Founders Classical Academy of Fort Worth
Week of December 14 - December 20
Sententia Hebdomadis (Quote of the Week)
"Fortes fortuna adiuvat." - Cicero
(“Fortune favors the strong.”)
Salvēte!
IMPORTANT DATES
-LATIN SEMESTER ONE EXAM: DECEMBER 11
-FINE ARTS HOLIDAY SHOWCASE: DECEMBER 18TH (12:00 - 2:00 PM)
-CHRISTMAS BREAK: DECEMBER 19TH - JANUARY 5TH
Hebdomadis Recapitulatio (Week in Review)
This week, we continued our work in Chapter 5 of Wheelock’s Latin, taking a closer look at the imperfect and future verb tenses. Students practiced forming and translating these new tenses using familiar vocabulary, strengthening both recognition and usage. We also read a short mythological passage about Pluto and Persephone, which gave us an opportunity to see imperfect and future forms appear naturally within narrative context. The class discussed how verb tense influences storytelling tone—whether describing ongoing past action or predicting future events. Overall, students made excellent progress in applying these new concepts to both translation and composition.
Prospicientia in Proximam Hebdomadam (Looking Ahead to Next Week)
Next week, we will shift our focus toward preparing for our semester exam. Students will review vocabulary, grammar concepts, and translation skills from Chapters 1–5. We’ll revisit major topics such as noun declensions, verb conjugations, and sentence patterns to reinforce mastery. By the end of the week, students should feel confident and well-prepared for a strong finish to the semester.
Verbum Hebdomadis (Word of the Week)
propter — preposition + accusative, meaning “because of” or “on account of.”
Scisne…? (Did You Know...?)
In ancient Rome, students used wax tablets (called tabulae) and a stylus to practice writing—essentially the world’s earliest reusable notebooks. If they made a mistake, they could simply warm the wax and smooth it out, making it a practical tool for learning languages, much like we use whiteboards today.
Valēte!
About Mr. Laurence
Mr. Ethan Laurence-Gauglitz earned his Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from the University of North Texas, also studying a semester at Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität in Hannover, Germany. After graduation, he served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kosovo, working as a grant writer for the local municipal government and teaching English in local schools. These experiences deepened his appreciation for cultural exchange, global perspectives, and the power of language to connect people.
Most recently, Mr. Laurence was the Academic Coordinator and Lead English Instructor at Excel Academy in Henderson, Nevada, where he developed curriculum, supported teachers, and helped students reach their full potential. He brings to the classroom a love for languages, literature, and learning, and is excited to share these passions with his students this year.