July 9, 2026
Unlocking the Foundations of Modern Society
When many parents hear the word Latin, they picture an ancient language with little relevance to modern life. At BASIS Independent Manhattan, Latin is far more than an ancient language, it is a powerful tool that strengthens reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. By connecting learning across subjects such as history, government, science, and modern languages, Latin helps students build the intellectual foundation for long-term academic success.
The ancient world is closer than many students realize. The influence of Rome can still be seen in our laws, government, language, architecture, and cultural traditions.
By studying Latin:
- students gain a richer understanding of the ideas that shaped the world they live in today.
- helps students develop a deeper understanding of the ideas and institutions that have shaped today’s world.
- provides valuable historical context that supports learning across multiple subjects, including history, literature, and civics.
At BASIS Independent Manhattan, students begin studying U.S. Government and Politics in Grade 9. Their Latin background helps them better understand the origins of democratic institutions, civic leadership, and political systems. Students learn to make meaningful connections between historical events and modern society.
Why Latin At BASIS Independent Manhattan
Latin is often called the “parent language” of many modern languages, including Spanish and French. Our students study Latin in Grade 5 and Grade 6. In Grade 7 students have the opportunity to choose between Latin, French, Spanish or Mandarin and work their way up to taking a language AP.
Students who study Latin:
- develop a deeper understanding of how languages function, making it easier to learn additional languages later on.
- can easily identify scientific terminology. Here at BASIS Independent Manhattan students take Biology, Chemistry and Physics throughout Middle school. Latin provides them with the important foundations to understand the challenging terminology.
Mr. Kittle Kamp our Upper School Latin teacher remarked that:
“Students quickly discover that the knowledge they gain in Latin class reaches far beyond the classroom.”
National Latin Exam: The Language Awards
Mr. Kittle-Kamp our wonderful Latin teacher here at BASIS Independent Manhattan Upper School has discussed the importance of Latin and how it Latin encourages students to engage thoughtfully with literature and language.
“Every sentence presents students with a challenge to solve.”
The National Latin Exam (NLE) is a wonderful example of this. The NLE is a test given annually to Latin students across the United States and in 22 countries around the world. The NLE is not meant to be a competition but rather an opportunity for students to receive reinforcement and recognition for their accomplishments in the classroom. This was our school’s seventh time participating in the NLE. EUGE et gratulationes!
Special Book Award:
The National Latin Exam recognizes students who have earned remarkable achievements on exams with special book awards. Students receive this special book award if they have earned:
- A Gold Medal on three exams and
- A fourth gold medal on the Advanced Prose Exam
Congratulations to Kaylee H. (Gr. 10), who has received three gold medals previously, earned a Gold Summa Cum Laude on the Advanced Latin Prose Exam and received this special award with a medal, her certificate, and a Loeb Commentary of Livy.
More Than an Ancient Language
At BASIS Independent Manhattan Upper School, Latin is much more than a window into the ancient world, it is a powerful foundation for lifelong learning. Latin helps students develop curiosity, confidence, and intellectual agility. Whether they go on to pursue careers in science, law, business, medicine, public service, or the arts, the skills they build through Latin will continue to serve them for years to come.
