This story was contributed by Lisa Masoni, middle school Latin teacher, and Scott Paterson, upper school Latin teacher.

The California Junior Classical League celebrated its return to in-person events with an epic Ludi Octobres (October Games) hosted by Saint Ignatius High School in San Francisco on Oct. 22. Twenty-three Latin students from the middle and upper schools participated in assemblies and workshops, academic testing, face-painting, Kahoots, naumachia (staged ship battles), a service project and Certamen (a Latin-themed quiz bowl). The best parts of the day included a return to in-person traditions, such as spirit cheers and the chance to interact with more than 600 students from 21 northern California schools.

Harker students brought home the following individual awards:

Middle School 1 (Grade 6)

Ryo Sugaya: Third in Roman Daily Life

Ethan Weyn: First in Derivatives, first in Mythology

Middle School 2 (Grade 7)

Jacob Chung: First in Latin Grammar 1, second in Derivatives

Shreyas Karnam: First in Reading Comprehension Novice, third in Latin Grammar 1, member of the first-place Open Certamen Novice team

Zahra Syed: First in Derivatives

Middle School 3 (Grade 8)

Shamik Khowala: First in Derivatives, first in Reading Comprehension Intermediate

Ameera Ramzan: Second in Latin Vocabulary, second in Reading Comprehension Intermediate

Demi Zheng: First in Latin Vocabulary, second in Derivatives

Upper School, Level 3

Rahul Sundaresan: Second in Derivatives, second in Mythology

Upper School, Advanced Level

Ainslie Chen: First in Vocabulary, second in Reading Comprehension Advanced, member of third-place team in Open Certamen

Felix Chen: Third in Daily Life

Trisha Iyer: First in Daily Life, first in Reading Comprehension Advanced, member of first-place team in Open Certamen

Hannah Levanon: Member of first-place team in Open Certamen, second in Daily Life

Kabir Ramzan: First in Derivatives, second in Vocabulary