In celebration of Latin culture and classical studies, Woodbridge High expects hundreds of students on March 28-29, 2025 for the annual California Junior Classical League (CAJCL) convention. Woodbridge High is partnering with University High to host the event this year.

“To make hosting convention less traumatic for the host school, [we made] it into a more collaborative affair where participating schools will also help run different activities,” Latin teacher and Junior Classical League (JCL) advisor, John Conant said.

This approach reflects a larger effort to build a sense of belonging and teamwork among schools. The goal of CAJCL is to create a community of classical enthusiasts, where attendees can showcase their talents in a wide variety of contests.

There are a variety of academic contests for participants wanting to show off their knowledge of the classics, including academic tests on topics like Latin grammar, mythology, Roman history and more. Students can also compete in events such as dramatic Interpretation, sight Latin reading, Latin, and English oratory.

Alongside these individual academic contests, attendees can participate in Certamen, a team-based game, where teams race to answer questions about ancient civilization. An open Certamen is available for people of all levels can participate in as well as a competitive certamen which teams need to qualify for at the California Regional Certamina rounds.

The convention also includes a variety of artistic competitions, giving participants the chance to explore their creativity, through mediums, including but not limited to photography, drawing, crafts and painting. For students who prefer more active pastimes, there are the Olympika events like track and field, chess, swimming, and chariot racing.

In addition to creative and competitive opportunities, they also offer colloquia, and informative lectures led by experts, about topics of interest for JCL members and their specialties.
“It was interesting learning about what life was like during the Roman empire…I felt like I had a lot to learn,” JCL member Lois Xu recounts.

While taking part in these activities, the convention provides lots of time for students to interact and build connections past the event. Whether through team contests, shared interests, or socializing events, convention creates a sense of comradery.

“We got to really connect with a bunch of people from a bunch of different schools and that was really cool to see…[it] wouldn’t have been the same if those people weren’t there,” CAJCL convention general board member, Layla Atassi said.

Overall, these events give students a place to share their interests and passion for classical studies while fostering friendships and creating unforgettable memories.