Sanford Hosts Latin Day MMXVI

Latin students in grades 5–12 from Independence, Tatnall, Tower Hill, and Upland Country Day School gathered on the Middle School field to join in celebrating the anniversary of the founding of Rome on 4/21/753 BCE. Festivities began at 10:00 AM with a parade of banners and chariots. This parade featured the inauguration of Sanford’s brand-new chariot, designed and built by Sanford parent John Ferretti.

For the rest of the day, the Latin teachers and parents volunteers supervised students as they played games like chariot races, Herculean Holdup, Stygian Stomp, Three Gray Sisters Eye Toss, and Capture Jason’s Golden Fleece, with the winners awarded golden laurel wreaths to show off their triumph. The celebration also featured a new event—the Roman Tailgate Contest. For this competition, each school set up a tailgate, decorating a banquet table with materials related to a theme taken from Roman history and culture. After evaluating each tailgate on theme, creativity, and cuisine, a panel of august judges awarded Independence the traveling “Tantalus Award” this year.

The celebration ended with a fashion show—with students showing off a variety of styles from Cerebus to cows—and a Jeopardy-style “certamen” contest in which grade level teams competed against one another to answer trivia questions about ancient Rome.

Most importantly, birthday cake was served to all. Every team went home with laurels and a renewed appreciation for all things Latin.