By Yaxley Chambers
As the End of Term excitement begins to wear down on the students and staff here at PAD's Hogwarts, we were thrilled to hear the news that, on top of the school's summer club and other events planned by the staff to occupy us until September, there will be two RPG classes run by two of our great Professors. Professor Snape, DADA Professor and Potions Master at Hogwarts, will be holding his annual RPG Potions class on the Dueling Club Forum. This class is always a Summer time treat that starts on July 7th. Make sure to have all of your supplies and a partner to work with you on your Cauldron!! Another Professor announced her plan for an RPG Summer Class, and that is Professor Kelina Bliss, the School Herbologist. Due to high demand of repotting the Mandrake, she decided to open up a summer course for all students interested. So just because the school slows down a bit during the summer, it doesn't stop! And there are many things for you to do to have fun and earn points for your house! Hey, you may even learn a thing or two!
New Term!
By Erica Lovegood
Now that the term is over a new one begins. There are new house badges, wonderful Common Room entrance pictures, and even a new house! As said in some of the EoT speeches, more changes shall be made about the looks of Hogwarts. We are still waiting for the new library system!
Though classes may be over, there is plenty to do over the Summer here at PAD's. Hopefully Summer Club will be up and running like last year. They had many fun activities from what I can remember. Only time shall tell if it shall be up again. In addition, the students are being graced with summer potions and Herbology classes thanks to Professor Snape and Professor Kelina Bliss. As I can see from the threads, many students are in fact interested. We students should await wonderful things this summer as always.
Common Room Makeovers!
By Orly
During the End of Term Banquet many Hogwarts students were perhaps a bit excited to find out that the Paddingtons weren't the only ones to get their common room gate made over. When this reporter noticed the Paddington gate, they got yelled at for spending too much time loitering in the Astronomy Tower. It is truly a sight to behold. This reporter is extremely grateful to find out that the Paddingtons aren't the only ones getting a CR gate makeover. Professor Opal, head of Gryffindor house, and an up and coming interior decorator, is going to make over each CR gate, which is something that this reporter can truly not wait to see.
New Head Girl, Head Boy Remains!
By Yaxley Chambers
During the End of Term Banquet, PAD announced the Staff changes as she usually does in her speeches. There were Professors gaining new positions, Prefect Assistants becoming Prefects, Prefects becoming Senior Prefects, and every so often a Prefect becoming Head Boy or Head Girl. This year Penshire's Prefect, Bryony Casten, became the schools Head Girl. Bryony, who's been a student for almost three years, is agreed upon everyone to be a worthy choice for the position with so much authority. Her good friend, Ava Black of Penshire, held the position just before Bry did, so there should be some team work coming out of Penshire house! Meanwhile our Head Boy, Cedric Cenn Faelad, maintained his position through the End of Term and onto next year. Most also agree that he is worthy of the job and has done a good job in the past! Congratulations both of you, and to all new and returning Staff Members!!
Ravenclaws Win House Cup!
By Orly
With the End of Term also comes the announcement of the winners of the House Cup, and this year, Ravenclaw was the house that claimed the cup. The year has been frought with many hard fought battles for the Eagles, such as trying to remain on top, and fighting to stay ahead of Penshire, and believe me, the Cranes didn't go down without a fight! So the Eagles have claimed the House Cup for the first time since the 03-04 term, but what does that say about the other houses? For those who have never gone down to the Trophy room on the third floor before, it might intrest you to know that Hufflepuff won the House Cup last year, Slytherin during the 05-06 term, and Gryffindor during the 04-05 term. And Penshire has never been able to claim the House Cup, and Paddington's new to the school. So what will the new term bring? Each house has seen what it takes to win, and fighting to beat the super active Claws is the number one thing on their list. So who will win this year? Only time will tell.
"Move aside Dear Alba�its time for the Loud-mouthed Professor Lockhart to take over. Here by popular demand. No more solving problems instead it�s all about me, me and me, and the true opinions of the Best Head of House, as voted but by the Student Choice Awards, Professor Gilderoy Lockhart.
I know this is newspaper is mostly written in by Students viewing their opinions on matters, well it�s my turn! Let�s hear for once the opinions of the Heads on what happens around the school and the best upcoming gossip straight from the Staff Lounge. Let�s crack on�
The first hot topic is the House Cup�Congratulations Ravenclaw! It�s always a mad dash in the last month to get as many points as you can, but one question always crosses my mind when I think of the last month�why don�t the houses actually do the mad dash throughout the year instead of waiting to last minute? Surely simple planning would tell you if you done what you did in the last month throughout the year you would actually win? Like for example Ravenclaws effort this year, it truly was a year round performance!
Next we have the Quidditch Cup�Congratulations Penshire! Now everyone knows this has never been Hufflepuffs strong part, but its something I still enjoying watching and reading about. Its great to see how teams pull together for one goal�its not so good when people try and find loop holes in the rules though�that�s how to make it a rubbish and uninteresting game. But I think all and all Cedric has done an outstanding job with Quidditch and has taken it further than I ever possible imagined it going! I think he deserves an Award for his work, because nothing could describe the effort he puts into it each game. I take my wig off to you Cedric! Erm�sorry�I mean my hat!
