Back to our normal schedule
Jan. 2nd, 2012 11:56 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alt_sinistraBack to classes, after some lovely holidays. We’re currently in that glorious week or so where I’m entirely caught up on all my marking and correspondence, I’ve had plenty of time for research on the tower, and quite my share of social outings and other enjoyments. Never does last more than a week or two, but that’s all to the good, really, as it means there’s something new to look forward to.
CCF, YPL, and guests:
It is time to turn our attention to our next outing, on January 28th. The event will be an all-day outdoor strategy event held off Hogwarts grounds, with three teams, each lead by a group of our CCF students (for whom the event is mandatory).
For all who wish to attend there will be a required planning meeting on January 21st at 2pm. The day of, we will depart at 9am, and return around 4pm. CCF students will be expected to attend a post-event debriefing following our return, finishing by dinner time.
We welcome:
- Our guests, as team participants.
- Third year and non-CCF fourth year students as team participants.
- A limited number of first and second year students to assist with various tasks.
Due to logistics, we have a more limited number of places for this event than our usual. Everyone participating should be comfortable with extended outdoor exposure and exertion, skilled with at least one long-duration warming charm, and be willing to work together in assigned teams to reach a mutual goal. Previous active participation in YPL events and recent behaviour will be used to determine attendees if we have more interest than places.
If you wish to be considered, please sign up on the board outside my office no later by 8am on Sunday.
On another note:
I’ve also been thinking about my past year. I’ve never particularly subscribed to resolutions, as much as goals, but I am quite pleased with the ongoing growth of the YPL and CCF programmes, the completion of the chart projection charm project (and related publication), and the usual progress in teaching and learning that happen all the time in my classroom.
This coming year, I’m looking forward to a new research project (made possible by a shiny new telescope) and continuing the work of the past few years in a variety of areas.
CCF, YPL, and guests:
It is time to turn our attention to our next outing, on January 28th. The event will be an all-day outdoor strategy event held off Hogwarts grounds, with three teams, each lead by a group of our CCF students (for whom the event is mandatory).
For all who wish to attend there will be a required planning meeting on January 21st at 2pm. The day of, we will depart at 9am, and return around 4pm. CCF students will be expected to attend a post-event debriefing following our return, finishing by dinner time.
We welcome:
- Our guests, as team participants.
- Third year and non-CCF fourth year students as team participants.
- A limited number of first and second year students to assist with various tasks.
Due to logistics, we have a more limited number of places for this event than our usual. Everyone participating should be comfortable with extended outdoor exposure and exertion, skilled with at least one long-duration warming charm, and be willing to work together in assigned teams to reach a mutual goal. Previous active participation in YPL events and recent behaviour will be used to determine attendees if we have more interest than places.
If you wish to be considered, please sign up on the board outside my office no later by 8am on Sunday.
On another note:
I’ve also been thinking about my past year. I’ve never particularly subscribed to resolutions, as much as goals, but I am quite pleased with the ongoing growth of the YPL and CCF programmes, the completion of the chart projection charm project (and related publication), and the usual progress in teaching and learning that happen all the time in my classroom.
This coming year, I’m looking forward to a new research project (made possible by a shiny new telescope) and continuing the work of the past few years in a variety of areas.
Private message to Healer Stint and Felix Green
Date: 2012-01-02 05:08 pm (UTC)I am writing to follow up on various unresolved threads.
First, given recent events, if you wished to resign from the committee, I would of course accept your request. Otherwise, I wish to be clear that I expect and require professional behaviour from all committee members and will take appropriate steps to ensure that if needed.
Second, I am writing to confirm that Healer Luxovius Kerr has agreed to participate in the January 28th YPL event. We are particularly fortunate to have his expertise with cold weather injuries at hand, given the plans, as well as his knowledge of the area. I will be coordinating directly with him about the day’s events, but he may wish to speak with you as well.
Finally, you will be receiving by owl a copy of the schedule for our spring planning meeting. Please note that these dates and times are firm and cannot be altered further.
A. Sinistra
Private message to Felix Green
Date: 2012-01-02 05:23 pm (UTC)I am thinking about coming in more regularly (almost certainly mid-afternoon on Tuesdays and meeting people for dinner), if that would make it easier to coordinate some of the parchment work. Not this week or next, but likely thereafter.
Re: the above: I don’t expect him to actually resign, but one does have to ask. If, as I assume, he won’t, please continue your trick of making sure I’m never alone with him. (Both Helena and Campanella are glad to assist with that.)
