Founders Classical Academy of Fort Worth
Week of October 5 - 9
Sententia Hebdomadis (Quote of the Week)
"Per aspera ad astra.
“Through hardships to the stars.”
— Traditional Latin maxim
Salvēte!
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.
Mr. Laurence's education background also includes being 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.
UPCOMING EVENTS!
September 30th - Latin Chapter I & II Test
October 30th - Family Blast!
Hebdomadis Recapitulatio (Week in Review)
This week marked an important milestone as students worked through their first connected Latin story, Puella et Nauta. Translating a complete passage allowed students to encounter the nouns and verbs they have studied “in the wild” rather than as isolated vocabulary and grammar exercises. Students practiced identifying conjugated verbs, determining the case and number of nouns, and using those forms to understand how the words function within a sentence. They also saw firsthand why parsing is such a valuable tool when translating unfamiliar Latin. This experience brought together much of what we have learned in Chapters 1 and 2 and demonstrated how individual grammar skills combine to create meaningful Latin.
Prospicientia in Proximam Hebdomadam (Looking Ahead to Next Week)
Next week, students will prepare for and complete their Chapters 1 and 2 test over the foundational Latin concepts we have studied thus far. We will review first- and second-conjugation verbs, including present active forms, infinitives, imperatives, and verb parsing. Students will also revisit first-declension nouns and adjectives, with particular attention to declension and identifying case, number, and gender. Vocabulary and basic translation will allow students to demonstrate how these individual skills work together within Latin sentences. The assessment will give students an opportunity to show how far they have progressed from memorizing their first endings to analyzing and translating complete Latin.
fortūna, fortūnae, f. — fortune, luck
Fortūna is a first-declension noun from Chapter 2 of Wheelock’s Latin. In addition to meaning “fortune” or “luck,” the word was associated with Fortuna, the Roman goddess who personified the unpredictable changes of fate and prosperity. Its influence remains easy to see in English words such as fortune, fortunate, unfortunate, and fortunately. As students prepare for their test, however, we will rely less on fortūna and more on studium: careful effort!
Did you know that Roman roads were built so effectively that portions of them remain visible and usable today? The Romans constructed an enormous network of roads connecting cities, military posts, and provinces throughout their empire. Major roads were carefully engineered with prepared foundations, drainage systems, and durable surfaces, allowing soldiers, officials, merchants, and travelers to move efficiently across great distances. Milestones placed along important routes could indicate distances and provide information about the officials responsible for construction or repairs. The famous expression “all roads lead to Rome” reflects the extraordinary transportation network that helped hold the vast Roman world together.
Valēte!
Latin I
2026 - 2027
Instructor: Mr. Ethan Laurence-Gauglitz
elaurencegauglitz@responsiveedtx.com
COURSE OVERVIEW
Salvete, discipuli! Welcome to Latin I! In this course, students will be introduced to the fundamentals of Latin grammar, vocabulary, and translation. We will be using Wheelock’s Latin as our primary textbook, supplemented with classroom exercises, group activities, and occasional projects to deepen understanding and appreciation of Latin language, as well as Roman culture and history. By the end of the year, students will be able to translate simple Latin passages, understand key grammatical concepts, and be able to recognize Latin roots in English vocabulary.
CLASS MATERIALS (INSTRUMENTA)
Each student should bring the following materials to every class:
A 1½ -inch binder exclusive to Latin
Four binder dividers
Loose-leaf, college-ruled notebook paper
Index cards - at least two packs to start with (we’ll need many throughout the year!)
An assignment planner to write down the homework
Pencils
** We follow the structure and content of Wheelock’s Latin (7th Edition), but there is no need to
buy a copy of the book.
Tests – 50%
Quizzes – 30%
The lowest quiz grade per quarter will be dropped.
