About JCL
What is MassJCL?
The Massachusetts Junior Classical League (MassJCL) is a non-profit organization centered in Massachusetts that aims to promote classical studies in the modern world.
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The MassJCL is a member of the National Junior Classical League, which is the main governing body of all state JCL chapters. The MassJCL is also the parent organization of a variety of local JCL and classics clubs centered at various schools within the state.
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MassJCL has something for everyone. JCLers can
-attend lectures with well-known speakers
-run for office
-participate in spirit events
-compete in Certamen events
-enroll in academic, graphic arts, and creative arts contests
-showcase physical strength in Olympika contests
-and so much more!
What is Certamen?
Certamen is a quizbowl or Jeopardy-style game where teams of students compete to test their knowledge of the Latin language and classical mythology, history, and culture. There are competitions every year, ranging from local, state, and national levels!
Certamen allows students to demonstrate their understanding of the ancient peoples, languages, and cultures, and the relationships between those topics and the modern world.
There are 3 levels: Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced
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Learn more about Certamen in the Contests folder! New Certamen players should start with this Certamen Starter Kit.
What are some JCL events?
Events such as Classics Day and Kickoff are open to any MassJCL member, and are hosted in the fall as a way to welcome new and old members and initiate the new year of JCL events!
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State Convention takes place in the spring and all MassJCL members can attend.
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National Convention occurs each summer and is the most popular event of the year. JCLers of all ages and from all states come together for a week of contests, games, and more.
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Learn more about the upcoming National Convention as well as past events in the Events + News folder.
2022 Welcome letter
Salvete Omnes,
I hope you all had a good summer break and have had a great start to the school year!
As the 2022-2023 school year begins, I would like to cordially welcome you to MassJCL. As you may know, MassJCL is a chapter of the National Junior Classical League (NJCL), a student-run organization that seeks to unite classics students from across Massachusetts and the country in a shared appreciation for the languages and cultures of ancient civilizations. This organization provides amazing opportunities for you to pursue your passion in the classics, give back to your community, meet new people, and pursue leadership opportunities at the local, state and national level.
We will host three statewide events throughout the year: Kickoff, Classics Day and State Convention. Our first event is Kickoff taking place on October 29th, from 9am to 3pm, at Winchester High School. This event is an excellent way for you to learn more about how to establish or grow your school’s classics club, to meet people from around the state, and to learn about leadership opportunities in JCL through the Praetoria workshops. We will also have plenty of fun activities, including open certamen and (friendly) gladiator fights. Can’t wait to see you there!
Our next event, Classics Day, will take place at Boston University on December 1st. Please save the date! The theme for this year is “A Day in the Life,” with a focus on historically marginalized communities in the ancient Mediterranean world. Always one of our most popular events, Classics Day offers you a chance to attend classics-related lectures and workshops led by professors in the Boston area.
Finally, make sure to stay tuned for more information about our State Convention, which will be held in person in April. This weekend-long event is an excellent opportunity for you to meet other classics scholars from across the state and compete in academic, dramatic, artistic, and athletic competitions. It is also a great first taste of what the annual NJCL conventions are like, and we hope it will inspire you to join the Massachusetts delegation at Nationals which will be held at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia next summer.
I am looking forward to meeting you all this year, and am so grateful for your support of MassJCL!
Gratias tibi ago,
Louisa Hemr
MassJCL President 2022-2023