Classes are finished, the play has been performed, the final banquet has been enjoyed, and we are all preparing for the RITUS TERMINALIS tomorrow. In anticipation of our return to technology and cell phones, the Memoranda team would like to share the pictures that we have taken, collected, and organized during our time here at RMC. Feel free to download these pictures and add to your collections and social media! Thanks to the Memoranda team (especially Karuna, Michael, Simon, Taylor, Sophie, Kylie, and Camille) for the pictures that they contributed to our Google Drive.

You can access the Memmoranda pictures here: drive.google.com/open?id=1-9BcOyuJXr47L79jvAi7BG72GIwKRmeB

​-- Mr. Jefferson

     Today was our last day of Latin classes! Everyone was very sad that we will never again listen to Magister Cavellus inspire us with talks of reflections of chairs and Circumlitio! We don't have anymore passages to translate in Occidat, no more talks about the amazingness/scariness of Agrippina the Younger. And no more spoken Latin! We are all very sad that such an amazing experience is coming to an end. 
     Memoranda added the finishing touches to the video, we are all very excited to see it in the coming days! Those involved in the play had a final dress rehearsal today before all our friends, teachers, and parents see it tomorrow! Everyone not involved was able to watch it, and they had wonderful reviews. We are looking forward to seeing it tomorrow with our friends and family!
     As tomorrow is our last full day here, we started packing this afternoon. It was very sad to see all of our friends emptying the rooms where we have made so many memories over the past few weeks! We are still looking forward to seeing our family on Sunday!

Salvete Omnes!


We are approaching the performance of our play, Pseudolus, on Saturday at 2 pm in Blackwell Auditorium (the location of the Opening Ceremony).  The students have worked extremely hard on this endeavor and have done everything from set design and music arrangement to acting and performing.  Though the play is in Latin, we offer a synopsis in the program and include a brief prologue in English to situate our non-Latin speaking spectators. 

We hope that you will join us for the performance as well as the short reception to follow from 3-4 pm in Birdsong Cafe.  We ask that all guests remain in the cafe during the reception. Also, please, remember that the use or possession of an internet-enabled device by a student at this event will result in a dismissal from the academy. We thank you for your support and understanding. Finally, after the reception, students will return to the dorms to pack and prepare for our final banquet.    

Those of you traveling from a distance might consider staying overnight in Ashland to be ready for checkout starting at 8 am on Sunday (more on that to follow).  
ex animo,
​Princeps

     After a long two weeks wait, we were finally able to go to Richmond and see the Capitol Building! With a very informational tour and walk through the Capitol, we were able to better understand the influence classical architecture had on the planners of the U.S., like Thomas Jefferson. We also went to Maymont Park for free time to spend with friends! It was a fun way to expend some energy playing Frisbee, soccer, or just hiking around the park. On the way back to Andrews, we stopped for gelato at DeLuca Gelato and it was very delicious! Highly recommended!
     When we got back we split into our projects. Everyone working on the play is excited to be able to present on Saturday! The rehearsals today went smoothly! Those in Nuntia made the last edits as the second edition is being printed tomorrow morning. Memoranda added the last pictures in preparation of Sunday. We are all sad that GLA is coming to an end, but we know we will be reunited with our families and other (non-GLA) friends so we are still happy.

     Today was Mercatus Traiani! Everyone had a blast because we were able to finally present our projects to our friends and faculty! For an hour and a half, everyone spoke in solely Latin to sell and buy goods and services from other provinces. This was a lot of fun and everyone was happy that they could actually speak more Latin than they originally thought!

     Today was another Latin day and represented an exciting, yet also sad, coming to the end of academy. We translated our last passages in Occidat Dum Imperet with one final class remaining (which will be dedicated to the presentation of creative takes on Agrippina the Younger including but not limited to dances, songs, poems, and skits) on Friday. We also had our second to last spoken Latin class and Circumlitio, both were also very exciting yet bittersweet.
     After lunch we continued working on our projects with theater kids polishing their performances, set adding the finishing touches, and Nuntia/Memoranda writing and editing the last pieces. We were also able to watch O Brother, Where Art Thou?, a creative and funny take on Odysseus's journey in the Odyssey. We all had a good time laughing at the misadventures of the three main characters while also connecting certain plot points to those of the Odyssey. 
     Everyone is looking forward to Mercatus Traiani tomorrow, as we will finally be able to sell all of the goods we have been working on over the past few weeks!

     Today we competed to create the best table setting, performance, and use of Latin in a Roman themed feast called Convivium. Each province created a spread based off of their provincial identity, with results ranging from a play, song, reenactment, and even dance. The best performance went to Germania, who utilized changing time periods to illustrate the Battle of Teutoburg forest. The best centerpiece went to Gallia, with a magnificent recreation of a tree. Everybody went dressed in their finest togas to have a good time laughing and dining with their friends. After the competition was over, everyone celebrated with ice cream, Oreos, and sweet treats. After all, we are tired but ready for a great day of Greek classes tomorrow!

     GLA students got home late last night after an exciting, if not slightly wet, performance of As You Like It at the Agecroft theater in Richmond. We were able to see the first act and connected it to the themes we learned while practicing for Pseudolus before, sadly, being rained out.  
     We also were able to listen to Dr. John Thoburn's lecture on connecting chemistry to ancient art yesterday. He talked about the levels of understanding and research that had to go into the development of certain artistic mediums, such as charcoal, weaving, paint, and dye. It outlined the connections between modern science, history, and art; which everyone found captivating. 
     Today, we learned more Latin with classes in Circumlitio, Occidat Dum Imperet, and Latin Loquenda. We also had a very special visit from the 20th Legion, a group of people dedicated to preserving and reenacting Roman war artifacts, strategy, and techniques. We learned how to march and follow military orders, weave fabric, mint coins, and throw javelins. Everyone really loved the experience and wished that we could have more time to perfect our javelin throw. 
     Today wrapped up with karaoke night, with acts from most GLA students. It was a real bonding moment and we are all ready to sleep in and start a new day tomorrow.