back and forth to tend to the lands. Mud sat scattered and splat across the edge of her tunic, and she wiped the sweat cleanly off her face. Circe’s eyes widened.

“She’s working so hard, too. We must have a way to rest together. Hm… what should I do?” Circe’s eyes wandered around to the view from the other end of her house. She noticed the gentle tread of the ocean waves slinking back and forth up the shore.

Her eyes widened. “I know what to do.” She smiled, now grabbing her floating spices.

Circe left her villa and walked over to the working woman across the way, preparing a thin, sincere smile.

Circe, the enchantress, poised between beauty and power as she weaves her magic.

“How are you doing today?” Circe chirped.

The woman looked up from her tending.

“Who are you and what do you want?” the woman asked, narrowing an eyebrow. Circe smiled.

“Oh, not much. I just live across the street. I noticed that you were working very hard. I wanted to show you a way to reduce your stress. I feel that same frustration from working. It’s quite awful, really. The worst pain is in the joints.” Circe chirped, fiddling with hair strands.

“How did you even know that I was-” the woman asked, bewildered.

“Oh, nothing. I can just sense it. Now, come here, let me show you what I need you to do.” Circe said, motioning for the woman to follow her and set up. Circe whisked her hands through the air, separating the spices and herbs into various rows. She pointed the woman to stand in the center of a circle where ivy, hydrangeas, thyme, and other spices surrounded her in thick, bushy rows of neatly threaded plants. Through Circe’s magical direction, each spice knitted itself in several surrounding circles around the woman.

“She waved her hands back and forth, little wisps of magic threading through her hair strands. Herbs and spice containers floated around her chair, the spin of her hands and flexed fingers maneuvering them.”

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CREATIVE WRITING

“Wonderful! The spell is turning out nicely.

Sooner or later, you’ll be even more relaxed.” Circe smiled. Panic settled in on the woman’s porcelain face, like cracks climbing up her cheeks.

“What are you doing to me?!” the woman cried. “Am I some sort of witchcraft to you?” she shouted, her voice echoing between thick winds.

“I’m trying to help you. Relax, please.” Circe sighed, tossing her long, golden brown hair over her shoulders. Circe raised her hands and guided the stitched spices like a conductor directing an orchestra. The herbs spun around the woman, levitating her pigs and cows. The spices climbed and grew all over the animals. All of a sudden, a giant white cloud grew out of them. In place was a door. It was the same pearly white as Circe’s house. The spices continued to spin and circulate in rapid succession, the force of the motion spinning the woman into dizziness.

After a few minutes of cooling, the spices stopped spinning and landed flat on the ground. The door floated down to earth, and a low sound emanated from it.

“What happened to my cattle? What did you do with them? This is my livelihood! I cannot survive without them! Give them back to me!” the woman cried, preparing to lunge at Circe.

Circe was headed for the door. She stopped in her tracks, holding a hand out to stop the woman. “Don’t worry, this spell is only temporary. In a few hours everything will go back to normal. You see, I’m doing you a favor. Come on, let’s head inside.” Circe smiled and offered the woman a hand.

The woman stopped in her tracks. She looked over the hand. Her own shook, her fingers gently settling over the palm. She nervously took Circe’s hand. The two women steadily headed for the door. Circe’s magic opened the broad, pearly white doors.

“Why should I trust you? You’re trying to ruin my farm! My livelihood!” the woman shouted, her eyes blazing.

Inside was the most beautiful spa that existed.

There were baths and pools filled with the finest water in all of the Mediterranean. The whitest, purest sand clung to crystal clear beaches. Tall, arching columns surrounded the baths. Murals and mosaics patterned the ceilings. The spa chairs had the most comfortable sheets and cushions to host tired people. There were long tables containing the most luscious foods, the taste of salt and sweet transcending the eater’s experience.

“What is all of this? How were you able to conjure such a gorgeous space?” the woman asked, her eyes wide and her mouth agape.

Circe smiled back in return.

“Oh, you know, just magic and a desire. Don’t worry, your animals will turn back to normal in a little while. For now, how about the two of us enjoy this space until then?” Circe grinned, extending her hand for the woman to take.

“Absolutely.”

Soft towels and quiet calm mask the magic: Circe’s enchanted spa offers more than relaxation.

Emmanuelle Kramer is a senior at Upper Dublin High School. She previously served as the Editor-in-Chief of The Pluma, the PAJCL state publication. She enjoys studying languages, having spent time learning Russian and Indonesian outside of school. Besides language learning, she enjoys writing and publishing in lit mags, making short films, and eating brie cheese.

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CREATIVE WRITING

SOME OF MY FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT LATIN Many of my friends take “important” languages such as Spanish or French. I definitely appreciate the value of these languages, but when I argue that Latin is the best language to study, the only response people usually have is that it isn’t spoken anymore. While that is technically true, I don’t think that makes Latin any less useful. In fact, I think it adds to its mystery. There is something fascinating about learning a language that once shaped so much of the world. And besides, without Latin we wouldn’t even have languages like Spanish or French, and even English would look completely different.

Latin is everywhere, even if most people don’t realize it. Because of that, I wanted to share a few of the many reasons why I love studying Latin.

First, Latin is incredibly historical. When you study Latin, you aren’t just learning vocabulary and grammar—you are connecting with an entire ancient civilization. The language links you directly to Roman culture, literature, and daily life.

It’s amazing to think that people thousands of years ago were speaking and writing in this same language. Another reason I love Latin is learning the roots of words. Latin helps explain so much

of the English language. Once you start recognizing Latin roots, you begin to see them everywhere. Suddenly long or complicated English words become easier to understand because you know what the parts mean. Sometimes I catch myself stopping mid-conversation just to explain where a word came from. I’m sure everyone around me absolutely loves when I start dissecting vocabulary and announcing the Latin root behind it.

