The WJCL Blog

Stupid Cupid

2012-02-12T10:42:00.000-06:00

Oh My Zeus, do you know what today is? DO YOU KNOW WHAT TODAY IS? It's February 12, which has no significance other than being Paul Bunyan Day, World Marriage Day, and also, inexplicably, Man Day. BUT February 12 is also just two days away from the pinkest, heartiest, sparkliest day of the year: Valentine's Day!
I love Valentine's Day. Because people act like total spazzes. I believe it's all Cupid's fault; it has to be. Why else would you get those people who are suddenly biting their fingernails, wondering if a little piece of pink and red paper and a Hershey kiss are going to change their lives forever, or those people who spend the whole day saying, "Valentine's Day is stupid, really stupid, I mean unbelievably stupid, I don't need a boyfriend/girlfriend anyway, who wants to watch a slasher movie tonight?" Obviously the results of Cupid's most potent gold and lead arrows.
On a more serious note, Valentine's Day is actually the day of Saint Valentine. Although there were multiple St. Valentines, the most famous story is that of St. Valentine of Rome, who was persecuted for being a Christian. As legend has it, he was questioned by Emperor Claudius II himself, but after a few hours of each man trying to convert the other, Valentine was executed. It is said that before his execution, he healed the jailer's blind daughter and gave her sight.
Valentine's Day is also linked to the Ancient Roman fertility festival of Lupercalia, celebrated February 13-15.
So if you want to impress your friends with a few esoteric facts about Valentine's Day, there you go. Or just have fun watching everyone go bonkers. Add to the hysteria by poking your friends with safety pins. "Hey, it wasn't me! It was Cupid!"

Tips for Dealing with Post-Convention Depression

2012-02-01T16:02:00.000-06:00

Salvete, Omnes! (That's the last time I'll say that, I promise.) This is your new WJCL Secretary speaking. Although State Convention is over, please keep your hands, arms, legs, and various tentacles inside your vehicle, as you may be headed for a huge dive in the Roller Coaster of Life.

Fear not, however! Put away the ice cream, stop sobbing over your toga, and follow these tips - it'll be next year before you know it.

1. On Facebook, like every single post/picture/status relating to Convention, and make some of your own.
2. Again, on Facebook, friend every single person you met at Convention, even the Homestead guy with the purple hair you saw for two seconds at the dance.
3. Watch the video of Trenton, former WJCL Treasurer and current WJCL 1st VP (movin' up the food chain, buddy!), getting pied by the lovely Quinn Otero. Then watch it again. And again.
4. Plan for next year! Think about running for office (hey, if the socially awkward girl nicknamed after a fish could do it, you can do it) or studying extra hard for that one test.
5. Consider going to Nationals. More tests, more Certamen, more spirit, PLUS Ludi and Olympika (sports competitions). It's a blast!

So have hope, WJCLers. All is not lost. Even if this was your last state convention, you have been touched by the friendly hand of the JCL, and it will never leave you. Like a fungus...or something.

Farewell, 54th State Convention!

2012-01-29T01:16:00.000-06:00

Dearest Reader,

This will most likely be my last blog post as your Secretary as Malhalia Sobhani will soon be taking over the reigns. It has been fun, an honor, and a fun honor, to be your Secretary. Get PUMPED for Nationals and the year ahead, because I already am!

Valete,
Gabe Jacobs

Your new WJCL State Board:
President - Julie Gokhman
1st Vice President - Trenton McMaster
2nd Vice President - Gabe Jacobs
Parliamentarian - Ari Pollack
Secretary - Mahalia Sobhani
Historian - Danny Trunzo
Treasurer - Sam Silver
Tech Coordinator - Andrea Sommer
Editor - Jessica Chan

54th Annual WJCL Convention!!

2012-01-26T17:51:00.000-06:00

SALVETE OMNES!

JABE GACOBS HERE CHECKING IN FROM LATIN CONVENTION IN MADISON!

The board and myself look forward to a grand convention, and we hope you all have TONZ OF FUNZ!!

GAUDETE!!

IO SATVRNALIA

2012-01-01T21:27:00.000-06:00

SALVETE AMICI

I hope everyone had a wonderful Saturnalia and New Years!
Wait, it's 2012? THAT MEANS STATE CONVENTION IS THIS MONTH!!!
GET PUMPED! HAPPY TIMEZ AWAIT!!

Valete et Annum Novum Felicum Habete

The Rise of the VLOG

2011-12-02T20:18:00.002-06:00

Here it is, the moment you have all been waiting for:

#ihopethisworks

@WJCLSecretary

WJCL TWITTA FAM

2011-12-02T18:57:00.000-06:00

SALVETE OMNES

WJCL NUNC TWITTER HABET. IF YOU DONT HAVE A TWITTER, GET ONE NOW AND YOU CAN GET WJCL UPDATES STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONUM!! BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE UPCOMING VLOG LATER TONIGHT!