Now onto the topic that had the whole BB talking�the closure of Spam and other related topics. I noticed in the last issue there was an anonymous writer expressing their concerns about mine and the other Admins decision. Well lets not beat around the bush�wasn�t the whole topic pointless? I mean who could justify trying to keep up and monitoring a topic which was growing by an average of 12 pages a day! Never mind the fact that it was mainly the same people posting in it. Surely after over 2,000 pages you got to know each other? If not then I would hate to be on your first date! There are millions of ways to get to know people, RP, projects, contests, quidditch, the other games and even dances. In a topic that huge people were bound to break the rules in hoping we wouldn�t notice, well surprise�we did catch the occasional few! So how could we trust a topic, not necessarily the members, but the topic? Close bonds were formed but at the same time the topic was being exploited, even myself witnessed a student be disrespectful towards another student AND a staff member? Is that the behavior that justifies keeping a topic open? Now I�m not here to criticize or condemn people�s right to their opinions over the closures of the topics but I am here to offer my side of the story, what I think about the topic closures, as of course everyone else has expressed.
As for gossip from the staff lounge can you believe the summer is already here? You know what that means�The Summer Club! Yes that�s right it will be coming to BB near to you soon. With fantastic new sections such as Where in the World and great new puzzles and lessons. I won�t say too much without spoiling the surprise because I will be silenced if I say more�eek! There also may be upcoming new monthly contests to get your teeth into and even may be a game of Broomstick racing�but shh I didn�t tell you that one!
If there is anything you want Loud-Mouth Lockhart to share his opinion about in the next issue of the Owl Gazette then get writing to him at [email protected] with a title of �LML.� I will share my opinions about anything Pad related!"
By Luna Lovegood
As we all know, there was a ban on games on the BB that said no more spam-like games. This ban has caused people to go to the Great Hall Chat if they want to talk to people in other houses because it can no longer be done in the threads. I haven't been spending much time in the GHC (Great Hall Chat) when it hasn't been a dance or banquet, so I was in there quite a lot during the End of Term Banquet. And what I noticed while in there was that there were very few people in there during the banquet. It was probably the least active chat I have been in since I started attending the dance chats. And it really didn't surprise me much. A few people said the same thing. So, is the ban on chat topics on the BB a bad thing? What do you think?
Clean House, Clean Start
By Ava Black
Don�t be alarmed! Hogwart�s boards have been swiped clean for the coming term. It is a strange custom I know. I remember being so frightened the first time it happened in Penshire. However, it is now growing on me and I really do enjoy the crisp clean look of the common room after the cleanout. Remember to sign the rules again, as that is one of the first priorities after cleanout. Then POST, go CRAZY! I know I will!
By Orly
This reporter was astounded when a contest was announced during the End of Term Banquet. The object of the contest was to find out who has the most talent here at Hogwarts in a competition that would give the winning contestant three thousand points to their house. Many people entered entries, hoping to be that person, and right now, polls are up on the BB to find the finalists for the contest. I have already voted, and been blown away by the talent that I have seen! It's amazing to see the talent of the students here at Hogwarts, and I can't wait to find out who the winner of the contest will be.
Summer Potions & Herbology!
By Beonca Aims
The house of Slytherin certainly has put some effort into making the summer fun, well, the HOH and AHOH has, anyway. Professor Snape, once again, will host his Summer Potions class in the Dueling Club area. This year, he is teaching us how to make the Veritaserum which I hope we get to test on some first years, but not Slytherin ones. Also on the schedule is Doxicide and the Felix Felicis potions. Both of which are going to be big hits and very useful for, well, I let your imagination take over there.
Professor Kelina Bliss is doing the first ever Summer Herbology RPG-styled class! Though she claims to be a bit nervous, we all know she is going to do well. I do know one is re-potting mandrakes! I hope the Huffies find their ear-muffs and the Claws forget theirs, kidding! I heard that Professor Snape will snap if anyone gives Professor Bliss a hard time, so I just thought I would warn you about that!
Both classes ought to be a lot of fun, a lot of learning, and will fill up fast, so get there early!
By Yarly
This reporter was astonished to discover on June second that the Writing and Poetry Club had been closed - the door was locked tight, and there was no hope for entry. However, I soon discovered that this predicament was easily remedied - I just had to write in my common room, and could handin my writings at a later date. When I went to check on the club a week after it had closed, I was astonished to discover that someone had set up camp in front of the club, waiting for it to open. The person was none other than Riley Jake, second year, and one of the new Prefect Assistants on the Slytherin house staff. When I asked Riley about why she was camping in front of the Writing Club, she merely stated that, "Professor Dickinson has been in there far too long, and I have a lot to post." While this seemed reasonable enough, this reporter still finds the camping more than a bit odd. However, I believe that she is still staking out the Annex Building, so beware to all who try to enter...
Spending Your Summertime
By Julia Rose Antea
There are so many ways to spend your summer days and nights here at Hogwarts! One of my personal favorites is Summer Club. Although, this is going to be my first time trying out Summer Club for myself, I have heard nothing but good things about it. It is run by the Student Council, and I have total faith in them that it is going to turn out wonderfully. Others choose to get ahead on poems, articles, stories, and so on. Summer is the perfect time to take the lead for the coveted House Cup. Many times, the summer champ keeps first place all year. Many houses have been posting like nuts. Perhaps to earn points in the final tally, but most likely it's just because it's summer, we're active, and we love having fun! So be sure to make the best of our summer here at Professor Alba Dumbledore's Hogwarts!