Students in grades 5 through 8 are now working on the Daughters of the American Revolution essay contest, which requires research and a bibliography.  The topic is the building of the Transcontinental Railroad; students are asked to “[d]escribe how you felt on May 10, 1869 when the golden spike was driven at Promontory Summit, Utah, to celebrate the completion of the first Transcontinental Railroad.  Pretend you are either a settler planning to use the train to travel to your new home in the West, an Irish or Chinese worker who helped build the line or a Native American whose way of life was greatly affected by the railroad.”  Go TAA scholars!

Congratulations to our students whose works were selected for publication in this year’s Creative Communication Celebrating What Is Important to Me essay contest: Sam Anthony; Lukas, Danny, and Josh Carroll; Maggie and Molly Harnish; Jacqui and Nathania Hofstetter; Samantha and Noelle Ludlum; Tad and Baret Lyon; Nathan Master; David Matej; Rachel Meell and Stephanie Meell; Eleanor and Samuel Miller; Laura, Sarah, and David Null; Ace Robinson; and Elena Sutton.  Well done!

In addition:

• Students in grades K-12 are busy working on their poetry for the upcoming Creative Communications poetry contest.
• Grades 5-8 are writing for the Daughters of the American Revolution essay contest, on the topic “The Ideals of the Gettysburg Address.”
• Noelle Ludlum will represent TAA in the 27th annual essay contest, sponsored by Penn State University.

Thanks to Dr. Traver, Mrs. Null, and Mrs. Chagan for all of their hard work helping our students find their muse!

Winter time means time for The Philadelphia Classical Competition, sponsored by the Philadelphia Classical Society!  Grades 6-12 are busily working on original poems or stories in Latin or English inspired by classical mythology, history, or literature, for the Sixty-Ninth Annual Latin Week Competition.  Because creative writing involves so many revisions to get the entries into good and proper form, these pieces are written over a period of several weeks.  Our students have also completed Greek Pottery to be entered into the art portion of the competition, and we are working on posters with this year’s theme of “love” as expressed in classical mottoes in latin.  Students are encouraged to build models for the model category, or make classical jewelry or clothing items.  Judging will take place at the Baldwin school in February.