Of course, Latin also has its challenges.

Anyone who studies Latin knows that the grammar can get intense. The ablative alone seems to have about twenty different uses, and sometimes it feels like every sentence has some new rule that you have to figure out. Translating can feel like solving a puzzle. You have to analyze every ending, every case, and every verb tense to understand what the sentence actually means. And let’s not even talk about the passive future perfect, which somehow manages to make you feel like you have been “verbed” in every possible way.

Finally, there are the stories and characters that come with learning Latin. Anyone who has read Ecce Romani probably loves the Cornelii family.

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Overall, Latin might not be a spoken language today, but that does not make it unimportant. In many ways, its influence is stronger than ever because it lives on through so many modern languages and through the words we use every day. Once you start noticing how much of the world connects back to it, it becomes hard not to appreciate it.

In 1980, it was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site

So while my friends may choose languages that are spoken in many countries today, I’m perfectly happy sticking with one that helped shape them all.

“Studying Latin is like uncovering the foundation of language itself. “ Eila Spaman is a 10th grade Latin III student from The William Penn Charter School. She has earned multiple awards in the 2025 PAJCL Latin Convention, which was her first time attending. Outside of her love for Latin, she is active in sports like swimming and waterpolo. In addition to Latin, she loves to write and explore mathematical theories.

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SCIENCE AND EDUCATION

FROM FARM TO FEAST: WHAT ROMANS REALLY ATE For centuries, the Ancient Roman Empire stood as a pillar of society for the rest of the world. Through conquest, its culture spread across continents. Stretching 3,000 miles across Asia minor, Northern Africa, and Europe, the empire encapsulated many lands, giving them access to a variety of foods and spices. When we picture ancient Roman meals, we see couches instead of seats, roasted boars with apples jammed in their mouths, and exotic birds served to reclining senators. But this image represents a small slice of Roman life. To understand Roman society, we must understand what they ate each day.

Roman days had three main meals.

Breakfast, or ientaculum, was small, including bread dipped in wine or water, cheese, olives, and dried fruit. The wealthy also ate eggs, honey, and milk for their first meal. Late morning was time for a lunch, or prandium. At dusk, Romans enjoyed cena.

Most households enjoyed a bowl of cereal porridge or bean stew, along with vegetables and meat or fish if they could afford it. In contrast, the wealthy often enjoyed extravagant banquets, or convivia, which

stretched over hours with multiple courses, entertainment, and gallons of wine.

Many urban homes did not have kitchens.

Rather, they ate their meals at thermopolia, the equivalent of today’s fast-food restaurants. Pompeii, a city with a population of 15,000, contained 90 of these shops, showing just how popular they were for everyday citizens.

The Ancient Roman diet was simple, revolving around cereals, vegetables, legumes, cheese, and panis, or bread.

Romans consumed a variety of greens, including lettuce, cabbage, and leek, whereas the rich also enjoyed asparagus, mushrooms, and artichokes. Romans ate both fresh and dried fruits, such as apples, pears, plums, chestnuts, figs, and grapes.

Legumes, including broad beans, lentils, and chickpeas were cheap sources of protein for those who could not afford expensive meats.

While bread was a staple of every Roman household, the quality was dictated by wealth. The rich consumed fine white loaves, while darker breads made from barley or millet were eaten by the poor.

Recreated Roman cuisine inspired by historical recipes.

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Quality of food often marked the difference between a meal of the wealthy and the poor, and access to different types of meat and fish was another clear indicator of status in Roman society. For a majority of Rome’s history, slaughtering cattle was restricted until the 2nd century B.C. because of their importance in farming crops. Therefore, pork was the most common source of red meat and used in many festive dishes for both the rich and the poor. However, lamb, poultry, game, fish, and seafood, like shellfish and moray eels, were also found on the wealthy’s dinner tables.

The Romans employed a range of cooking techniques, with boiling, baking, frying, roasting, and stewing all common, with wealthy households hiring personal chefs skillful in these methods.

The Romans cooked with a variety of spices, herbs, and vegetables, including garlic, cumin, coriander, mint, dill, and many more. The most distinctive of which was garum, a pungent sauce created from fermenting fish in the sun. It had an intense salty and savory flavor and was used in nearly every dish.

I socioeconomic status and cultural values.

Whether it was a variety of exotic meats served at a Senator’s banquet or cakes eaten in celebration of Saturnalia, Roman food was key to understanding the social hierarchy of the civilization.

Wine was drunk like water by everyone from slaves to the rich, as clean water was uncommon. They were commonly diluted and mixed with herbs, spices, and honey.

Posca, or cheap, sour, low-quality wine mixed with water was popular with the working class and the military, though was prohibited for women to consume. n Ancient Rome, food meant more than sustenance; rather, it was a reflection of Roman mosaic illustrating ancient foods.

Kevin Lim is a senior in Latin IV Honors at Upper Dublin High School. In school, he participates in various clubs, such as Environmental Education Club and Science Olympiad. Outside of school, he runs cross country and track and plays the double bass in his local youth orchestra.

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STATE CONVENTION AD

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FROM THE PRESIDENT

Reme Castellon is a sophomore at Conrad Weiser High School and enjoys watching anime in his spare time.

Natalie Stoica is a first year Latin Student at Conrad Weiser High School. This year was her first year taking a Latin course, and she plans to continue throughout high school. In addition to taking Latin classes, Natalie is involved in her school’s Key Club, as well as being involved in the school’s art club and taking art classes.

