ILLINOIS CERTAMEN LEAGUE

2009 - 20010

 

Dear Latin Colleague,

 

It’s that time of year again.  The Illinois Certamen League invites you and your Latin students to join in exciting team competition based on knowledge of the classics.  Last year thirty schools participated in ICL Tournaments held at four regional sites and regional winners met in the ICL Championship Tournament last May at Elgin High School.  We sincerely hope that your students will be part of the fun and excitement of Certamen this year.

 

Illinois Certamen League regional tournaments for the 2009 - 20010 school year are scheduled for

North, South, & West                                     Chicago

TUESDAY, October 27, 2009                                   WEDNESDAY, November 4, 2009

TUESDAY, December 1, 2009                                 WEDNESDAY, December 2, 2009

TUESDAY, February 2, 20010                                  WEDNESDAY, February 3, 2009

Note:  This is a change from the past years when it has been the first Tuesday.

 

All regions except South will offer Junior High this year.  The Chicago region has been added.

All Western competitions will be held at Barrington High School.  The other regions will rotate sites.

 

Certamen on those days will begin at 6:00 pm and close with an Awards Assembly at @ 7:45 pm.  The Illinois Certamen League All-Area Championship Tournament will be held during late April or early May.

 

For those of you not familiar with Certamen, this is an oral team competition that has a format that is a cross between competition in College Bowl and that of Jeopardy.  Originated by a group of Latin teachers in Fairfax County, Virginia, its rules were formally adopted for competition by the National Junior Classical League and are enclosed.  Certamen requires from students a broad-based knowledge of the classics.  Questions cover the Latin language - grammar, vocabulary and derivatives, - as well as, mythology, history and culture.  Speed and teamwork are important as well as accuracy in this fast-paced competition.  Students compete only with students on their own level of Latin, on teams of no more than four persons.  See Certamen rules. (blue)

 

In many states, Latin students are so enthused about playing Certamen, that they travel hours to a school-sponsored tournament as well as to regular-scheduled Certamen League competitions.  The Illinois Certamen League offers a chance for some friendly competition and socialization between your Latin students and students in other schools in your region – Chicago, South suburbs, Northern suburbs, and Western suburbs with northwestern Illinois.  No longer will your students think of themselves as an endangered species or the last Latin students in America.

 

There are four levels of competition:  Junior High; Latin I or Novice Level (high school students who begin Latin I this fall.  NOTE:  If a student had Latin previous to high school and is currently enrolled in Latin 1 in high school that student competes on Latin II level); Latin II or Lower Level; and Advanced (Latin 3 through Latin 5) or Upper Level.  At each site, and at each tournament, ribbons will be awarded to members of the top three placing teams on each level based upon the points scored at the end of three rounds of 20 questions each.  Scores will also accumulate and the top team for each level from each region in February will receive a trophy for their region and then will meet in April or May for the Final Tournament against the other regional winners.

 

Join us this year for an exciting season of Certamen.  Mark the competition dates on your calendar and request buses early before school extra-curricular funds are committed.  School administrators will often pay for buses if they are informed students are participating in team competitions.  A school may enter one (1) team on any or all levels of competition.

 

 Registration fees this year are as follows:  1 team - $20;  2 teams - $40;  3 or more teams - $50.

Turn the page over and read the rest.

 

 If this fee is a problem for you school, please contact Liz Skoryi.  If your school did not participate last year or you just want to try, call Liz for special fees. 

 

Also if you want further info regarding texts used, reader’s responsibilities, sample questions, scoring, etc., please let Liz know.  It has not been included as a packet this year because no information has changed from the past years. 

 

If you have any questions about certamen or conflict with dates or sites, please contact your regional chairperson listed below. 

 

NOTE:  Remember there are four regions only if there are a minimal of 6 schools for each region, otherwise regions will be combined.  

 

 EACH SCHOOL MUST E-MAIL LIZ THE SCHOOL’S INTENT TO COMPETE BY OCTOBER 1ST.  THIS INCLUDES – SCHOOL NAME, LEVELS TO BE PLAYED, AND 1ST AND 2ND CHOICE OF REGIONS.  (Note:  Some schools do not have 2 choices; such as Rockford is only Western)

 

For us to know this information is mandatory before all registration forms are received since some are not received until late in the season.  Please e-mail Liz at lskoryi@comcast.net with THE ABOVE INFORMATION.  Any questions please contact Liz ASAP.

 

Northern Suburbs -            Elisa Denja  TEMPORARY CHAIR/Judy Hayes Asst.

                                                            847 - 965 – 3259

                                                            e-mail  elisadenja@hotmail.com

 

Western Suburbs &

Northwest Illinois – Chris Condrad

                                                            847 – 890 - 0083

                                                            e-mail  ccondrad@cusd220.org

 

Chicago & South Suburbs -   Liz Skoryi

& REGISTRATION                            Home 815 - 725 - 8723 / cell 815 – 370 - 8723

                                                            e-mail  lskoryi@comcast.net

 

Please complete the enclosed registration form and return by October 1, 2009 to Liz. (yellow sheet)

REMEMBER TO E-MAIL INFORMATION EVEN BEFORE YOU SEND IN THE FORM.

 

Gratias tibi,

 

 

 

Liz Skoryi

Elisa Denja

Chris Condrad