The fourth annual Dies Romanus for Latin learners was held at Stellenbosch on 13 September 2006. Some eighty learners from six Western Cape schools attended.

The standard of project work was, as always, high. Items on display included models, posters, reports and essays. As in other years, the judges, Nadine Brand, Annemaré Kotze, Maridien Schneider and Jo-Marie Claassen were hard put to weigh the merits of, say, a "Wooden Horse" made of match sticks against a plaster Greek temple, or an essay on Julius Caesar against a report on ancient pastimes.
Making posters illustrating Greek myths was a popular category among the Grade 8s.

After another illustrated lecture, this time, sensationally, on The mad Julio-Claudian Emperors by Christoff Zietsman, the group set off on foot to the Stellenbosch Dutch Reformed Mother Church.

Here they were divided in two groups that took turns to relax in the church grounds with their lunch packets while they filled in the Classical Crossword Puzzle.

Each group was alternately guided around the interior of the church (which is an excellent example of a basilica) by Mr Hannes Theron, a retired geologist. He narrated parts of the history of the building and explained the symbolism of the unusual modern stained-glass windows, that are set in concrete.

The day culminated in a prize-giving at the University, where twelve awards in all were made: four each for the most outstanding projects in each of three grades, judged according to the various categories set out above. Schools vied with one another to bring home the most awards. For 2006 it was Rustenburg Girls' High, whose teacher, Jo Slater, was justly proud, not least as she had been the schools' facilitator. Votes of thanks and boxes of chocolates were presented to the two speakers, to Annemaré Kotze as thanks for acting as facilitator at the university, to Maridien Schneider for devising the crossword and to Jo-Marie Claassen for acting as MC and as general organiser.

The completed crosswords were handed in before the group dispersed, and book prizes were later posted to a "lucky draw" in each of grades 8 to 11.

Four teachers represented the sole surviving Latin secondary schools in the Western Cape. They were: Jo Slater (Rustenburg), Avril Dawson (SA College School), Ian Rutter (Rhenish Girls' High and Paul Roos Boys' High, both of Stellenbosch) and Minette Visagie (La Rochelle and Paarl Boys' High). A hearty vote of thanks is due for their staunch efforts.