Grant Kuchler is a freshman at Upper Dublin Highschool. He is a Latin 2 student and participates in Latin Club. Outside of school he races, draws, and does track.

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NJCL ADS

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A LOVER’S LIGHT Hailey stared longingly across the glistening bay, reminiscing on all the memories she had made here at her family’s summer home. This was her last summer before college, and she wanted it to be perfect - full of joy, wonder, and the magic that disappeared with age.

She wanted to look back on these days in the busy years to come and remember what it felt like to be free.

Hailey wandered into the meadow that glowed with golden sunflowers, feet bare and white skirt billowing in the warm summer breeze. She reached instinctively for her airpods and phone to play her favorite music, but then remembered the promise she made herself: no phones for the summer.

Where old love lingers and new stories begin.

So, when Spencer suggested that they go out on her family’s boat together for the afternoon, she hesitated but agreed.

“Hailey, Spencer is here to see you!”

Once they reached the end of the dock, Spencer extended a hand to help Hailey onto the boat, which she took and then went to sit near the bow. As he drove them out onto the water, Spencer talked, but Hailey wasn’t listening. She was gazing off into the distance, to the opposite shore of the bay where she used to dream of exploring. A worn-down dock and a crumbling lighthouse extended from the rocky beach, a stark contrast to the rich mansions on her side of the bay.

It was her mom calling from inside the house, voice filled with glee at the arrival of her favorite project. Spencer. The student council president, football captain and all around golden boy. They’d been shoved together since they were in their junior year. And, in all fairness, they should have been the perfect couple. But every time she sat across from him, every time he held her hand too tightly or talked about their future together, she felt the emptiness of something missing - the fire, the ache, the spark.

As they got closer, Hailey fixated on a silhouette sitting at the edge of the dock. It was a boy, their age, skipping rocks and staring longingly into the distance - a look that Hailey recognized well. For just a second, their eyes met and her heart skipped a beat.

Then he looked away and she was pulled back into her reality. When they got back to land, Spencer promised to text later and Hailey didn’t bother to explain that she wouldn’t see it. She was too busy thinking about that boy.

This summer, she would live in the moment, not through a screen. So instead, she closed her eyes and listened to the soft buzzing of bees, the chirping of birds in the trees, and the splashing of water against the rocks in the expansive bay in front of her.

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CREATIVE WRITING From that day on, Hailey would secretly take out her kayak just after sunset and rely on the faint, flickering glow of the lighthouse to guide her across the bay. She’d paddle silently through the warm, still water, knowing that he waited for her eagerly on the other side.

At sunset, the bay held more than reflections.

Hailey had met him a few days later when she decided to take a kayak trip across the bay. Her mother believed she would be daydreaming about Spencer, but instead she was in search of the mystery boy. She found him in the same spot as he was before, this time sketching in a small notebook. Paddling closer, she could hear him humming a familiar tune she couldn’t quite place.

She got out of her kayak, and as she struggled to pull it onto the shore, she felt a hand brush against hers. The mystery boy extended his help without a word, then extended an introduction as they sat down on the dock.

They talked for hours, about fears and the weight of growing up. Hailey told him how suffocating it felt to have to fit into someone else’s idea of “perfect.” Leo told her about losing his mom, and how the lighthouse reminded him of the adventure games he used to play with her. Hailey and Leo became each other's confidants and weren’t afraid to talk about anything, soon discovering that they knew more about each other than anyone else in their lives.

His name was Leo. He was here for the summer to help his uncle fix up the old lighthouse. They were staying in the small boat house just out of sight. He told her that in the moments he wasn’t working, he would draw. They talked for hours, never bored for a second with what the other had to say.

When the sun was getting close to setting, Leo asked if she wanted to see the view from the top of the lighthouse. The view was like nothing Hailey had ever seen before. The sparkling bay reflected the vibrant yellows and pinks and oranges of the sky, turning the whole world a glowing gold. When she turned to look at Leo, his striking blue eyes were already staring intently at her. She realized in that moment that her heart was no longer hers.

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A quiet light in the distance, guiding more than just boats

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KEYSTONE Hailey hadn’t kissed Spencer since their second date. But one night, she kissed Leo on the old spiral staircase of the lighthouse, sea air filling her lungs and salt coating her hair.

That July, the bay grew stormy. The once glassy water was choppy and rough as she navigated towards the lighthouse in the dark.

Leo begged her not to come until the weather cleared up, but Hailey couldn’t stand the thought of being without him, even for only a few days.

One night, the waves were higher than usual, causing the kayak to flip in the middle of the bay. Hailey lost her paddle and clung, stranded and sobbing, to the overturned kayak. She had almost given up hope when a motorboat cut towards her through the dark water. It was Spencer and her parents. They had followed her. They knew.

Spencer blew up, calling her selfish and disloyal, saying that she humiliated him. Her parents banned her from going near the water for the rest of the summer, just as upset about Leo as the danger she was in. So, Hailey went back to playing the perfect daughter. She spent the summer packing for college and trying to convince herself that she was excited for it.

On the last night of summer, Hailey took one last look out her window and instead of its usual faint glow, she saw the burning brilliance of the lighthouse. He had fixed it.

Leo was there, waiting for her. Barefoot in her flowing white dress, Hailey sprinted out of her house and across the dewey yard, diving into the water. She pushed herself, cutting through the crashing waves, gasping for air, desperate to see her lover again.

Leo, on the other side of the bay, watched the only person he’d ever truly loved get swallowed by the vicious currents, and dove in after her. His heart broke as he sank deeper into the dark sea, his lungs crushed by the pressure. He prayed into the void that someday they would be reunited, and then his world went dark.

Love, even at the edge of the sea, cannot outrun fate.

