Wednesday 1 April 2026
Our Year 9 Latin students recently traded their textbooks for pitch decks, exploring the enduring power of the Classics in modern branding. Their challenge was to develop and pitch an original brand, using Latin 'DNA', to disrupt a contemporary market.
The results were a masterclass in creativity! From eco-friendly cutlery fashioned from sea plastic to fully bespoke perfumes, the students demonstrated that Latin is far from a 'dead' language - it is a toolkit for persuasion. Working in teams, students developed a brand name, logo, and a grammatically accurate motto, culminating in a high-stakes pitch to our resident 'Sharks': Teacher of Business Studies Ms Anna Khun and Teacher of Art Mr Joel Tucker.
The top prize went to CEO Benji Handley (Marsden) and his team (Daniel Li (Major), Edward Zeng (Marsden), and Jory Li (Peart)). Their product, "Custos," was an innovative electrolyte-infused mouthguard designed to protect and nourish athletes. Their motto, custodire et nutricare, was a particular highlight - demonstrating a sophisticated grasp of infinitive forms and English derivatives to convey a brand’s core mission.
This project was born from a desire to move beyond traditional assessments that can be easily outsourced to AI. While tools like Gemini remained in the background for research, the "human element" — collaboration, creative pivots, and the nuanced selection of Latin roots — was front and centre. The result was a more engaging, authentic experience that proved Latin’s continued relevance in the 21st-century boardroom, and enjoyable for both students and teachers (not to mention sharks!).
Mrs Lauren Lethbridge (HOD Classics) and Ms Ngaire Boyes (TIC Latin)