 |
 |
|
| The End of Term is Here
By Fiona Chauvet It seems like term started only yesterday. Maybe if you used a time turner it did, but for the rest of us we have very little time left before summer is here. That means running around like mad to finish up all your lessons, exams, turning in submissions to the writing and art club, and somewhere in there find a bit of time to write a Gazette article or two. In all that madness it's important not to forget some important end of term dates. If you do, you'll be left in the dark. And you'll probably look silly standing alone in the common room when everyone else is at the last Quidditch match. So take a look at these announcements, and write them on something important! May 26th - June 7th: OWLS (may be subject to change - we'll notify you if they do) May 30th - June 12th: Final Quidditch match May 31st: Last day for students to earn points June 1st - June 13th: Teachers to finalize grades & get all points turned in June 7th: EOT June 13th - June 16th: EOT Banquet |
| Paddington Students Finally Arrive!
By Ariene Callahan After weeks of waiting, the first students of Paddington have arrived! May 13th 2008 marked the very first arrival of these students. I was logged in on the Bulletin Board, like I am most of the time. The day was pretty much a typical day, check to see what new announcements have been made, spam a little. I was surprised to see a wave of introduction threads. Certainly this number of new students couldn't coincide with Paddington? Curious, as I am by nature, I went to investigate. Sure enough, these new students all shared the one common theme - they were all Paddingtons! I think I jumped several feet in the air. So let me be among many to official say hello! I can't wait to meet more you the "cubbies" as Prof. Riddle has officially called his students. I am so thrilled to have new chances for making friends, and the few that I've already had the pleasure to meet are remarkable! They even have use of the cutest mascot I've seen yet. Until their common room is finished, PAD has set up the BB as a temporary home. Let us all remember that we have the privilege of a common room. Be nice to the poor little cubbies, as they await anxiously the completion of their home J So welcome to Hogwarts: Joanna, Brady, Yaxley, Sam D., Jaselyn and Damien [not mentioned are up and coming students]. |
|
| A Few Words with Paddington�s Finest
By Bryony Casten With the grand opening of Paddington House less than a month away, and with more and more new Paddington students joining the Bulletin Board each day, I thought it prudent to sit down with two members�Professor Tom Riddle and Prefect Brady Lennox�and share a few words, learn more about their house, and see what they�re most looking forward to. Professor Riddle is, of course, the Head of House of Paddington, assisted by Professor Haddington. Brady Lennox is one of three new Prefects for the house, and from what they told me their whole staff has been hard at work getting the common room ready for the day when students will arrive. �We�ve been doing a lot of brainstorming over the things we�ll need to get up & running as quickly as possible,� Professor Riddle says. �The hardest thing is definitely putting everything together. There�s no handbook or list of do�s and don�ts for HOH teams to follow, so we�re pretty much flying by the seat of our pants.� Although the workload might be tough, that�s not necessarily a bad thing. Says Brady, �I'm most excited about the fact that we have a chance to build up a house from scratch. The organization is daunting, but I've always loved a challenge! I am excited that we have a say, that its our ideas that will build the foundation of Paddington, it's pretty awe inspiring!� You may have noticed on the BB that the number of Paddington students keeps rising, and additional introduction threads are being made every day to announce the arrival of another Paddington member. I was curious to know how they were all getting along what they thought of each other. �I can already tell that we've got a great group of kids & so far Prof. Haddington & I have hit it off really well,� Professor Riddle told me. �They all [speaking of the Paddington students], seem to have good heads on their shoulders. I think they'll all work hard for the house & no one will be disappointed.� Brady had similar feelings, saying, �We already feel like a family! It's awesome, there is so much warmth from all the faces of Paddington.