Looking
Back
Celebrate events, people and
places from Latin's history with
a visit to the school's archives.
LATIN, IN VERSE
Shout the phrase "Oh go, you Romans!" and today's
Latin students will burst into the beloved "Fight
Song," written by Mike Teolis in 1996. Throughout
its 129-year history, Latin students have sung the
school's praises to a variety of tunes and measures.
Some of these songs, like the "Alma Mater" and
"To Latin We Are True," are still sung today. But many,
like the "The Ivy Song," are all but a memory.
Hear your favorite Latin tunes (and
songs never before recorded!) online
at www.latinschool.org/latinmagazine.
A ROMAN
In 1950, boys Latin ocially adopted the
Roman as our mascot at the suggestion
of a sports writer reporting on Latin's
football victories for the Chicago
Daily News. e Harwell family
(Sterling
'55 and Todd '60) wrote
the song in the early '50s to incorporate
the new mascot, "A Roman," sung to
the tune of "Roamin' in the Gloamin'."
Hear it played by Mr. Teolis at
www.latinschool.org/latinmagazine.
GIRLS SCHOOL
e girls school had its own musical
repertoire, including the ght song
"Oh G.LS. — Fair G.L.S" and the "Ivy
Planting Song."
Barbara Whiting Lee '47
recently shared that the "Ivy Planting Song"
was sung by the upper classes in June during
Class Day as the seniors planted ivy along
the school wall of the Scott Street building.
Hear Barbara sing the rst verse at
www.latinschool.org/latinmagazine.
THE ALMA MATER
e Alma Mater is one of Latin's oldest songs and is still
sung today. Written in the early 1930s by Ms. Lou M.
Hood, head of the English Department at Girls Latin
from 1920–1942, the Alma Mater has phrases from
two sources:
e "school verse," Phillipians 4:8 "Whatsoever things
are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report."
"Finlandia," by Jan Sibelius which was extremely popular
at the time, heard everywhere and often played by the
Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Miss Hood, like many
of her contemporaries, was devoted to "Finlandia."
LOOKING BACK
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