alt_sinistra | Entries tagged with friends: other

First, a reminder to our fifth, sixth, and seventh years that the first of our observing opportunities for meteor showers - the Draconids - is coming up this weekend. Depending on the weather, you should have the opportunity either Sunday or Monday not too long after sunset. I’ll be up on the tower after supper both nights until around 9 for those who wish to observe.

(Again, you’re expected to do some brief observations across at least two of the three upcoming meteor showers, weather reasonably permitting. Consult your notes or come by office hours if you are still confused about my expectations. You will in all cases want to work with a partner - it makes things much easier - and doing so is required if you’re out of your dorms outside of curfew.)

Looking ahead, I will not be available on Saturday, the 20th, but the Orionids should - if the weather holds - be most visible between midnight and dawn on the 19th, 20th, 21st, and 22nd. Those who wish to stay up on Friday night are welcome to come up the tower at midnight if the weather’s clear (though my 3rd years will be working on a different assignment.) Pre-dawn viewing, you are on your own, but I am glad to arrange permissions as needed.

And second, just a reminder on my office hours - you all know I’m glad to be available. However, I do generally plan to be done at 9pm, and often have some other tasks calling my attention. If you have a longer or more complex question, please do come earlier in the session, or arrange a time with me privately. (I do have to have time to do all your marking, after all!)

In New London for the afternoon, a combination of errands and catching up with two of my sisters. It is amazing how quickly things fall into place after just a week or two back at school, really - I’ve been working tidily through my list and plans, and it’s so satisfying to see things checked off.

The weather, alas, not so much - we’ve had some glorious stargazing weather the last week, but I’m afraid it’s the last gasps before the far more uncertain days of the fall and winter.

Temp - thanks again for rounding more of those up. And for the other set of used-book searching, too. Gilly - no worries that you had to cancel, I found other company, but next week? Could do lunch at one.

Planning meeting: this Saturday, 21st January:
CCF members should plan on meeting from 2-4 pm. All other participants (final lists were posted in your common rooms on Monday) should plan on meeting from 3-4 pm. Again, we regret that the size of the group is limited for this event.

2pm: CCF students will receive their team assignments (as part of the goal is to challenge you to work together, you will not be able to pick your own teams.) You will be told the basics of the event, and have the opportunity to ask questions, clarify instructions, etc.

3pm: The planners of the day’s challenges will share some important practical and safety information with all participants. Following that, each group of team leaders will choose the rest of its members from among the other participating students and have time to talk and make some initial plans.

Overall:
The winners of the event will be determined based on points awarded for completing specific goals. You are reminded that one of the goals of this event is to see how you use resources - you’ve been given a week’s planning time for a reason, in other words.

January 28th:
All participants should meet in the entry hall at quarter to 9. We will be leaving promptly at 9am and anyone who is not present and ready will be left behind. We expect to return by 4pm, and CCF students will have an additional post-event debriefing until dinner time.

Again, you are expected to dress appropriately for the weather and to follow all instructions about well-being and safety given to you by any of the adult staff, including the attending Aurors and Auror trainees. Further rules and limits will be clearly discussed this coming Saturday.

I’m still feeling rather inspired after last night - the chance to talk to my astronomical peers about a topic near and dear my heart does give a lift. Georg: thanks again for the opportunity, it was delightful, and I appreciate your attention in all the planning. Everyone else: I’ll do my best to make it in April, you’re all right it’d been entirely too long.

I’m particularly intrigued by some upcoming projects, especially one that promises substantial refinements in the astronomy involved in locational magic (such as used in the floo network) and another focusing on the mysteries of star creation. (For older students: several projects are offering summer internships and not all of them require NEWT level work in astronomy. Stop by for details.)

I also got several useful references for my own research, and I’m quite excited to dig into that, now we’ve gotten back into the rhythm of the school term. It seems that errors crept into previous detailed work on stars in Ursa Major. My end goal is deeper study on the origins of those stars, but clearly a corrected survey must happen first.

To my NEWT students and the YPL counsellors:
What a lovely thing just after lunch! Thank you for such a thoughtful present and I especially treasure the notes. (And thank you, for not just leaving it for me: so much more fun to see your faces.) 6th years, now I know why you all couldn’t stop grinning this morning!

Office hours this week
As I was out last night, I expect to be in my office between dinner and curfew tonight (and tomorrow, and Friday) for anyone with questions about your first assignments of the new term (or your exams, if your marks are still mysterious.) Next week, I’ll settle into the schedule we’ve discussed in class.

One last note:
Would the following please stop by my office during any of my office hours, sooner rather than later? You’re not in trouble, I promise. (Diggory and O’Flaherty, same matter I mentioned Sunday).
3rd years: Bradley, Clarriker, Inglebee, Lovegood, Sandoval, Stevens, Zimmerman
4th years: Brocklehurst, Bones, Bundy, Hopkins, Jones, Longbottom, Macmillan, Moon, Parkinson, Perks, Weasley
5th years: Begy, Bobolis, Cadwallader, Coote, Dunstan, Gamp, Jones, Robins, Sloper

Last weekend's freedom was a fleeting thing - I've been in the midst of marking essays from our 2nd years, 4th years, and the NEWT students this week, all of which required extensive comments.

The beginning of the week started well - I had a lovely afternoon tea with Poppy, just to chat. We wandered over a number of topics, but I think she was amused by the combination of my abysmal scores in both Herbology and Potions (I have to admit, they were the worst of my OWLs), and my general knowledge of remedies useful to growing children. (Being one child of many requires you to learn some things out of sheer self-preservation.)

Since then, though, it's been all essay marking, and wondering how to adjust observation times for the weather, and trying to get alternate class topics prepared, and so I find myself at the weekend feeling rather wrung out.

This evening, though, I'm going into Hogsmeade for dinner, as a friend of mine is coming through. It'll be good to catch up with her more easily than by owl or floo. I may be up late to finish the essays after that, mind you - but a break will be nice.

S	M	T	W	T	F	S
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	26
27	28	29	30

I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night.

Entries tagged with friends: other

Upcoming meteors

Mid-September

A few reminders about our upcoming event.

Astronomical updates, and other quick notes

Another week gone.

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