This story is a modern retelling og the myth of Hero and Leander. In this myth, Leander swims across the Hellespont in order to be with his love, Hero. She lights his way with a lantern that glows for him over the dark waves. However, on a cold and stormy night, the wind blows out the lantern and Leander is lost to sea. Upon realizing his death, Hero throws herself into the ocean and they wash ashore in a lover’s embrace.

Maya Gavrin is junior and passionate high school Latin student at Harriton High School. She is her chapter's Keystone Editor and CoConsul of her Certamen club. Maya has earned many academic and artistic awards at convention, as well as Medusa, National Latin Exam and Certamen awards. Besides her Latin related activities, Maya is a writing fellow at her school and a field & ice hockey goalie.

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ART & ARCHAEOLOGY

THE ROMAN PANTHEON The Pantheon is one of the best-preserved, monumental, and most influential buildings of the ancient world. Located in Rome, the Pantheon was originally commissioned by the legionary general and statesman Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa during the reign of Emperor Augustus. The building was constructed between 27 and 25 B.C. After a fire in 80 A.D destroyed the first structure, the building was completely rebuilt for the duration of a decade, from 118 to 128 A.D under Emperor Hadrian. This is the building that still stands today. Interestingly, Hadrian kept Agrippa’s original facade and inscription on the front of the building, which survived the fire with relatively minimal damage.

The Pantheon was originally constructed as a temple dedicated to all Roman gods; in fact, the name Pantheon comes from Greek words meaning “all gods.” After the Roman conversion from paganism to Christianity in the year 609, the structure was converted into a Catholic church, which significantly helped preserve the building through the centuries, as it was under constant use but also refurbishment. Unlike many ancient Roman buildings that fell into ruin, the Pantheon has remained in continuous use for nearly two thousand years.

Looking at the Pantheon from an architectural standpoint, the building is most famous for its massive concrete dome. The rotunda, at the time, was the largest dome in the world and held that title for over a thousand years. The dome today remains the largest unreinforced concrete dome ever built! The dome measures about 142 feet in diameter and is perfectly symmetrical with the height of the building, creating a balanced sphere-like interior space.

Light pours through the oculus of the Pantheon, connecting earth to the heavens in one of Rome’s greatest architectural achievements.

The dome is covered with a layer of bronze metal plates that today are a teal patina color, but were once as bright and reflective as gold, reflecting the sun and adding a touch of opulence and grandeur to an already impressive building. The oculus symbolizes a connection between the temple and the heavens, drawing the eyes of those who walk in towards the heavens. In addition, the oculus, from a structural standpoint, takes significant weight and pressure off the dome. This was critical at the time as there was no steel reinforcement.

“At the center of the dome is a circular opening called the oculus, which is about 27 feet wide in diameter and serves as the building’s primary source of natural light.”

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ART & ARCHAEOLOGY

THE ROMAN PANTHEON

Massive Corinthian columns support the Pantheon’s legendary entrance, a gateway to one of the greatest feats of ancient engineering.

The geometrically patterned marble floor is very slightly slanted, with the highest point at the center, sloping ever so slightly downward towards the drains. This way, any rain that would fall into the building from the oculus would naturally flow into the highly advanced drainage system built into the flooring, a true testament to Roman engineering.

The Pantheon’s grand portico and facade, with its 16 monolithic (one stone) 40-foot-tall Corinthian columns, truly reflects traditional Greek architectural influence, while the innovative dome demonstrates the mastery of Roman engineering.

Today, the Pantheon stands at 143 feet in height and is a powerful symbol of Roman creativity, religious history, and architectural achievement. It serves as a testament to the beauty, awe, and precision of the Roman Pantheon.

In 1980, it was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Jacob Lupotsky is a proud Latin student in 10th grade at Owen J. Roberts High School. Jacob has been awarded many times for his excellence in his linguistic strengths by the Philadelphia Classical Society, several National Latin Exams, and the PA State Latin Convention. Outside of school he is a prolific drawer and artist who loves to turn a blank sheet of paper into a work to be proud of.

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ART & ARCHAEOLOGY

PROMETHEUS, THE SUNSET AND THE STARS I may as well be Icarus, as my thirst for freedom has left me in chains. At least he had a quick death. He fell and fell, but when he hit the water, he could smile knowing he had truly lived. Now I lie in chains and in pain, waiting for an end that will never come. How does one pass the time when one cannot move? I cannot spend more time in my head. My regrets do not spiral, but my wishes cry. I would not change what I did. Not for the world. But, oh, how I miss my clay. And, oh, how I miss my creatures. Oh, how I miss the world.

For my crime, I’ve been chained to a cliff and tortured for all eternity. What was my crime, you ask? You. You are my creation. All mortals are. I sculpted every being on this earth from clay, from the tiniest mouse to the largest whale. Every animal was unique. Some were fast, some were strong, some had venom. I made you mortals last. My final creation. There were no traits left untaken. There were no traits that were not taken. Nothing left for you. I did what I had never done before: I gave you the gift of knowledge. To do this, I stole fire from the King of the Gods himself, as my gift to you. It became your tool. It opened the door of possibility, an action that could never be undone.

However, your mortal thoughts became tangled in the fire’s smoke, and as it rose higher and higher, it reached the home of the gods, Mount Olympus.

When Zeus discovered this smoke, he realised he had been fooled and robbed. He had no mercy and no intentions of it. Anyone who steals from Zeus must pay. Humiliation is an act far more treacherous than any other wrongdoing. He chained me here, and he sends vultures, my very own creations. They peck out my liver every day, just for it to regrow, and repeat tomorrow.

Prometheus is a symbol of freethinkers and rebellion, as well as the punishments for their enlightened ideas.