I hope you had wonderful holidays, and that the New Year brings you abundant blessings (you deserve every one.)
Private message to Poppy
Date: 2012-01-02 05:34 pm (UTC)Related to the YPL announcement, I’ve got confirmation now that Healer Luxovius Kerr will be the one along on the 28th. I understand he’s made something of a speciality of cold-related injuries, and he also comes from the area, so it seems a good combination all round. (And anything must be better than Stint, surely, though if you’ve anything I should know, please share.)
I’ve asked Healer Kerr, along with all the other details sent by owl, to be certain to coordinate with you about any specific student needs. Do let me know if you don’t hear from him within the next fortnight.
As to who’ll be going, as you can see, it’s a limited number (around 60) - the CCF students, plus about 45 others from among our 3rd years, other 4th years, and guests. And then about a dozen of our first or second years, who will be carefully supervised. Travel by portkey, to near Dornie.
If there’s anyone you think I should be aware of in advance, do let me know, but I’ll get you the full lists as soon as I have them - I hope next Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on how much juggling I have to do.
Private message to Rory
Date: 2012-01-02 11:34 pm (UTC)Still think he ought to be sacked (I know, I know). His behaviour disgraces the YPL and, in turn, the Protectorate itself. Or that's how it could be spun to Bella, anyway- with the right approach.
But don't pay me any mind, I'm all talk this time 'round. Promise.
Re: Private message to Rory
Date: 2012-01-02 11:39 pm (UTC)I know how you feel - and believe me, I'm with you on wishing we could get him out. But he hasn't done anything obvious to me - beyond what other people have tried, anyway - and certainly not to students, or it'd be a much easier spin.
Perhaps if he's given enough rope, he'll do something that does make it easy, without doing too much more damage in the process.
My mail today had two interesting notes about that, actually - apparently, now he's able to talk again, news about what exactly happened has been getting around a bit more, and I'm certainly not the only person he's done that kind of thing to.
Re: Private message to Rory
Date: 2012-01-02 11:43 pm (UTC)Can't say I'm surprised to hear you have company. Maybe they can provide you with advice, though- not to mention solidarity.
Re: Private message to Rory
Date: 2012-01-02 11:46 pm (UTC)I'm not surprised I've company either - but that certainly adds weight to the idea of my spending a bit more time in New London on my own that we'd talked about, and not just to make it easier to manage the parchmentwork in less time. Much as I love this place, it is a bit isolating at times.
How'd your first day back in classes go?
Re: Private message to Rory
Date: 2012-01-02 11:54 pm (UTC)Nightmare, as usual. No one wants to concentrate, still bubbling over about balls and gossip and gifts. I had to get out my scary quidditch hooligan voice.
Re: Private message to Rory
Date: 2012-01-03 12:00 am (UTC)And all the events did remind me that that it can be rather nice to talk to people who are not immediate colleagues or students.
(You, love, are always a wonder to talk to, but you know what I mean.)
Have I heard the scary quidditch hooligan voice yet? I know exactly what you mean, though - the second years were all over awful and passing around all sorts of gossip they'd been catching up on, half of it horribly exaggerated, and the other half flat-out wrong, all trying to sound so terribly adult. I'm sure they'll be worse tonight.
Re: Private message to Rory
Date: 2012-01-03 12:12 am (UTC)We should go to a match, and then you'll hear it, probably far more than you care to. Or you can come by the classroom on a rough day. It's basically some variation of "OI YOU, WATCH IT! SPREAD OUT! BACK IN POSITION!"
Re: Private message to Rory
Date: 2012-01-03 12:18 am (UTC)(And again, thanks for putting up with the family. Mum sent a nice note along this morning that you can read next time you're up here, and is threatening another big package sooner than later. They do all seem to approve of you, which is handy.)
And on going to a match: certainly. Poking my head in the classroom might, I fear, still distract students more than would be helpful, though the image will distract me tonight when I'm trying to keep them from knocking their telescopes to bits.
Re: Private message to Rory
Date: 2012-01-03 12:24 am (UTC)Always happy to give you a distraction. Have a good lesson tonight, love.
Re: Private message to Rory
Date: 2012-01-03 12:36 am (UTC)And yes, I'm very lucky in them, really. You do see now what I said about Mum deflecting charming men...
Right. I am up the tower for a little research, and then figuring out how to segue from observation of Virgo into observation of Saturn, and a reminder of how planets look different than stars. Wish me luck!