I have been sitting on this email for a while, and I really hope I have hit the sweet spot between Black Friday and the Christmas rush to make sure you open it!

First of all, my apologies if I have been a bit slow getting back to emails recently. Between mock exams, Oxbridge interview support, career advice and (breath!) end-of-term preparations, this is a hectic time of the year.

But it is also time to get ready for 2025, so here is some important information:

Latin and Greek events:

Registration for Greek classes

Registration is now officially open for Greek classes starting in January. These take place on Saturday, in the morning and early afternoon. They are great not only for those who are learning Greek outside of school and planning to take the ICCG examination, but also for those who need some support with their GCSE studies. All classes are taught by me and come with bespoke resources, good fun and the reassurance of working with a qualified teacher. To book or find out more, just reply to this email, and I will help you find the right group.

Booking one-off tutoring sessions

I have some spots left during the break for booster sessions. Please just get in touch if you would like to book one-to-one sessions. I am already mostly full for this Christmas break, so please book early to avoid disappointment.

GCSE Latin Revision Surgery

On Thursday, December 5th, at 7:30, I will be holding a surgery session over zoom for those enrolled in my Latin GCSE Revision Course. This will be an opportunity to ask any questions you have and look at the new features of the course, including the vocabulary revision section currently being developed. I will also be bringing some exercises with me for extra practice, and sharing some revision advice. Members will already have received a booking email, and if you join before Wednesday, you will also receive an invitation.

Humanities Writing Competition, Girton College, University of Cambridge

There is still one competition this year I have not shared with you, and it happens to be a perfect one for Year 12 students! The humanities writing competition is a great opportunity to research and write beyond the curriculum, and it is an invaluable experience to prepare for university application in Y13. The essays help showcase dedication, skill and creativity in personal statements and interviews, and they help students find their own voice. Here is an extract from Girton's website: "This is an opportunity for students to research and write beyond the curriculum, using one or more of five selected objects from the Lawrence Room museum objects, as their focus. Essays or creative responses (such as dramatic monologues, short stories or poems) are equally welcome. "

Do not leave this too late, as it has a March deadline!

Finally, let me spread a bit the Christmas' cheer:

Fun Christmas mix

On a very different note, if you have been wondering what to get your teenager under the tree, inside a sock of pooped by a log - I will explain this in my next newsletter, I have your back! In my latest blogpost, I go over some of my top Christmas present ideas for Classicists. Let me know if I have hit the nail on the head- or not!

You may have noticed I have started an advent calendar on Instagram. I will be sharing an extract or work of art from each of the 24 books of the Odyssey every day. Make sure you take a look!