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Strength in Unity
Jan. 27th, 2013 07:33 pmToday, we presented our CCF students with three major tasks, modelled loosely on the tasks of last year’s thrilling Triwizard Tournament, and brought together by the inspirational motto of “Strength in Unity” and the words of our dear YPL pledge. Seven of our most promising 5th years led the teams, competing against each other to ever better themselves.
As is always the case, a great deal of planning and effort went into coordinating today’s activities, and everything planned was approved by the YPL committee, consulting experts, and the oversight board. I’m sure any questions may be addressed through the proper channels.
Healer Kerr (one of the YPL committee), brought several assistant Healers with him. He assures me the data he collected from our students will be extremely helpful in a variety of applications, and I just know that each and every CCF member was delighted to contribute to the larger body of knowledge.
Our first task took us to the edges of the Forbidden Forest. Students called upon orienteering and map skills they have learned previously to locate a menhir (standing stone) and move it to a designated lakeside location. More than one group encountered the thestrals resident there, and I understand another group had a thankfully brief interaction with the barbarous centaurs.
Our second task involved going into the lake, working together to untie a large rope knotted into a complex pattern, and bringing back an ourborous, the symbol of our glorious Protectorate.
Our final task took place in a maze of ice and snow, designed to challenge our students to find solutions to a variety of problems and demands. Each solution granted a word from the YPL pledge and students raced back to the menhirs to affix them in final form.
Once all groups were finished, we gathered to discuss together what worked well and what failed and all the teensy ways students might improve. I do have a few small notes I’d like to make public. I would like to praise Miss (Daphne) Greengrass, Mr (Ernest) MacMillan, Mr Moon (most creative), Miss (Padma) Patil, Mr Smith, Mr Zabini.
Mr Finnigan: I was particularly impressed with your quick action in the maze, and wished to commend you again to the larger public. I’d like to speak to you about some additional opportunities to develop your skills. I expect my next few days to be a trifle busy, but let’s arrange a chance to chat on Thursday or Friday?
Mr Marvolo: I would be interested in hearing your reasoning regarding the seating choices in our debriefing this afternoon. (This would, dear boys and girls, be a suitable reason to use a private message in response, by way of illustration. I am aware there have been questions.)
Miss Perks: I would like you to report for additional conversation about your actions on Thursday morning at the same time as last week. There are a number of areas for potential improvement, particularly willingness to follow instructions given by legitimate authority (in this case, your team leader.)
I would encourage all students to use the comments below to share more about their experience and learn from their errors in judgement - and where relevant, their successes.
Finally, I thank Professors Acton, Brutka, Grubbly-Plank and Sprout for their assistance with some of the specific tasks. Likewise, I must commend the crew from Magical Sports and Games for their work creating the actual maze, as well as Director Rhombus-Wells from the department of Muggle Domestication for providing the Muggles used in the exercise. I also thank Aurors Wright, Gupta, Marks, and Peel for their assistance.
As is always the case, a great deal of planning and effort went into coordinating today’s activities, and everything planned was approved by the YPL committee, consulting experts, and the oversight board. I’m sure any questions may be addressed through the proper channels.
Healer Kerr (one of the YPL committee), brought several assistant Healers with him. He assures me the data he collected from our students will be extremely helpful in a variety of applications, and I just know that each and every CCF member was delighted to contribute to the larger body of knowledge.
Our first task took us to the edges of the Forbidden Forest. Students called upon orienteering and map skills they have learned previously to locate a menhir (standing stone) and move it to a designated lakeside location. More than one group encountered the thestrals resident there, and I understand another group had a thankfully brief interaction with the barbarous centaurs.
Our second task involved going into the lake, working together to untie a large rope knotted into a complex pattern, and bringing back an ourborous, the symbol of our glorious Protectorate.
Our final task took place in a maze of ice and snow, designed to challenge our students to find solutions to a variety of problems and demands. Each solution granted a word from the YPL pledge and students raced back to the menhirs to affix them in final form.
Once all groups were finished, we gathered to discuss together what worked well and what failed and all the teensy ways students might improve. I do have a few small notes I’d like to make public. I would like to praise Miss (Daphne) Greengrass, Mr (Ernest) MacMillan, Mr Moon (most creative), Miss (Padma) Patil, Mr Smith, Mr Zabini.
Mr Finnigan: I was particularly impressed with your quick action in the maze, and wished to commend you again to the larger public. I’d like to speak to you about some additional opportunities to develop your skills. I expect my next few days to be a trifle busy, but let’s arrange a chance to chat on Thursday or Friday?
Mr Marvolo: I would be interested in hearing your reasoning regarding the seating choices in our debriefing this afternoon. (This would, dear boys and girls, be a suitable reason to use a private message in response, by way of illustration. I am aware there have been questions.)
Miss Perks: I would like you to report for additional conversation about your actions on Thursday morning at the same time as last week. There are a number of areas for potential improvement, particularly willingness to follow instructions given by legitimate authority (in this case, your team leader.)
I would encourage all students to use the comments below to share more about their experience and learn from their errors in judgement - and where relevant, their successes.
Finally, I thank Professors Acton, Brutka, Grubbly-Plank and Sprout for their assistance with some of the specific tasks. Likewise, I must commend the crew from Magical Sports and Games for their work creating the actual maze, as well as Director Rhombus-Wells from the department of Muggle Domestication for providing the Muggles used in the exercise. I also thank Aurors Wright, Gupta, Marks, and Peel for their assistance.
