The Ontario Student Classics Conference (OSCC) is an annual event committed to the promotion and appreciation of studies in Classics. It is a four-day competition that occurs in early May at Brock University of St. Catharines, Ontario. Initially, the Conference was established as an extension of the National Junior Classical League (NJCL) but has since expanded and grown to become one of the largest and most popular conferences in Ontario, with over 500 students attending each year from 15-20 schools. The conference is dedicated to the study of Classics; students compete in over 100 academic, athletic, and creative competitions all based on aspects of Classical life.
In addition to competitions, students also participate in different classically themed events, one of these being the "Pompa" (Latin for "Parade"). For this event everyone is required to dressed appropriately in classical attire, namely togas, and line up with their school to parade around the campus before attending a celebratory banquet and awards ceremony.
The OSCC is not affiliated with the Ontario Classical Association (OCA).
Competitions
Academic contests These competitions are designed to challenge students' knowledge of the cultures of Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece through the writing of a wide variety of contests. Most contests are offered at three different levels: Junior, Intermediate and Senior. The Greek Derivative and Greek Oral Reading tests only have two: Junior and Senior. Quaerite Summa does not have levels. Levels in some contests are determined by the years of language study while others are based on grade level or a combination of the two. The Academic Pentathlon consists of all five of the 'cursus' contests where Pentathletes' total score is determined by their total score achieved in all five contests. Cursus competitions Academic PentathlonLatin Vocabulary(Written by all participants)Latin Derivatives(Written by all participants)Roman LifeRoman HistoryMythology Other competitionsLatin Sight TranslationGreek Oral ReadingGreek Sight TranslationRoman HistoryLatin Comprehension and GrammarGreek HistoryLatin DerivativesClassical GeographyGreek DerivativesOral MythologyLatin Oral ReadingQuaerite Summa: Roman Life
Athletic contests The athletic competitions are modeled on the Ancient Olympic Games of Ancient Greece. Most events are divided by age and gender. The Relay Race, Slinging, the 50 meter freestyle race and the 100 meter freestyle race are divided only by gender. Discus Ultimus and the Chariot Race are open to everyone together. Field eventsChariot RaceMini-MarathonTug-of-War100m DashDiscus UltimusFrisbee TossRelay RaceSlinging Water eventsSwimming50m Freestyle100m Freestyle Relay100m Mixed Medley RelayCertamen Navale
Creative contests
Students complete in a variety of creative events and competitions that feature the production of both ancient and modern art forms. Listed below are each of these events; the number in parentheses following the event indicates how many entries each school may submit. Also, the winner of the Best Costume event is awarded no points. Creative eventsArchaeological Dig (1)Miscellaneous (2)Audio-Visual (2)Mosaic (2)Best Costume (2)Painting (2)Chariot Design (1)Posters/Charts/Maps (2)Computer Presentation (2)Pottery (2)Drawing (2)School Display (1)Fashion Show (1)Scrapbook (1)Illustrated Notebook (2)Sculpture (2)Jewellery (2)Skit (1)Large Model (2)Small Model (2)
Awards Listed below are the trophies for each of the various OSCC competitions, which are given in addition to ribbons recognizing the top 5 placements in each event. University of Toronto Schools has won the Phyllis Morgan Trophy — generally considered the top prize — every year since 1996 (as of 2016); York Mills Collegiate Institute had won nine straight years before 1996. ACADEMICAward (as of 2016) DescriptionJunior Pentathlon Trophy and MedalAwarded to the top Junior Academic Pentathlete;Dedicated in 1998Current Winner: University of Toronto SchoolsIntermediate Pentathlon Trophy and MedalAwarded to the top Intermediate Academic Pentathlete;Dedicated in 1998Current Winner: University of Toronto SchoolsThe Nancy Karrandjas Trophy and Senior Pentathlete MedalAwarded to the top Senior Academic Pentathlete;Dedicated in 1998Current Winner: University of Toronto SchoolsLatin Sight Contest TrophyFormerly (1968 ff.) awarded to the winner of the North York Latin Sight Competition;Presented by the North York Board of Education, 1975Current Winner: University of Toronto SchoolsClassics Conference Greek Sight Translation TrophyInaugurated in 1987Current Winner: University of Toronto SchoolsThe Ron Walters Award: Senior Student Latin DerivativesInaugurated in 1993Current Winner: University of Toronto SchoolsOntario Student Classics Conference Greek Derivatives TrophyInaugurated in 1998Current Winner: University of Toronto SchoolsSenior Latin Oral Reading TrophyDonated by Dr. Katarina Cicogna through the generosity of the Consulate of Italy in 1998Current Winner: Toronto French SchoolGordon Brooks Trophy for Latin Oral ReadingAwarded to the school with the highest total number of points in Senior, Intermediate, and Junior readings;Inaugurated in 1978Current Winner: Toronto French SchoolSenior Greek Oral Reading TrophyDedicated through the generous support of the Consul of Greece in 1996Current Winner: University of Toronto SchoolsThe John Dixon Memorial Trophy for Roman HistoryAwarded to the individual with the highest score on the Written Roman History Competition;Inaugurated in 1975Current Winner: University of Toronto SchoolsClassics Conference Greek History TrophyAwarded to the individual with the highest score on the Written Greek History Contest;Inaugurated in 1988Current Winner: Markham District High School, University of Toronto SchoolsThe Dorothy Loch Trophy for MythologyAwarded to the school with the most points in Junior, Intermediate and Senior Oral Mythology;Inaugurated