Classical Civilization Class

written by Andie

The Classical Civilization class took on a challenge to mimic two of the most memorable stories of ancient Greece, the Iliad and the Odyssey. With creativity and passion the students succeeded in their challenge and made each scene come to life!

Homer’s Iliad entails the story of the gruesome 10 year Trojan War. The novel consists of the trials and challenges faced by the Trojans and Greeks, which test the relationship between gods and mortals and deal with issues of love and loss.

The students depicted the conflict between the Great Greek King Agamemnon and the hero Achilles and the negative repercussions resulting from offending the god Apollo.

Homer's Odyssey describes Odysseus's ten year long journey home from the Trojan War, which is prolonged due to the wrath of the gods.

The students depicted Odysseus arriving home with another predicament. After being away from home for 20 years, Odysseus outwits the men of his town who are pressuring his wife Penelope for remarriage.

By memorizing lines, getting into full costume and portraying accurate scenes, the girls managed to pull through and put on a great and entertaining performance!

Revenge, Part 2

written by Ben

We have to keep this blog post simple, in order for the art and photography class to understand it. As you may have seen, the super funny Art and Photography class thought they would mess up our room and hide our fans. It's okay though, we kept our cool and plotted our revenge. We played it off as if our teacher, Ms. De Bellis, was angry at us for being dishonest and "stealing" their fans. The plan was to walk around acting depressed, with dreary eyes and dismay in our voices. We let the days pass and the entire situation calm down, creating the perfect opportunity to exact our revenge.

It was a beautiful Tuesday morning and the birds were singing. The members of Ms. De Bellis's English class woke up bright and early, and all met at the school doors. The ever so sly Ms. De Bellis unlocked the school doors, and we silently entered the school, props in hand. The day before the attack, we asked to borrow large paper for a "project". The art class reluctantly gave us their last sheets of large paper. Much to their chagrin, we used that same paper to write Shakespearean insults to post in the classroom.

Our class worked together assigning roles. Some worked together to create our "Picasso" work of art in the centre of the classroom, while others posted insults and mixed up art supplies. After 10 minutes, the room was a masterpiece of abstract art.

After the well planned attack, Ms. De Bellis's English class enjoyed a wonderful breakfast together down at the Mercato with fresh orange juice and pastries.

When the art class entered the room, we snuck up behind them with a camera to capture their reaction. It felt as if we walked into a ghost town it was so quiet. The art class stood there, shocked, bewildered, in disbelief of the horror they faced. The wrath from the English class was too much for the art class to handle. Rumour has it that most of the Art class experienced nightmares the following night.

We happily await a reply from the art and photography class as we are fully prepared and excited. In the mean time, we shall continue working on our reading and essay preparation.

Roma

by Geoff Smith, Head of the Summer Programme
photography by Jordan and Amelia

On Saturday past we went to Rome, boarding the CCI bus at 6 a.m. After a couple of hours we stopped at an "autogrill", the generic term used in Italy for what we would call a service centre. Unlike those in Canada with Tim Hortons or a Burger King, the Italian autogrills have wonderful coffee, sandwiches, and other delights. There is even a small deli section where one can purchase cheese, prosciutto, even wine and beer. Somehow I don't think that MADD will permit this to occur in the service centres along Highway 401 in Ontario!

Victor Emmanuel Monument

At 10 am our bus dropped us off just outside Vatican City.

Vatican Museum

We had a brisk walk past the long lines waiting to be admitted to the Vatican. Having reservations certainly helps! 

Vatican City

The students were divided into four groups with CCI teachers as tour guides.

Ceiling of the Sistine Chapel

Two hours later we left the Sistine Chapel and headed down a set of steps that took us right to the doors of St. Peter's. 

Inside St. Peter's Basilica

Michelangelo's Pietà

Following a look inside St. Peter's the students were taken to the Vatican Post Office where they had the opportunity of mailing off a postcard with a Poste Vaticano stamp. Then another walk to the subway and four stops later we were at the Spanish Steps where the students enjoyed some free time until 3:00 pm. I had not been on the Rome subways in over six years and was amazed by the new rolling stock - clean, airy, air conditioned. The trains were built by Bombardier and are like the new ones being used by the TTC in Toronto.

Then off on foot from the Spanish Steps to the Trevi Fountain where many coins were pitched into the pool.  

Trevi Fountain

Then on to the Pantheon, the Victor Emmanuel Monument (“Wedding Cake”) and finally to the Coliseum, which has been the model for most of the modern sports arenas.  It has been said that only difference between the Coliseum and moderns sport centres is that the new ones have elevators and better washrooms.

Pantheon

Pantheon

Coliseum

Inside the Coliseum

Inside the Coliseum

The students then headed off for some free time. We all met up again at 8 p.m. the designated rendezvous, the Victor Emmanuel Monument. A quick head count showed that we had not lost anyone. The bus was boarded and we were on the road by 8:30 p.m. Our driver Maurizio had us back in Lanciano at 11:45 p.m. No one had to be persuaded to go to bed. I went home to have a look at my new collection of blisters!