Inspiring Lives of Purpose and Excellence

For more than 135 years, Latin School of Chicago has provided an educational experience that empowers students to tinker, make mistakes, ask questions, and change how they see the world around them. We put our students at the heart of everything we do, embrace their uniqueness, and encourage their curiosity, creativity, collaboration, and empathy. We also ensure that every Latin Learner has what they need to pursue their passions and lead lives of purpose and excellence.

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News

Latest from Latin

Latin Senior Launches Card Game, Featured on Chicago News Media

Congratulations to Latin senior Jordan A. on launching his card game “Controversy” and for being featured on WBEZ and WGN-TV.

Converse. Convince. Connect. Controversy is a game designed to encourage constructive debate. With the tagline “turn fights into friends,” the game invites players to discuss statements ranging from not controversial to very controversial and try to guess what others believe. There are multiple ways to play, but all involve stating a position, listening, discussing and weighing different perspectives.

Jordan was inspired by his love of game nights and his passion for debating topics ranging from sports to politics. “I wanted to make a safe space with Controversy where discussing these issues can be fun yet still engaging.” Jordan believes his game encourages “spirited conversations” while helping people better understand differing perspectives and develop respect for those differences.

Jordan was recently interviewed by WBEZ, where he explained how he developed the game, how it evolved and his experience launching it on Kickstarter. He believes productive debate is an essential life skill and shared that the game has been well received by his peers, neighbors and teachers.

You can also learn more about Controversy and watch Jordan demonstrate his game on WGN-TV. He notes that people often approach discussion topics as a fight, though he believes “debate is a fun thing to do.” The segment shows the playful nature of the game in action.

We applaud Jordan for showing what it means to be a Latin changemaker and wish him every success with his game.

Learn more about Controversy the game
Watch the WGN-TV segment
Listen to the WBEZ interview

POTW: Math Problems That Unite the Middle School

The Latin School math department is celebrating 20 years of the Middle School Problem of the Week (POTW).

The program began when sixth-grade math teacher Eve Bonneau purchased a book of math problems to share with the Middle School community. Each week, she sent out one challenging problem from the book. At the following week’s assembly, a member of the math department explained the solution, recognized the students who solved the problem and awarded each of them a roll of Smarties. The friendly competition soon became a beloved weekly tradition.

After Middle School students completed every problem in Bonneau’s book, the math department continued finding new problems to keep the weekly challenge going. Former seventh-grade math teacher Tom Canright helped open the challenge to more members of the Latin community by creating video solutions and making the problems available beyond Middle School assembly. The problems and videos can be found in the POTW archive.

In 2014, the math department began inviting students to submit problems and video solutions for POTW. Students whose problems were selected were recognized at assembly and, of course, received a giant roll of Smarties. During the 2025–26 school year, 16 of the 32 featured problems came from students.

To commemorate the anniversary, the math department created the “20 Problems of the Week Challenge.” Middle and Upper School students and their families are invited to solve 20 problems selected from previous years. Those who complete the challenge will receive a special award.

Thank you to our math department for helping generations of Latin students find connection and joy through mathematics. Special thanks to current and former Latin educators Eve Bonneau, Tom Canright, Maureen Finch, Michael Hurley, Jeff Newmark, Jason Koza, Ana Antić and G Trupp for running POTW and contributing problems throughout its 20-year history.

Latin student wins Cubs Cookie Challenge

Latin Student Wins Chicago Cubs Cookie Challenge

According to the Chicago Cubs, Latin student Salvador C., 13, officially has the best chocolate chip cookie recipe!

Although middle schooler Salvador was the youngest entrant in the Cubs 150th Cookie Challenge, he outbaked the competition and took home the top prize. Salvador has long loved baking and credits his Lower School teachers at Latin with encouraging him to share his talent and passion with others.

Montage of photos of Latin student winning the Cubs Cookie Challenge

For the contest, amateur bakers were invited to submit an original recipe that included a complete list of ingredients and precise, step-by-step instructions for preparing, baking and cooling their cookies. Entrants were also required to write an essay detailing their personal story, their affinity for the Cubs and why their cookie was the best.

After a group of semifinalists was selected, judges prepared their recipes and evaluated the cookies for taste and feasibility for production. The finalists were then invited to Gallagher Way for an in-person baking competition, where judges tasted their cookies and interviewed each baker. Salvador was thrilled to meet Cubs Hall of Famer Lee Smith.

As part of his prize, Salvador was recognized on the field and had the opportunity to throw out the first pitch. His cookies are now being sold at Wrigley Field at Marquee Classics and in the 1914 Club.

“It feels like a dream, and I was very grateful for the opportunity to throw out the first pitch and meet all of the other amazing people behind the scenes at Wrigley Field,” Salvador said.

Thank you to the Chicago Cubs Baseball Club and Levy Premium Foodservice for providing this opportunity. We are thrilled to congratulate Salvador on this outstanding accomplishment!

Upper School Retreats Start The School Year

As we embark on a new school year, Latin Upper School students participated in grade-level retreats, an important tradition that marks the start of each new grade. The retreats give students a chance to connect with their peers, reflect on their experiences and focus on what lies ahead.

9th Grade Retreat
Latin’s newest Upper School students traveled to Dickson Valley Park in Newark, Illinois, for an overnight retreat filled with indoor and outdoor activities. Students canoed on the Fox River, enjoyed relaxing jam sessions in hammocks and spent time getting to know their classmates and faculty.

The Class of 2030 also looked ahead to their four years in the Upper School, reflecting on what they hope to experience and accomplish and writing letters to their future selves that they will receive as seniors. The retreat gave new and returning Romans time to build relationships, set goals and start their Upper School experience together.

10th Grade Retreat
For 10th graders, the retreat focused on community engagement and time together as a class. On Thursday, students traveled throughout Chicago to volunteer with organizations that included Share Our Spare, Misericordia, the Greater Chicago Food Depository and Sunrise Senior Living. They also reflected on their experiences and set community engagement goals for the year ahead.

On Friday, students headed to the beach for games, swimming and a chance to spend time together.

11th Grade Retreat
During their retreat, members of the junior class explored career paths while reflecting on their individual interests and goals for the future. Students met with Latin alumni and interviewed them about their experiences, using the question “What does success mean to you?” to guide their conversations.

The discussions offered students a chance to hear different perspectives on life after Latin as they begin thinking more intentionally about their own paths. Learn more about the Junior Retreat, a Latin tradition.

12th Grade Retreat
Seniors traveled to Camp Duncan for an overnight retreat focused on team building and spending time together with their classmates and faculty. Students challenged themselves with outdoor activities including kayaking, high- and low-ropes courses, swimming and a scavenger hunt, while also enjoying time together around the bonfire.

The experience gave seniors a chance to strengthen relationships and build on the bonds they have formed throughout their years at Latin.