On Friday, October 17, Georgetown Prep welcomed teachers from Saint Ignatius High School, a fellow Jesuit school in Cleveland, Ohio. The visiting educators brought history to life with a homemade ballista, a Roman artillery weapon, and interactive lessons on Roman military attire and weaponry.

Students had the chance to see, and even wear, traditional Roman dress and armor. The ballista demonstrations included a mock firing at the armored student, followed by lighter launches that sent tennis balls flying toward classmates eager to catch them, making ancient history feel vividly real.

Sophomore Kenson Noel had a chance to put on replica Roman armor. “It felt heavy and protective,” he said, “but you could still move around. You have a lot more mobility than you’d think.”

Freshman Bruce Hoffman volunteered to stand 20 feet in front of the ballista and try to catch a tennis ball fired directly at him. Of the 15 students invited to do this, Bruce was one of only two to catch the ball. He commented, “It was much faster than you’d expect. You have to react very quickly. It’s scary to imagine if it was a spear instead of a tennis ball.”

Classic Department Chair, Mr. George Hendren said “This was such a great opportunity for Prep students to get some hands-on experience with topics we only get to talk about in class - it really brought the ancient world to life. I'm definitely hopeful we can put together similar experiences in the future!"

A special thank-you to Mr. Brian Dybicz for inviting his friends and former colleagues Mr. Joe Zebrak, Mr. Jim Murphy, and Mr. Matt Walcutt to campus. During their visit, the Saint Ignatius teachers also observed several Latin classes, offering insights and sharing ideas.

This collaboration was a wonderful example of Jesuit schools working together to enrich students’ learning and celebrate a shared commitment to education rooted in tradition and curiosity.
 

Kenson Noel '28

 

Teachers: Mr. Matt Walcutt, Mr. Jim Murphy, Mr. Brian Dybicz , Mr. Joe Zebrak