Homework/Assignments – 20%
GENERAL COURSE OUTLINE (CURSUS HONORUM)
Quarter I
● Introduction & Parts of Speech
● Chapter 1: Verbs, 1st & 2nd Conjugation, Translating
● Chapter 2: First Declension Nouns and Adjectives, Prepositions, Conjunctions, Interjections
● Chapter 3: Second Declension Masculine Nouns and Adjectives, Apposition, Word Order
● Chapter 4: Second Declension Neuter Nouns and Adjectives; Present tense of Sum, Predicate Nominatives, Substantives
● Olympian Gods and Stories
Quarter II
● Chapter 4: Second Declension Neuter Nouns and Adjectives; Present tense of Sum, predicate, nominatives, substantives
● Chapter 5: First and Second Conjugations of Future and Imperfect; Adjectives ending in -er
● Chapter 6: Sum and Possum; Complementary Infinitive
● Chapter 7: Third Declension Nouns
● Olympian Gods cont., Creation & Titanomachy, Aeneas
Quarter III
● Chapter 8: Third Conjugation: Present System; Introduce Synopsis
● Chapter 9: Demonstratives Hic, Ille, Iste; Special -ius Adjectives
● Chapter 10: Fourth Conjugation and 3rd -io Verbs
● Chapter 11: Personal Pronouns Ego, Tu, and Is; Demonstratives Is and Idem
● 7 Kings of Rome
Quarter IV
● Chapter 12: The Perfect Active System; Synopsis
● Chapter 13: Reflexive and Intensive Pronouns, Reflexive Possessives
● Chapter 14: 3rd Declension I-stem Nouns; Ablative of Means, accompaniment, and
Manner
● Chapter 15: Numerals; Genitive of the Whole; Ablative of Numerals and Ablative of
Time
● Early Roman heroes, Roman houses, Roman family.
Latin II
2026 - 2027
Instructor: Mr. Ethan Laurence-Gauglitz
elaurencegauglitz@responsiveedtx.com
COURSE OVERVIEW
Salvete, discipuli! Welcome back to the study of Latin. This year, we shall return to Wheelock’s
Latin and cover chapters 17-30 over topics such as indirect statements, comparative adjectives,
participles, and subjunctives. In addition to our study of the Latin language, we will also cover
cultural topics from Roman history and mythology.
CLASS MATERIALS (INSTRUMENTA)
Each student should bring the following materials to every class:
A 1½ -inch binder exclusive to Latin
Four binder dividers
Loose-leaf, college-ruled notebook paper
Index cards - at least two packs to start with (we’ll need many throughout the year!)
An assignment planner to write down the homework
Pencils
** We follow the structure and content of Wheelock’s Latin (7th Edition), but there is no need to
buy a copy of the book.
Tests – 50%
Quizzes – 30%
The lowest quiz grade per quarter will be dropped.
Homework/Assignments – 20%
GENERAL COURSE OUTLINE (CURSUS HONORUM)
Quarter I:
-Review of Ch. 1-16
-Ch. 17: Relative Pronouns
-Ch. 18-19: Passive Voice/Ablative of Agent
-Culture and History: the Roman world, early Roman history, Roman Deities, Jason and
Medea, Roman education
Quarter II:
-Ch. 19: Interrogative Adjectives and Pronouns
-Ch. 20: 4th Declension/Ablative Usage
-Ch. 21: Passive Voice of 3rd and 4th Conjugations
-Ch. 22: 5th Declension/Review of Ablative Usage
-Ch. 23: Participles
-Brief Review of Semester Material
-Culture and History: major bodies of water, Punic Wars, major mythological heroes,
Roman baths and recreation centers
Quarter III:
-Brief Review of Semester Material
-Ch. 24: Ablative Absolute/Passive Periphrastic/Dative of Agent
-Ch. 25: Infinitives/Indirect Statement
-Ch. 26: Comparison of Adjectives/Declension of Comparatives/Ablative of Comparison
-Ch. 27: Special and Irregular Comparison of Adjectives
-Culture and History: Roman provinces, Caesar’s conquest of Gaul, heroes of the Iliad
and Odyssey, mythological monsters, gladiatorial combat, amphitheater
Quarter IV:
-Ch. 28: Intro to Subjunctive/Jussive Subjunctive/Purpose Clauses
-Chapter 29: Imperfect Subjunctive/Present Imperfect Subjunctive of Sum and Possum/Result Clauses
-Chapter 30: Perfect and Pluperfect Subjunctive/Indirect Questions/Sequence of Tenses
-Review of Semester Material and Translation
-Culture and History: Roman government, late Republican history and civil war, the Underworld (deities, geography, etc.), chariot races, triumphal ceremony