District News

The American Institute of Archaeology (AIA) is celebrating the creative work of Jared Ciocco, Bernards High School Latin teacher, and Kayli McGowan-Kinney, one of his standout AP students, for their innovative approach to integrating archaeology into the SHSD Latin program and newly created BHS Latin Club.

Jared Ciocco incorporates his past archaeological experiences working on site in Coriglia, Italy as a way to interest students in learning about his hands-on experiences. This includes recognizing the AIA’s annual International Archaeology Day with activities such as student research on upcoming international archaeological sites through the AIA’s Fieldwork Opportunities Board. Ciocco also has led trips to local museums and connected his classes with professional archaeologists from the field.

Kayli McGowan-Kinney, a senior in Ciocco’s AP Latin class, has embraced this approach with great enthusiasm. She has long been fascinated by the ancient world, and her interest in Latin has deepened her appreciation for archaeology and all things related to the classical world. Kayli’s interest and passion has driven her to establish a Latin Club at BHS this year as well. “This year, I started a Latin club to share and encourage learning with others. I plan to schedule days where our club members can choose a myth and share it with the rest of the club. So far, we’ve had fun choosing our own translation of stories derived from characters of the Cambridge Latin textbooks, like Quintus and Cerberus (fan favorites). I hope to do days of scansion as well, along with offering Latin help for underclassmen, tutoring, and insight on past assignments.” 

The BHS Latin program has thrived, now engaging 95 students and proudly offering AP Latin. As a senior, Kayli is considering majoring or minoring in Classics in college. This growth highlights the effectiveness of innovative teaching methods, which ignite passion in students, foster advancement in the subject, and inspire a bright future for archaeology education.