An artist’s depiction of spectators gathered inside the Colosseum, illustrating the scale and atmosphere of Roman public entertainment.

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I have no belongings and no way to distract myself from my reality. As the sun rises every morning, I ask how I should pass the time. I had never given myself an answer, and as if in response, time decided to slow down. It is truly a terrible fate not to have a way to occupy the time. Not to have anything to hope for or look forward to. To be stuck in time. However, that feeling of helplessness did not last forever.

As my imprisonment went on, Icarus made himself a home in my mind, his story ingrained in my soul. A young boy, so stupid, so impulsive, yet so full of life. His father told him not to fly too close to the sun, but he refused.

As he got closer, his wax wings melted, and he fell towards the sea. Most say he regretted his flight as he fell to the water, but there are a few who say he laughed as he fell. Smiling from his love for the sun. Cheering for his accomplishment of nearly reaching it. They agree he was ignorant, and his actions were foolish, but they say those facts do not mean he regretted what he did. I realised I felt the same. While I had not fallen in love with the sun, I had fallen in love with my creations and my art. One night, inspired by Icarus, I lifted my head to the setting sun and gazed upon it with new eyes.

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A Renaissance depiction of classical scholars gathered in discussion, inspired by ancient Greek and Roman intellectual culture.

“Orange and red danced in the sky as the sun fell to the horizon, just as Icarus had. The light turned my brown eyes golden, and it made the blood of my scars shimmer”

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Orange and red danced in the sky as the sun fell to the horizon, just as Icarus had. The light turned my brown eyes golden, and it made the blood of my scars shimmer. Maybe this, I thought, maybe this is how I can spend my time. When the sun had finally hid, the stars came out. For the first time in centuries, I tilted my head up towards them and gazed at their wonder.

Constellations everywhere. Orion.

Aries. Leo. Scorpius. Some were my friends. Companions I had lost long ago. Some I didn’t know. I began to make my own; I saw shapes and patterns no one else had ever seen before. I gave them stories and lives, just as I had with my clay. I miss my clay very much, but I have missed creating even more.

Works Cited Atsma, Aaron J. “PROMETHEUS.” Theoi.com, Theoi Project, 2017, www.theoi.com/Titan/TitanPromet heus.html.

Wikipedia Contributors.

“Prometheus.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 24 Feb. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prometheus.

Prometheus Bound (or Prométhée enchaîné in French), created by the sculptor Nicolas-Sébastien Adam in 1762 displayed in the Louvre

My constellations have smiled back at me and have kept me company in the worst of times. As the sun rose, they gave me something I could look forward to. Something that could never be taken away. Although cloudy nights could be heartbreaking and Zeus’s angry storms could be frightening, I found comfort in the fact that the stars always lay just behind the roaring thunder and the blinding lightning.

This is how I spend my days now, waiting for the sky to bleed red, as if to share in my pain. For when the sun sinks into the sea, that is when I know the stars will come out. The vultures.

Zeus. They all haunt me. I want nothing more than to return to my world of art and creation. But the king of the gods and his minions can never break my spirit. They can never break my mind or my thirst for creation. The stars give me one last medium to work with. One last canvas.

Violet Gormon is a 10th grade Latin student at Upper Dublin High School. She is the editor-elect for the PLUMA. She was published in 2024 for her SCRIBO writing project. Besides Latin, she is in the colorguard for the Upper Dublin Marching Cardinals.

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LIFESTYLE AND CULTURE

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WOMEN'S CLOTHING: DISSENT IN THE EARLY AGES Many people disregard fashion in Rome and label everything they see as simple togas, but what if people in Rome were more fashionable than previously imagined? They wore many different garments over different time periods, and there are multiple facts about Roman fashion that people don’t realize. For example, while both men and women wore togas in early Rome, they later became a male-only outfit, while women would wear a stola (long dress) over a tunic. The stola was a sleeveless garment typically made out of wool. In public, it was custom for women to wear a cloak called a palla to shield their arms. Underneath the stola women wore undergarments not unlike those of today. Women wore a bra called a strophium or mamillare, which was a strip of cloth that supported the breasts or was worn around the waist and hips. Jewelry and expensive fabrics with bright dyes were used to show wealth without being too showy.

Moving onto their hair, women would sew their hair in place in order to keep their intricate hairstyles in place. They famously have hairstyles that are difficult to recreate, and up until around 2001, were thought to just be elaborate wigs.

Starting in 2001, a researcher named Janet Stephens conducted her own studies to reveal that it was their real hair sewn into place. She even discovered that the Latin word acus, previously thought to mean “hairpin”, was actually the word for a sewing needle used by hairstylists.

Comparing Roman women to women of today, there are more similarities than one might assume. In the late republic, women were banned from wearing ostentatious clothing, which consumed a large amount of material and wealth. These laws were revoked, however, when women protested on streets. This pattern continued throughout history. During the 1920s, women called “flappers” rejected traditional Victorian fashion standards by wearing shorter dresses and bold fabrics.

Women even now face oppression regarding their style and protests remain an important part of civil dissent.

Pompeii fresco of women in athletic undergarments.

Roman women in stola and palla.

Madeline Reese is heavily involved in Owen J Robert's JCL chapter, attending festivals and PAJCL convention as well as participating in Latin League. She has received awards for various National Latin Exams and artistic projects. She is the president of the school newspaper and enjoys playing volleyball.

