HIGH LIFE: A WEEKLY FORUM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS : They Came, Saw and Conjugated Latin: Hundreds of students of the classics convened at Marina High School for fun and fellowship.

What has MMCDXC legs, wears togas, has more spirit for Latin than the Romans themselves and can conjugate “facio” (Latin for to make or to do)?

None other than the MCCXLV (or if you prefer Arabic numerals, 1,245) members of the California Junior Classical League, who came to the Marina High School campus in Huntington Beach last month for their 38th annual state convention.

The group, part of a national Latin organization of more than 55,000 junior high and high school students, is the second-largest youth academic organization in the United States. It promotes the languages of Latin and Greek as well as friendship among students of the classics.

Each spring, the state convention is held at the school of the league’s president--this year it was Marina student Lola Stavroudis.

Latin is a subject no longer routinely offered at many schools, and as cuts in education budgets continue, it is further endangered. Still, students from 38 schools throughout California participated in the three-day state convention.

And, among the students of Latin gathered for the convention, the language looked far from dead.

From their arrival on Friday evening to their departure on Sunday morning, students, chaperons and teachers participated in a wide range of activities--from the intellectual (contests in academia), to the physical (foot races), to the social (a Roman banquet and dance at the waterfront Hyatt Regency Hotel in Long Beach.)

During the convention, state officers for the upcoming school year were elected. A caucus took place Friday night in which representatives from each chapter got a chance to meet the candidates for office.

“This year we modeled it after how caucuses are run at national conventions,” said Anita Yuen, a senior at Peninsula High School in Palos Verdes. “All the candidates were very qualified.”

Other activities that evening included a carnival and casino, preliminary rounds of Certamen --where four-person teams from each school compete to answer questions--and a period of chapter fellowship, in which schools gather to discuss the day’s events.

Saturday, designated as “Old Day in Rome,” was the busiest day at the convention, with participants donning togas. Activities ran nonstop from breakfast at 6:30 a.m. until the dance, which didn’t wind down till 12:30 the next morning.

Delegates took tests that challenged their knowledge of Latin grammar, numerology, daily life, mottoes and abbreviations, derivatives, vocabulary, mythology, pentathlon and history. Many also took part in visual and performing arts contest, the final rounds of Certamen , and sports--including swimming, track and field, volleyball, basketball and chariot races.

“Conventions bring chapters closer together because we unite to represent our school,” said Betty Shen, president of the San Marino chapter.

In keeping with the Roman tradition, a slave auction was conducted to raise money for scholarships. Volunteers acted as slaves who were “sold” to the highest bidders and were required to stay for two hours with their masters--who had them perform such tasks as pushing a grape across the floor by nose.

A bazaar featured modern-day souvenirs such as T-shirts, bumper stickers, key chains and Frisbees that carried messages such as “Latin is long, life is short, so start early.”

At the final assembly Sunday morning, awards for the weekend’s many contests were given. Outgoing officers delivered farewell speeches, and the new officers were inaugurated.

The new state president is Christine Du Rocher of Peninsula High School in Palos Verdes, who reminded attendees that they can’t rest too long: The national convention is coming up this summer at Miami University, Ohio.

Veronica Lee is a senior at Marina High School, where she writes for Volsunga, the student newspaper.