Your Questions

In the GLA Participant Survey, I asked if you had any questions. Here is what I got:
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1. How will you be able to communicate with our parents in times of emergency? 
The staff carry our phones at all times in case of emergency- we try not to use them in front of students, but for safety we have them always.
2. I would like access to a gym, rowing machine and weights, please.
I have given as much access to the gym as our schedule will allow (almost every day). There are restrictions based on age due to RMC's insurance, but you will have access to the facility.
3. Due to my interest in crocheting, will I be able to incorporate that into a project or assignment that I will do?
Yes, both the Mercatus projects and the Varietas Projects could be a venue for individual talents and skills.
4. When we need to change clothes (i.e. from a class to a physical activity) will we get time to change?
Yes, there is usually 30 minutes scheduled in for changing.
5. Who was the greatest Roman Emperor?
The Romans had a saying, "Felicior Augusto, Maior Traiano (sit)." They definitely thought Trajan was the best emperor. For me personally, it's Hadrian. We will be discussing this in-depth in my class, Mercatus. :)
6. Do most people make Roman or Greek outfits?
Yes, there are lots of helpful tutorials and patterns on the sidebar and I just made a post about garb. 
7. Do you have any favorite spices/seasonings to bring for the dining hall?
The dining hall has a limited spice/sauce selection and the perpetual staff favorite is siracha. I like to bring za'atar. :)
How much of the work and projects is going to be completed in large groups versus in smaller groups/partnerships or individually? Most things will be done in groups of 5 or 9
8. How often does it take for children to receive letters that their parents have written to them? This largely depends on where the letters are coming from, but you need to add an extra day because everything has to come through the campus post office and not just the local post office.  Because of summer hours, we sometimes won't get mail on Saturdays and on like the 4th of July. 
9. How are allergy accommodations handled? Who do I need to contact to get more information about food? The dining hall is set up in stations and each one is coded with any allergens that it contains. There is also an allergen-safe space with its own fridge and microwave. I tell the number of students with allergies and what kind to the dining hall manager. If you want to discuss further accommodations, like having a plate made in the kitchen, etc., contact me and I can arrange that.
10. Are the modules lecture-based or discussion/seminar-based? Will certain modules be repeated or is each module only taught once?
Each class has eight different sessions and they are all different, though some information will be repeated. The format of the class will be based on the design of the teacher, but most favor a mixture of direct instruction and discussion/seminar. Electives are usually only offered once.
11. Are the buildings cold? Yes, unless the ac breaks and then they are sweltering. So, layers are your friend. :)
12. How much Greek are we going to learn? Using Comprehensible Input, you will be able to read short stories in ancient Greek somewhere in the Novice level by the end of academy. 
13. Are we able to create group things during leisure time like a Latin novella book club or other fun activities?
Absolutely! One of the RA's has specifically mentioned wanting to run a book club.
14. I've seen from previous years' dress code posts on the blog that jeans with many rips are not allowed, but are jeans minimal rips permitted or are jeans not allowed to be ripped at all?
As long as the jean to rip ratio favors jean, we are good. 
15. Is there anything that I can do in preparation for Governor's School? 
A good thing to review is vocab, but mostly I recommend you spend time with family, friends, and pets so that you can be fully present with academy.
16. I'm curious if we, as student, are allowed to call parents on the school landline to check in. While I plan to write letters to my family, I know they'd appreciate hearing my voice a few times a week. Traditionally, students only call home if there is a medical or behavior issue. 
17. How much individual time will we have at the Academy? There is leisure time scheduled almost every day. Students can use this time to nap, go the gym, play games, what have you. Other than that you are scheduled from 8 am-9 pm most days. Lights Out is at 11:00 pm. Sunday morning is also a time of extended individual time. 
18. Can I use the morning jogs as training for cross country? I would aim to run at least 3 miles most days, at least at an 8 minute mile pace, probably faster. Our dorm is attached to the track at RMC. You can use the jogging time in the morning to train within the track as long as you have a group of 3 on the track. More about that later. 
19. How much speaking latin will be used at the program? As a partial-immersion academy, we use spoken Latin as an increasingly larger part of academy as it goes on, leading up to entire immersion events where only Latin (or Ancient Greek) is spoken. We know that many people have not been trained for this and start at the beginning and train for it intensely. You will be shocked at how much you can accomplish.
20. I’m very very curious about the overall atmosphere and attitude of both the staff and other students at Latin Academy. The girl form my school who went last year, while she’s incredible and I fully trust her, is very different than me and has different expectations and interests, so I really don’t know what to expect. I like the idea of some surprise and just figuring it out when I get there, but as a planner and over thinker that’s also terrifying to me.  I understand. I was terrified my first year at academy and I was a teacher. I was afraid of not being good enough, of not being able to carry out all my responsibilities, and most of all, of not being able to keep my students safe. However, what I found was one of the greatest learning environments I've ever been a part of. Respect is the baseline for everyone's treatment, students are encouraging of each other and are passionate about their own learning. The biggest difference between most academic settings and academy is that we value mistakes as learning experiences and highly encourage students to do the same. 
21. How do you make a toga? I just posted some links and videos about this- check them out and let me know if you still have questions.
22. I want to know if my cello would be too big and unnecessary to bring to the Academy. Not at all; we've had lots of them over the years. Bring any instrument that is portable. 
23. Is there a gym that is open 24/7? Nope, but we have gym time scheduled almost every day. 
24. Are students allowed second servings at meals? Absolutely! Food is served in buffet-style stations (salad, sandwich, hot entrees, allergen, sometimes pizza, dessert, and ice cream) and you will have about 45 minutes at each meal. 

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If you have any other questions, comment here and I will answer them where everyone can see.
​-Princeps