in 1980Current Winner: Markham District High SchoolClassics Conference Quaerite Summa Roman Life TrophyInaugurated in 1987Current Winner: Markham District High SchoolJohn Bell Memorial Awardfor Outstanding Academic AchievementPlaque and medal;Awarded to all students who place first in five academic competitions, three of which must be single events, or, if no student has won five academic firsts, to the highest-scoring student among those with three or four academic firsts;Donated by Shademan Akhavan, May 14, 1988Current Winner: University of Toronto SchoolsThe Academic Medalof the Ontario Student Classics ConferenceAwarded to the student with the greatest number of academic points;Donated by Michael Bales and the Toronto French School, June 2002Current Winner: University of Toronto SchoolsLatin Conference Academic AwardAwarded to the school with the greatest number of points in academic competitions;Inaugurated in 1973Current Winner: University of Toronto SchoolsRocky Yeung Memorial Trophy for Top Academic Points Per CapitaAwarded to the school with the greatest number of points per capita in academic competitions;Inaugurated in 2004Current Winner: University of Toronto SchoolsATHLETICAward (as of 2016) DescriptionThe James Lynd and Stephen Low Swimming TrophyAwarded to the school with the greatest number of points in swimming competitions;Inaugurated in 2005Current Winner: University of Toronto SchoolsThe Jeff Maybee Trophy for Field EventsAwarded to the school with the greatest number of points in field events, excluding the Chariot Race;Inaugurated in 2005Current Winner: University of Toronto SchoolsChariot Race Trophy(formerly the SCI Chariot Races Trophy)Awarded to the school with the fastest chariot race time;Inaugurated in 1968Current Winner: Humberside Collegiate InstituteGirls' Chariot Race TrophyAwarded to the school with the fastest girls' chariot race time;Inaugurated in 2006?Current Winner: St. Clement's SchoolDiscus Ultimus TrophyAwarded to the school that achieves first place in the Discus Ultimus competition;Inaugurated in 2006Current Winner: Humberside Collegiate InstituteO.S.C.C. Certamen Navale TrophyAwarded to the school that achieves first place in the Certamen Navale/Rafting competition;Inaugurated in 2012Current Winner: University of Toronto SchoolsOntario Student Classics Conference Top AthleteAwarded to the student with the greatest number of points in individual athletic competitions;Inaugurated in 1988Current Winner: Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute, University of Toronto SchoolsLatin Conference Athletic AwardAwarded to the school with the greatest number of points in athletic competitions;Inaugurated in 1974Current Winner: University of Toronto SchoolsTop Per Capita Athletic TrophyAwarded to the school that achieves the greatest number of points (per capita) in Athletic competitions;Inaugurated in 2004Current Winner: Branksome HallCREATIVEAward (as of 2016) DescriptionChariot Design TrophyAwarded to the school with the highest score in the Chariot Design Competition (New or Refurbished);Inaugurated in 2003Current Winner: Elmwood SchoolMoushmegh BouzbouzianMemorial Scrapbook TrophyDonated by the London Family whose daughters attended York Mills Collegiate;Inaugurated 1998Current Winner: University of Toronto SchoolsSchool Display TrophyAwarded to the school with the highest score in the School Display Competition;Inaugurated in 2003Current Winner: University of Toronto SchoolsJ.F. Kett Trophy for ArchaeologyPresented in his memory by the Chippewa Latin Club in 1977Current Winner: Toronto French SchoolBarrie North Classics Drama AwardAwarded to the school that achieves first place in the Skit Competition;Inaugurated in 1980Current Winner: Toronto French SchoolMargaret-Anne Gillis Award for Fashion Show(formerly the Classics Conference Fashion Show Trophy)Awarded to the school that achieves first place in the Fashion Show competition;Donated by the Barrie Central Classics Club in 1997;Inaugurated in 1998Current Winner: Elmwood SchoolSheila M. Ellison Creative Student AwardDonated by Margaret-Anne Gillis and Elizabeth Ellison in memory of their mother, Sheila M. Ellison;Awarded to the student with the greatest number of points in individual Creative events;Inaugurated in 2003Current Winner: Elmwood SchoolMary Wase Creative AwardMary Wase was a teacher of English and Latin at Barrie Central Collegiate who donated the award to recognize the school with the greatest number of points in Creative events;Inaugurated in 1988Current Winner: Elmwood SchoolTop Per Capita Creative AwardAwarded to the school that achieves the greatest number of points (per capita) in Creative events;Inaugurated in 2004Current Winner: Elmwood SchoolOVERALLAward (as of 2016) DescriptionPhoenix Animus LudorumAwarded to the school which best demonstrates the "spirit of the games" through adherence to the Conference mission statement "mens sana in corpore sano";Inaugurated in 2006Current Winner: St. Clement's SchoolThomson AwardAwarded to the school with the highest points per capita at Classics Conference;Presented by David and Mary Thomson C.I. in 1991Current Winner: Elmwood SchoolPhyllis Morgan Trophyfor Overall Excellence at Classics ConferenceAwarded to the school with the greatest number of points overall;Inaugurated in 1972Current Winner: University of Toronto SchoolsOntario Student Classics ConferenceHost TrophyAwarded to the school hosting the next OSCC;Inaugurated in 2005Current Winner: North Toronto Collegiate Institute, Toronto French SchoolMinerva AwardAwarded to any individual who in at least one individual event receives placements each in Creative, Athletic and Academic competitions;Inaugurated in 2007Current Winner: Humberside Collegiate Institute, Markham District High School, North Toronto Collegiate Institute
Conferences by year Listed below are the locations, hosts and themes for each of the past OSCC conventions (as of 2016).