� The creation of this new house is both exciting and hard work, but the Paddington staff and students are quickly on their way integrating Paddington House into the Hogwarts family. Its students are already hitting it off, everyone has high hopes for them, and they can�t wait to get into the common room and get started. We�ve seen more and more members join each day, you may have even talked to some of them a few times� but do you know what really lies at the heart and soul of a Paddington student? What is it that brings them all together? To begin to answer this question I first asked Brady and Professor Tom to explain to me what qualities they had that made them a Paddington member. Professor Tom told me that it was his �assertiveness, ingenuity, analyzation skills, and drive to achieve the things [he] wants� that suits him for the house, while Brady explained, �I'm a dreamer, not afraid to dream outside the box. I like to take chances, and it's for fear of not trying that I try. I'm very driven to get things done, accomplished. I don't like to sit around and wait for something to happen, I'd rather go out and make it happen.� Brady also paid tribute to her tendency to over-analyze and to really think things over. But that�s just two Paddington members. What about all the rest of them? To answer this question, I�d like to end with one final quote from Professor Riddle. � I think what lies in the heart & soul of a Paddington student is the drive to find a place to belong & call home without feeling like outcasts. Being thinkers & inventors & dreamers, we want to be able to find a place where we can share our ideas & visions without being judged by others or laughed at or not given a chance to try our hand at things. It's my hope that this will also be what lies in the heart & soul of the entire house....to give everyone a chance to shine & be supportive of each other whether we fail or succeed.� I know that I am not alone in saying �welcome� to all Paddington students and wishing each and every one of you the best of luck in such as enormous an undertaking as this�starting a house from scratch is no easy business�the Penshires know that well enough. And yet the rewards that are to be reaped from doing the job and seeing the final product�and most of all, the family that is created through the entire process is absolutely priceless. A big thank-you to Professor Tom Riddle and Brady Lennox for agreeing to speak with me and answer all my questions! |
|
| Summer Here It Comes!
By Brady C. Lennox As the end of the 2007 - 2008 term comes to a close, we all anxiously await the start of the summer festivities. How do I know this? Well, recently I spoke with Miss Ariene Callahan about what goes on around here during the summer months. Apparently lots of fun occurs here, if Miss Callahan is to be believed! As a new student, I am not familar with how life operated post term. Thankfully Ariene was able to answer my questions, and I gained a pretty good picture of what to expect. While our muggle lives may go into overdrive, the school life here begins its lazy sojurn and relaxed environment. A summer club, which is operated by the student council will open and a few summer courses will be offered! How exciting! I know that I'll be involved with at least a few of these activities! Look at it this way, it's a great way to get a head start on all those points for next year's house cup! Perhaps even a summer dance or two may occur? However this is strictly a rumor, there is no evidence to back up this rumor! So while I wait for the start of next term, at least I can occupy myself with all the great and fun summer activities that PAD's will offer! I'd hate to miss out on all this fun to come! |
|
| A New Library Coming Our Way!
By Bry Casten The announcement that a library renovation was in the works was made by PAD on the Bulletin Board a few weeks ago, but so much is still shrouded in mystery! The Headmistress didn�t seem to want to give much away, informing students simply that the Library would be re-vamped and would flaunt a whole new look! Applications for a new librarian were accepted as well�no doubt we�ll find out who got the job at the End of Term banquet! It seems there�s a lot coming our way for the start of the new term, and the Library�s new look is just one of many. Keep your eyes peeled for the changes come end of term! |
| End of Term Thoughts
By Beonca Aims Its that time of year again and some of us think this one went by really fast! We already have been working hard to finish up classes, like turn in lessons and RPG styled classes. I know, I just finished DADA 102 and have to finish up DADA 101 which is far more crowded then the other. We are working on our last issue of the Daily Prophet, well, last issue for the term, and trying to cram this month's Owl Gazette with articles because...points count! We have seen who will be winning the Quidditch Cup already so that means only one house has the ability to own both Cups, but we sly snakes are going to try and be the fly in that ointment. The dates for the dance has been announce so shopping for something to wear should keep some busy for the next couple of weekends. I am looking forward to the speeches, I know, but they are usually filled with some great information and summaries of the term, though Professor Lockhart's is mostly just about him, but still something to look forward to anyway. So, I wish all houses good luck and see you at the dance! |
| 55 June 2008 |