Thanks and appreciation

[alt_sinistra]

I’ve just seen the last of our rising second years off, and we’re just wrapping up here now. A bit of tidying, and our debriefing with our counsellors, as always, then we get to get off home as well.

My thanks once more to everyone who put in so much time and energy on this week’s camping trip. As always, we owe a great deal of gratitude to the many specialists who gave a few hours to offering a nature walk, providing a lecture or discussion, or teaching our students fascinating new charms.

But this year, I particularly want to thank all our counsellors (Eric Bundy, Samantha Montgomery, Grant Page, Susan Bones, Ernie MacMillan, Draco Malfoy, Sally-Anne Perks, and Dean Thomas) for their good nature and hard work under less than ideal circumstances. I know this was not the most pleasant week to be camping, but they all did their best to make everything run as smoothly and enjoyably as possible. Well done and most appreciated, all of you.

As always, parents, if you have any questions about our activities or your child, please do contact me via the YPL clerk’s office or by journal.

Comments

Private message to Felix Green

[alt_sinistra]

Ugh. Damp all through. I need a day to dry out and warm up (and sleep), so let’s plan on Wednesday for parchment work and the write-up, and Friday if we need more time. That new form the oversight board wants is going to take hours, I can tell. But I did keep hour by hour notes as they requested, so it should be easy enough to do, just tedious. And I’ve all the expense reports (we’re under budget, comfortably, but there’s a couple of adjustments to categories we need to make.)

On those four letters of complaint you’ve already had (goodness, do people think I can rearrange the weather to suit?), I’m thinking of how to handle them. I suspect you might have one or two more coming. If there’s anything from the Hedigans, the Mackrells, or the Featherstones, please let me know immediately, and take the usual precautions. (Nothing I could take direct action on, but I ended up having to have words with all three of their children.)

See you Wednesday.

Private message to Mum and Diane Haley

[alt_sinistra]

That was an unpleasant week. It wasn’t outright rain so much as an unrelenting drizzle at least half the day - entirely cheerless. I actually enjoyed the bits that weren’t pepetual whinging, but we had fewer and fewer of those as things went on.

Diane - I’ve told Andie myself, but wanted to tell you too (and do show this to Chiron): Andie is growing into herself in a lovely way. She’s done more than her bit to help ease some tensions within that class (that spate of bullying continues) without either joining those being nasty, or becoming a target herself. It’s been a delight to watch, truly, and you should both be very proud of her.

She’s also showing quite the knack for Charms work, a very precise touch. And I know you feel a focus on Defence isn’t as important for young witches, but please, can you trust me? She’ll be better off if she has the skills and confidence to handle herself if she ever has to. If you don’t want to look at tutoring, at least let’s figure out a cohesive set of materials she can practice over the summer. (And you know I’m glad to help her as time allows.) Do talk it over with Chiron, and we can talk more this week. And I’ll bring a few things to look at.

Mum - I think Thursday probably works best. Still no idea if we’re getting Raz as well, and might not till the day of. Sorry about that. But I’ll plan to come for lunch, and we can do the early jams in the afternoon if you can manage the afternoon off like you thought. I’d like a bit of honest cooking to look forward to rather than shifting parchments. And I do have a few ideas for Dad’s birthday. It’ll be good to see you all.

Right. Everyone's finally gone, and I'm off too. See you all Thursday.

Private message to Mum

[alt_sinistra]

Mum -

Almost certainly just me on Thursday unless the weather's truly miserable. Raz does have some other obligations. I don't mind, truly - it's in a good cause. And it'd be nice to have a little time with just family. (And it might be easier to persuade Diane if he's not there, actually.)

I know you and she think I fuss too much, but honestly. I know Diane got Andie that new book, Elation - she wrote to me about it. Ask Andie how different that Hogwarts is from the one we live in. It's not all light and cheery frolics in Charms class. How anyone could think that after the past few years

I am so grateful the Carrows are gone, you've no idea. And you know I and others do all we can to keep our students safe. But there's still far more risk than anyone would like, and more than a few students who like pushing the limits and seeing what they can get away with. And someone ends up their first victim.

I want Andie to be able to take care of herself if she has to. No matter what.

See you Thursday, noon.

Private message to Professor Sinistra

[alt_sally_anne]

Thanks for your trust and confidence in me. It's been an interesting and rewarding week even if the weather was terrible.

Also, I'm just wondering, will Miss Umbridge (it's Miss, right? I don't want to get it wrong) be coming to the debriefing?

Re: Private message to Professor Sinistra

[alt_sinistra]

I'm very glad you were along on this week - you truly were a tremendous help. All of you were, really.

As to your second question, I understand she prefers Madam Umbridge. I honestly don't know if she'll be at the debriefing: I have been asked by the YPL oversight board to welcome her when she's available.

I hope that her questions weren't too difficult distracting while you were working with the younger students?

Re: Private message to Professor Sinistra

[alt_sally_anne]

I know how to handle those sorts of questions. It was okay.