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LIFESTYLE AND CULTURE

KEYSTONE

EARLY PIZZAS IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE In the early Roman Empire, foods resembling modern pizza began as simple flatbreads topped with common ingredients from the time. An early known reference to a pizza-like food appears in Virgil’s The Aeneid (29–19 BCE), where the Trojans ate flatbread that served as an edible plate for their meal, which was laid over top of the bread. This description shows that the idea of using bread as a base for toppings, one of the defining features of pizza, was already familiar in Roman culture. Even earlier, around 500 BC, frescoes containing Roman soldiers documented the baking of thin rounds of dough while traveling. The soldiers then topped the flatbreads with practical ingredients they carried, such as cheese, dates, and garum (a fermented fish sauce common at the time).

A modern depiction of the way Romans would eat sitting on couches in the Triclinium.

By doing this, they created a portable, customizable meal that was easy to bake and could theoretically be made anywhere.

As Roman cuisine developed, a popular flatbread called picea emerged as a common street and household food.

This fresco showing a Roman flatbread, was found in the atrium of a house in Insula 10, Regio IX in Pompeii.

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LIFE AND CULTURE Picea resembled an early pizza in both shape and function; It was round, baked, and topped with items like figs, honey, garlic, herbs, cheese, garum, and bay leaves. These toppings reflected typical Roman flavors, relying on ingredients available long before the arrival of tomatoes in Europe.

Wealthy Roman elites showed off with exotic and lavish dishes like roasted peacock, flamingo tongues, or sow's udders.

Archaeological evidence from Pompeii further supports the presence of pizza-like foods in daily Roman life. Excavations have revealed street stands and bakeries equipped with ovens and tools suited for producing flatbreads, showing that these items were widely sold and easily accessible, much like modern pizza shops.

Many frescoes also depict round, topped breads that closely resemble early forms of flatbread dishes. Although these ancient versions lacked tomato sauce, they established the essential concept of a baked bread base topped with ingredients. The evolution toward modern pizza occurred centuries later, after tomatoes were brought to Europe from the Americas during the Columbian Exchange in the 1500s. Only then did cooks in Italy begin adding tomato sauce to traditional flatbreads, eventually creating the Neapolitan pizzas that inspired the worldwide dish we know and love today.

A 3rd-century Roman floor mosaic from Saint-Romain-en-Gal, France, depicting a baker placing bread into a traditional domed oven.

Overall, early Roman flatbreads such as the ones described by Virgil, used by soldiers, and baked in Pompeii and many other corners of the empire, stand as important ancestors of modern pizza, demonstrating that the basic idea of a versatile, topped bread has existed for more than two thousand years!

Jacob Lupotsky is a proud Latin and academic student of Owen J. Roberts High School. He serves as his class treasurer in addition to being a member of his local PA senatorial student advisory committee. He is a member of both the National Honor Society and the National Latin Honor Society. Outside of school he is a prolific drawer and artist who loves to turn a blank sheet of paper into a work to be proud of.

49KEYSTONE

"Where is my wife?" Orpheus asked, his voice colder than the frigid outdoors.

KEYSTONE "Why do you want to know?" Hermes responded.

"WHERE IS SHE!" Orpheus demanded, grabbing Hermes by his collar. He pushed Orpheus away.

"Young man, you are talking to a God. You'd better watch your tone," He said softly but firmly, pushing a finger into Orpheus' chest as his usual mischievous air vaporized. Orpheus hung onto every word.

Hermes took a breath, his voice low.

"Eurydice's dead."

Orpheus staggered backwards, crashing into his desk, sending the papers he'd been working so feverishly on scattering around the room. The world was spinning, and his knees gave way. He couldn't even begin to comprehend what was going on.

Eurydice was Dead.

"How do I save her?" was all he could manage to squeeze out of his mouth.

Hermes held his chin thoughtfully.

"You're gonna have to go the long way. Take the Ablazoned train route as far as it'll go. From there, you walk to the ends of the earth. There will be a staircase, leading directly to Hades' Castle, the one on the Lethe. Just don't look back until you make it to the Underworld."

Orpheus took a deep breath.

"In what direction do I walk, Mister Hermes?"

Hermes smiled.

"You'll know, son."

Orpheus didn't waste another second before turning and bolting out the door. Only then did he realize that he was wearing a T-shirt, flimsy jeans, and no shoes. He didn't care, though. He had to get his wife back. As he ran, he tripped over his own feet.

Upon landing a mouthful of concrete, he noticed that the fall wasn't as brutal as he'd anticipated because a warm Spring coat broke his fall.

"Thank you, Mister Hermes." He whispered to himself as he continued walking. The Ablazoned station was fifteen miles away, and all other transportation was cancelled due to the harsh Spring storms. He hummed gently to himself for one subconscious moment before stopping himself. He paid so little attention to his wife that she sold her soul. All because of that song. So, he continued walking.

Orpheus nearly missed his train, although he wondered why it wasn't totally cancelled due to the storms. Plot armor, He thought to himself as he boarded the train. The journey to Vae-Evere County was a days-long trek. Orpheus had nothing to do but wonder how his wife was.

Where was she? Is she alright? Is she safe? He looked out the window.Trees.

Rocks.

Boulders.

Trees.

Boulders.

Rocks.

Sky. Snow.

A sheep.

Mountains.

On a normal day, Orpheus would be breathless at the sights.

If Eurydice were here, he'd be breathless at the sight of her.

But she wasn't here.

She was dead.

So Orpheus looked out the window.

Four days later, the train came to a screeching halt, and Orpheus stepped off the train. He took in his surroundings.

Trees.

Rocks.

Mountains.

Grass.

Orpheus started up one of the mountains. It was thousands of feet high, but it was what his instincts told him. He passed the time by counting as far as he could. Recalling all of the stories his mother had told him before she left.