B-A-UTIFUL

2011-11-13T15:02:00.000-06:00

Salvete Omnes!!

Today was the WJCL November meeting at Brookfield Academy! It was tons of fun needless to say, and check the site for minutes and a few changes!!

If you would like to run for a position, follow Julie Gokhman's example and send the candidate forms to Evan Diprete Brown via either fax or carrier pigeon (recommended)!

State Convention is SOON!! GET EXCITED!!!! AHHHHHHHH IM EXCITED!!! I HAVEN'T FELT LIKE THIS SINCE LAST TIME I CUDDLED WITH THE WALLACH KITTENS

AVE ATQUE VALE AMICI

This One's For Duncan

2011-11-08T22:02:00.002-06:00

Test Test Test How's it look?

Loose Ends

2011-11-08T21:45:00.000-06:00

Salvete Iterum Omnes!

First off, special thanks to our beautiful tech coordinator Duncan Adams for saving the world from total annihilation (i smell a derivative)!!! I have learned my lesson!

Also, here is the answer to my previous question:

3 BEAUTIFUL KITTENS!!! (that's me by the way)

Carpete Hebdomadem!

SALVETE AMICI

2011-11-06T17:17:00.000-06:00

HELLO EVERYBODY!! I am Gabe Jacobs, your new WJCL Secretary!!!

I just wanted to make this post to introduce myself and remind you guys of some deadlines. Also I'm going to experiment with some things so I can make this blog all nice and pretty, so bear with me!

Supes Important Deadline: STATE REGISTRATION IS DUE DECEMBER 1st !! Get those forms in!

State Theme:

DIMIDIVM FACTI QVI COEPIT HABET -- 'He who has begun has half the deed done'

--Horace

And I shall leave you with a Board Member Trivia Question!!

How many cute little black kittens does President Marnie Wallach own?
A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
E) 5

Write your answer on a Sticky Note, tape it to a sportula filled with delicious garum, and send it to my house. The answer will be revealed later tonight!

Noctem Bonam Habete!

Okay so I know this is really late...

2011-10-17T22:22:00.000-05:00

But better late than never!
I am handing the blog over to Gabe, our new WJCL Secretary. I hope he and the next secretaries will have fun updating the theme, posting, and maintaining the calendar.
But anyways- goodbye for now!

Safeeyah

Right Before

2011-07-23T20:14:00.000-05:00

The night before Wisconsin embarks to Kentucky... and I am in another state entirely. I am beyond excitement! I'm getting random shivers in anticipation. I can't wait to be with the other JCLers. At Nationals, we convene to celebrate not a dead language, but a "zombie" language as former WJCLer said. This analogy is perfect. We have resurrected the culture and joined the craze ourselves, integrating the past with the present. Latin is part of everyone's lives in the modern world, and it is our duty as JCLers to promote it.

I've been thinking about Harry Potter lately (but who hasn't?). Many spells in the book are Latin-based- so did the Romans develop formal magic in addition to the foundations of civilizations around the world? In the world of HP, if there wasn't methodical magic before the Romans made spells for it, then could the ancient residents of the Tyrrhenian peninsula have invented it? Or, from the opposite perspective, was Latin based off of the words of magic spells? With this "logic," we JCLers would be magical zombie people.

If anyone reading this post has any thoughts, please comment!

An Idea

2011-04-28T21:39:00.000-05:00

I just got an idea 5 minutes ago. This Nationals, I will make a documentary! I'm so excited!

Saf

Mirabile dictu!

2011-03-29T00:08:00.000-05:00

Let me be among the first to say that this new website is Amazing! Good job, Duncan!

Safeeyah

Ohmygoodness

2011-02-27T20:48:00.002-06:00

So- there was a board meeting today and we talked about a LOT of stuff (please see the minutes). The purpose of this post is a mark-your-calendar reminder:
March 25- Deadline for registering for Middle School Certamen Invitational and sending in numbers for Nationals.
April 2- Board Meeting and Middle School Certamen Invitational at BA.
May 1- Election Board Meeting at DSHA.
May 14-15- Relay for Life at Homestead- let's have a WJCL team!
There is more information for these dates in the calendar above.

Also- there is a Border Battle coming up. Wisconsin is traveling to Illinois this spring at a time TBA.

Valete,
Safeeyah

After Convention

2011-01-31T18:49:00.001-06:00

I love convention... so I wanted to take note of the past few days, as this is a blog for WJCLers to connect and share their own experiences. I personally had a blast. This was by far the best convention I have ever been to. The greatest part was getting to know people from all schools better.

