Reminders and a location change:
Jun. 19th, 2012 01:10 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alt_sinistraA reminder to our CCF trials students that we are looking at all aspects of your behaviour and interactions this week. If you have a difficulty you cannot resolve appropriately yourselves, please bring it to the counsellors, or you can come find me. If I’m not with the examiners, I’ll be accessible by journal and can arrange to meet up with you easily if you’d rather not climb up to my rooms or office.
To the examiners: I’ve arranged use of one of the ground floor classrooms for our discussion after supper, in consideration of Mr Bennington’s bad foot. Second door on the left in the hallway across from the entrance to the Great Hall.
To the examiners: I’ve arranged use of one of the ground floor classrooms for our discussion after supper, in consideration of Mr Bennington’s bad foot. Second door on the left in the hallway across from the entrance to the Great Hall.
Private mesage to Terrence Higgs
Date: 2012-06-19 05:20 pm (UTC)If that’s not sufficient, let me know, and I’ll come be more clear and direct. But if I have to officially have words, it’ll complicate things a great deal. (Feel free to make that clear, if you think it would help.)
Thank you, for your work - I know this is more trouble than we were hoping for.
Private message to Aurora Sinistra
Date: 2012-06-19 05:57 pm (UTC)Such a good effort you’re making to try and have everything run smoothly. But as I’ve been observing, I do see some teensy things that might be of help, given my greater experience. And I've got a few questions.
1. When running meetings, I’ve always found it to be so much better if one sets a clear agenda and pushes forward with it. I’ve noticed, if I might be so bold, that you’ve been perhaps a tiny bit too accomodating to some views. Better to get simply things done, don’t you think?
2. Are the students really busy enough? I heard a few comments this morning about some difficulty last night. Perhaps they need some useful project to occupy their evenings. Idle hands do find occupation.
3. Were the group exercises quite so competitive last year? That matter with Mr Archer and Miss Inglebee, in particular, dear.
4. I understand that the examiners do not generally review the applications, but perhaps I could have just the smallest peek? As an observer, of course. I’m quite curious about how students present on parchment, and then in action. All part of my little project, you know.
And perhaps you could explain how Miss Lovegood made it in to the trials, when Miss Zimmerman did not. (I know her guardian, so I was most surprised, as Mildred has always seemed quite careful with her ward. A good solid loyal hand, as much as she could given Ethel’s unfortunate parentage.)
I’d just love to discuss further, after the evening’s meeting. I’m sure you’ve no other plans than your work this week, dedicated as you are. Oh, and might we switch to first names? I’m quite interested in this work you’ve been doing, and sometimes find too much formality can get in the way of a really productive conversation.
Re: Private message to Aurora Sinistra
Date: 2012-06-19 06:59 pm (UTC)Of course, I’m glad to respond to your concerns and questions - all part of my role.
On the matter of names, much as I appreciate the intention, I do prefer to keep things a bit more formal with YPL colleagues and related interactions. It keeps meetings from being a jumble of different formalities, and of course it sets a good example for students.
As to your questions, I think most of them might be better handled face to face. The one I can answer here is that Miss Zimmerman did not make a strong case for how the CCF would develop her skills for the Protectorate, and Miss Lovegood did. We were also curious whether her quite real brains might be directed into something suitably productive with the right encouragement and incentive.
I can’t allow the actual applications out of my direct oversight, but you’d be welcome to review them in my classroom. I’ve some other plans for tonight, already, but perhaps tomorrow, when the trials are over for the day? I’d be glad to meet about your other concerns after breakfast, if you liked - we should have an hour or so before things get going and they’ve set up the flying course.
A. Sinistra
Re: Private message to Aurora Sinistra
Date: 2012-06-19 07:18 pm (UTC)I'm a tad disappointed not to get up to roll up my sleeves and get right to work - nothing but my best for Our Lord’s wishes, of course - but I suppose you feel you know best how to pace yourself.
As to the matter of names, today's young career witches have to be so careful, I understand! I suppose you are at that age where every bit of dignity does count so much, doesn’t it?
That does remind me. I do hope you’ve given fair thought to all the implications of having a relationship. Career witches can’t be too careful, you know. You’ve quite the busy summer, of course, and I know you’d not want to get in the way of whatever plans Our Lord might have for your young man’s time. Or even your own, I suppose.
We’ll talk further, of course. Tomorrow at breakfast, and then in the late afternoon will be an excellent start.
Private message to Poppy Pomfrey
Date: 2012-06-19 07:12 pm (UTC)Been thinking of you all day and yesterday, and I do hope they saw sense.
We’ve had no significant injuries here, other than one of the examiners - Elias Bennington - getting in the way of an odd hex this morning. (Your substitute does not have your touch with student ingenuity, so though Bennington’s ankle no longer resembles a tree trunk, he’s still limping and a bit bruised.)
I’m a little hesitant to be out and visible - Dolores Umbridge clearly wants to bend my ear - but if you want to come up, or let me know when I can sneak down, I’ll be free this evening except for about an hour after supper. Whatever the outcome was. Likely up on the tower otherwise, but I won’t be doing anything I can’t put aside easily.
If you'd rather be on your own, or with Pomona, just say the word: I won't take offense. But I'd hate to think you were alone needlessly after that kind of review.
Re: Private message to Poppy Pomfrey
Date: 2012-06-19 10:34 pm (UTC)Thankfully, I am escaping with both my position and my dignity intact when I expected to have been stripped of both. Mind you, I'm to be bound by a long list of new restrictions and 'incentives'--courtesy of Strangeweale and Stint.
I'm afraid I must run now. Full report tomorrow?
Re: Private message to Poppy Pomfrey
Date: 2012-06-19 10:46 pm (UTC)I would have been very sorry indeed if they'd managed to triumph. For all sorts of reasons.
Full report whenever we can manage? I can contribute biscuits and tea and an interesting hard cider my mother sent along.
It's quite clear Umbridge is going to try and absorb my free time tomorrow and I've not the energy to fight her further on that. But I might manage something in the evening after the examiners meet. (Is pleading a headache a sensible move or too likely to be seen as weakness, I wonder?)
I'll have to deal with Stint next week, so whatever you can share might actually be helpful there. And there's any amount of other conversation that might be worth having. I've picked up a bit about Alecto, and some other bits and pieces that might be of interest, as one does.