Hours later, upon reaching the peak, there was one singular tree. It lacked leaves and had only one branch pointing east. So, Orpheus journeyed as far east as he could until, at long last, he found the staircase. So, he did the first thing he thought of and flew down, tripping over the last few stairs and flying past the castle, straight into the River Styx. The water burned his eyes, nose, mouth, throat, and lungs as he struggled to keep his memories alive.

Alive.

Eurydice wasn't.

Eurydice.

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SCIENCES AND EDUCATION Eurydice was Orpheus' anchor as he swam to the surface. Not bad, he thought to himself. No memories lost. As he dragged himself from the riverbanks, he approached the ginormous castle and knocked on the door.

The magnificent oak doors swung open, and Orpheus entered the manor.

"Who goes there?" A voice bellowed.

Orpheus nearly screamed. He spun around, searching for his challenger.

"I am Orpheus. I come in search of my wife."

A figure emerged from a door, overlooking the balcony.

"Your wife?"

"Yes, sir," Orpheus said, as politely as he could. Suddenly, a girl appeared from a plume of smoke. Her silver hair shone in the dim light of the castle. The light perfectly caught the small dried flower in her necklace.

The one Orpheus had given her.

Eurydice.

"Eurydice!" he cried, running towards her, flinging his arms around her. She pushed him down.

"Orpheus," she said, her voice cold as ice.

"You abandoned me."

He lowered his head in shame.

"I know. I'm so sorry. It'll never happen again. Please come home."

Eurydice laughed dryly.

"You want me to come home?" She suddenly smiled. "Okay."

"WAIT!" Hades boomed. "The Ablazoned Line is shut down. If you want to take her back to the Overworld, you must walk one in front of the other. Without turning around."

Modern medicine does not have any cure for cachexia, but it does have some treatments similar to Celsus; light exercise can help build muscle and reduce wasting.

Orpheus started shaking.

"Or else what?"

Hades smiled cruelly.

"You will see."

So, Orpheus and Eurydice turned and began to walk away. They walked and walked and walked.

Up the stairs.

Through the forest.

Orpheus noticed that the tree he saw atop the mountain had fallen.

The tree next to it was alone now.

They continued walking.

"Eurydice?"

"Yes?" "You're behind me, right?"

"Yes." Orpheus' thoughts began to take over.

She's not behind me.

I'm alone.

I can't do this alone.

No. No. No. NO! He turned around.

Silence.

"Orpheus?" Eurydice whispered.

Her silver hair glistened in the light of the sun as she crumbled into dust and blew away on the wind.

"Eurydice…"

Morgan Keaton is an enthusiastic sophomore in Latin 3 at Upper Dublin High School. with a passion for humanities and a desire to pursue Early Elementary Education and Musical Theatre. Active in extracurricular activities, including serving as a Latin Club officer.

Committed to academic excellence and community involvement.

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KEYSTONE DATES

SUBMISSION DATES: AUTUMN - OCT 6

SPRING - DEC 15

SPRING - MAR 9

CONVENTION - JUN 2

KEYSTONE SCHOOLS IN LATEST ISSUE: THE WILLIAM PENN CHARTER SCHOOL HARRITON HIGH SCHOOL

CONTENT IDEAS:

OWEN J. ROBERTS HIGH SCHOOL

ANNOUNCEMENTS

UPPER DUBLIN HIGH SCHOOL

CHAPTER NEWS RESOURCES ARTWORK GAMES EVENT RECAPS

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EXCELLENCE THROUGH CLASSICS ADS

Sherwin Little, Convention Registrar P. 513-529-7741 | F: 515-529-7742

littles@aclclassics.org

53 KEYSTONE

COMMUNITY SERVICE

KEYSTONE

EMBODYING ROMAN PIETY It was the coldest day of the year, which meant Code Blue for the homeless shelter in Reading, Pennsylvania. The weather was too dangerous for anyone to survive on the streets, so no one was turned away. That night, the Latin and Certamen Club officers took the trip out and served dinner to over 200 men. We brought food donations and home-baked desserts; some of the brownies we made were burnt, but to our surprise, they were the most popular.

Volunteering to serve food at this shelter felt like a natural step for our officers who strive to achieve the Roman virtue of piety. For the ancient Romans, this value meant unwavering loyalty to their gods, their state, and their family. However, for modern teenagers, this virtue means going out of their way to give back to their community and not take their opportunities for granted.

There are so many ways to get involved with volunteering!

Reach out to a local food kitchen or homeless shelter and find a time to go help out. All it takes is one good deed to make a big difference!

Certamen Co-Consuls Maya Gavrin and Sansan Lu (left), along with Harriton Latin Club President Olivia Lee and PAJCL President Chris Chang (right)

When we arrived at the shelter, we were greeted warmly by men from all backgrounds. Some tattoos hinted at a criminal past, many were war veterans, and others had simply lost their footing. They still clung to small signs of dignity (nice sneakers, a sense of style), but all shared the same trace of gloom and defeat on their faces.

Because of their clear pain, smiling and greeting became a rule for our students, each focused on making the men grin. A simple, “Hello, sir. How are you tonight?” brightened so many faces. In the end, the most important thing we offered wasn’t food, but recognition - being seen, respected, and treated as human.

Christopher Chang is a 12th grader in AP Latin at Harriton High School, and plans to continue studying Classics in college. He is the former Secretary of PAJCL and the current President of PAJCL. He serves as an officer in his own Latin Club and Certamen chapters. Aside from Latin, he participates in Squash, Badminton, and Science Olympiad.

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SCIENCE AND EDUCATION

KEYSTONE

ROMAN WEATHER WATCHERS: PREDICTING NATURE WITHOUT TECHNOLOGY Long before satellite imagery and digital barometers, the ancient Romans relied on a sophisticated "biological technology" to navigate their world: the power of observation. By decoding the subtle behaviors of animals and the shifting colors of the Mediterranean horizon, they built a civilization that thrived on its ability to anticipate nature’s next move. Understanding how they "read" the atmosphere reveals a deep, lost connection between human intuition and the natural environment.