Here are a few of my convention memories and shenanigans:
1. Trying to dye my hair purple (didn't work... I did end up with a violet towel and scalp, however)
2. Madison West's awesome musical talents (Isaac- you are especially amazing!)
3. Ha Ha Ha Ha... (quoth Red Morph Suit Man from BEast)
4. Megatron!
5. Getting a tossup in Certamen with my blue moon ice cream
6. The dance (the way some of you dance cracks me up... and that's the best part of the dance for me!)
7. Tangoing with Mara
8. Screaming down W Gilman Street in search of the Rainbow Bookstore Cooperative with a super-heavy load of books (multiple times, too)

I am always so sad after convention and hate that it's over too soon. On Sunday, I found it hard to accept that convention was over: I kept my nametag on afterwards and only took it off after I came home. Now, I miss everything and everyone. Convention may be over, but I hope especially that everyone keeps up their friendships, new and old.

Valete,
Safeeyah

New Calendar!

2011-01-23T19:07:00.002-06:00

Hi all,

I made a new calendar for the WJCL with Google Calendar, so expect to see it up soon.

Saf
:)

Stuff

2010-12-28T00:55:00.000-06:00

I love updating this blog! I like to make it pretty, even though there are not many visitors... I have edited the design for convention: do you like the new background? It goes with this year's theme!

Habete Felicem Annum Novum,
Safeeyah

The Calendar Again

2010-12-10T21:40:00.002-06:00

Ave...

Currently, I'm trying to embed the calendar on the blog... but I'm having issues with the html code. I hope to have it on the blog in the next few weeks though.

Meanwhile, I put up a countdown timer until Convention! Personally, I think its nifty.

...atque vale,
Safeeyah

Calendar first try

2010-11-14T12:27:00.002-06:00

I tried to make a calendar... so far it's a bit of a fail. But I'll keep working!
http://www.localendar.com/public/WJClSecretary

Small Changes

2010-11-05T00:04:00.001-05:00

I've made a few temporary changes to the blog: a new picture, new color scheme, etc.

Hope you enjoy them!

Saf

General Updates

2010-10-18T22:01:00.002-05:00

This year, if you don't have any plans already, go Toga Trick-or-Treating for UNICEF with other WJCLers! See http://youth.unicefusa.org/trickortreat/ for more information.

Also, updated forms are on the website, so please take a look at them, especially if you are planning on running for office this year.

Valete,
Safeeyah

After Convention

2010-08-07T22:05:00.004-05:00

Salvete- I hope you all had an awesome time at in Fargo! You can see your individual results here.

Now- looking ahead to next year:
The theme is "Bene legere saecla vincere"(To read well is to conquer the ages), a quote from Isaac Flagg, a 19th Century Classicist. The convention will be held at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond.

Safeeyah

A Reminder About Certamen Practices...

2010-07-13T07:38:00.002-05:00

Salvete!

Just to remind everyone, "certamen" practices are being held every Monday, Thursday, and Friday until Nationals at MUHS in room 206. Even if you are not interested in playing certamen, these sessions can be very helpful, since Mr. Stemm and Mr. Greenwald often choose a topic to overview before we pull out the buzzers. And someone usually brings delicious food. :)

Hope to see you all there!

Nicole Bray

Nationals Is Coming Up...

2010-07-12T00:59:00.003-05:00

So, as the Wisconsin delegation will be departing on July 26th at Marquette University High School at 8:00 am (only 2 more weeks!), I just wanted to remind you all to drink soda. You read that right- soda- or specifically, something that comes in a two liter bottle. Everyone going to Nationals needs TWO of these bottles for spirit.

Everyone will also need to bring these items because if you don't, disaster will ensue and everyone else will be sad:
White t-shirt
Bike or rollerblade helmet
Khaki pants
Tin foil
Cow bandannas (If you have them)
Black pants/shorts
Red togas (If you still have one)

Safeeyah

Reverting to the Old Layout

2010-07-11T17:16:00.001-05:00

In light of the outcome of the FIFA World Cup, The WJCL Blog is now back to its normal colors and layout.

Safeeyah

The New Color Scheme

2010-07-06T15:39:00.002-05:00

Did you notice... The WJCL Blog is now orange! Did you also notice... the Netherlands is in the World Cup final!

Safeeyah

Birth of The WJCL Blog!!!

2010-06-16T09:59:00.000-05:00

Salvete Omnes,

Thanks to a questioner at the 2010 Candidates' Open Forum, The WJCl Blog is born! This blog is for all members of the Wisconsin Junior Classical League- your voice can be heard here. Please contribute by posting announcements, pictures, general (appropriate) randomness, etc.

Bona Fortuna,
Safeeyah Quereshi
WJCL Secretary 2010