The Farmer’s Almanac: Signs from the Earth For a Roman farmer, a failed crop meant more than just a bad year—it meant potential starvation for their family and the community. Without the benefit of weather apps, these individuals turned to the behavior of the land and its inhabitants to predict the coming seasons. They observed that ants would frantically move their eggs to higher ground before a heavy rain, and cattle would sniff the air with nostrils flared as they sensed shifts in atmospheric pressure. Even the flora provided clues, as the closing of certain flowers or the "sweating" of stone floors in a villa's atrium were noted as reliable indicators of rising humidity and approaching storms.

The Sailor’s Horizon: Reading the Sea and Sky For the Roman Navy and merchant vessels, the Mediterranean could be a treacherous mistress that required constant vigilance. Sailors developed a keen eye for what they called signa, or sky-signs, to guide their voyages across open water.

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The Romans identified twelve distinct winds and named them based on the direction they blew, such as the cold Boreas from the North. They also looked for the "halcyon" or kingfisher bird, whose presence was believed to bring fourteen days of perfectly calm seas.

Shifting clouds and heavy winds warned of an incoming storm, guiding Roman farmers and sailors alike.

KEYSTONE

SCIENCE AND EDUCATION

KEYSTONE

ROMAN WEATHER WATCHERS: PREDICTING NATURE WITHOUT TECHNOLOGY Much like the modern proverb, Romans observed that a deep red sunset often signaled clear weather and dry air, while a red sunrise suggested a gathering storm.

They also watched for celestial halos or rings around the moon, which they correctly interpreted as a sign of changing pressure that usually brought wind or rain within twenty-four hours.

Meteorological Philosophy The Romans did not merely guess at the weather; they attempted to systematize their observations into a form of early science. Scholars like Pliny the Elder documented hundreds of these "weather signs" in his expansive work, Natural History. He believed that the universe was an interconnected organism where a change in one part, such as the flight pattern of a crane, was an inevitable signal of a change in another, like the arrival of a winter gale. This philosophical approach allowed the Romans to turn simple observations into a strategic advantage for both agriculture and warfare.

The Roman approach to weather was a masterclass in mindfulness, proving that survival often depends on how closely we pay attention to the world around us. While we now have supercomputers to do the heavy lifting, there is still a timeless wisdom in looking at the horizon and understanding the language of the wind. The next time you see the clouds gather, ask yourself what a Roman observer would have seen in that same sky.

Author’s Reflection I chose this topic because I have always been fascinated by how ancient civilizations achieved massive feats of engineering and logistics without modern sensors. Researching these "weather signs" made me realize that we often ignore the natural warnings right in front of us because we are too focused on our digital devices. It was an eye-opening look at how intuition and observation once served as the primary tools for human survival.

"For the Romans, the sky was not just a view, but a manuscript; to read the clouds was to foresee the survival of the harvest or the safety of the fleet."

Aiden Bray is a junior in UDHS high school and is a COCO for the Latin club at her school.

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NATIONAL CONVENTION

Sherwin Little, Convention Registrar P. 513-529-7741 | F: 515-529-7742 littles@aclclassics.org

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HTTPS://TINYURL.COM/PAJRCL

STATE OFFICERS PRESIDENT CHRISTOPHER CHANG VICE PRESIDENT PUBLIC RELATIONS OLIVIA LEE VICE PRESIDENT MEMBERSHIP ALEENA MARTINO SECRETARY OLIVIA MORICONI PARLIAMENTARIAN SOHUM BANDYOPADHYAY KEYSTONE EDITOR SILVIA KAUR KANG CHAIRPERSON VERONICA VLADIMIROVA-CAMBRIA COMMUNICATIONS CHAIR QUINN MCINTIRE CONSTITUTION CHAIR & TREASURER KARIN SUZADAIL PUBLICATIONS CHAIR TRACI DOUGHERTY PAST CHAIRPERSON RYAN ZEITZER CERTAMEN CHAIR SARA FLOUNDERS

KEYSTONE

KEYSTONE is the official publication of the Pennsylvania Junior Classical League (PAJCL). It serves as a platform for informing, inspiring, and connecting members through engaging content that celebrates the study of Latin, Greek, and classical civilizations.

Featuring chapter news, event recaps, contest results, and student submissions, including educational articles, artwork, and more. The Keystone highlights the achievements and voices of PAJCL members while fostering a shared love for the classics.

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WHY JOIN? Joining the Pennsylvania Junior Classical League (PAJCL) offers students a wealth of opportunities to engage with Latin, Greek, and classical civilizations in meaningful and exciting ways.

Through leadership roles, service projects, and participation in events like the annual PAJCL Convention, members develop valuable skills in teamwork, communication, and organization. Our vibrant community of like-minded peers allows students to build friendships and connections across the state.

For those who seek to deepen their passion for the classics, PAJCL offers a keystone to learning, leadership, and lifelong inspiration.

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club photos

certtamen black rock middle?

ojr latin league

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club photos hadestown trips

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club photos saturnalia pics harriton

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club photos saturnalia pics udhs

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EDEN JOSEPF UPPER DUBLIN HIGH

TRACI DOUGHERTY PUBLICATIONS CHAIR ANRUI XU RADNOR HIGH

SILVIA KANG KEYSTONE EDITOR

JOY BECKISH INSERT HS AVA MORICONI UPPER DUBLIN HIGH

ANDREW CICALESE HARRITON HIGH

MAYA GAVRIN HARRITON HIGH

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