Dolores Umbridge (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
alt_umbridge) wrote2013-01-27 07:33 pm
alt_umbridge) wrote2013-01-27 07:33 pm
Strength in Unity
Today, 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.
no subject
Private message to Madam Umbridge
Re: Private message to Madam Umbridge
I am certain that the Headmistress will come to understand the reasons for a number of choices in due course, and that you need not worry yourself over the matter. I thought you acted quite properly, given the instructions. The lingering distaste for certain practical magics is a problem the Protectorate is still addressing, even when they are the most effiicient way forward.
While I am writing, I should reassure you - on reflection, I would like to talk to you about including you in my plans for school improvement. Perhaps Miss Patil mentioned something of the kind? At any rate, I would like to talk at the end of the week about what that might involve, and whether you would be interested.
Re: Private message to Madam Umbridge
no subject
altercationbit of confusion amongst my team members? Finch-Fletchley was johnny-on-the-spot when Donovan was having some difficulty due to duMaurier being sadly affected by the chilling cold of the previous task. Quite helpful, really. We would have had considerably more difficulty in the maze if it weren't for him.no subject
I thought your solution regarding the menhir intriguing, but do speak promptly to Mr Milland about whether he needs assistance repairing the divots in the ground, if you would.
no subject
Cheers. It really was no trouble, what. (I only wish the other efforts had had better results.)
I'm well glad you chose to avoid the Cardinals, as well. Not that they don't have their uses but I do think they ought to be held as a last resort, when all other efforts have failed one, what?
-Finch-Fletchley
no subject
I noticed the way you'd seated everyone, and I just thought that I should to go with the rest of the halfblooded students. After all, we do have a defined role in society.
And when you asked if I'd rather take a place closer to the fire, I saw that there were lots of students who were worse off than I was, so I figured I'd give someone else a chance to warm up. Especially since you made it clear that casting warming charms would've been a distraction during your debriefing. Healer Kerr's assistant was so particular about whether we'd used drying charms or towels after the lake that there were several people who might've thought they shouldn't use them, because they were still obviously very wet and cold, and that would've made it hard for them to pay full attention to your inspiring speech.
Which would've been such a shame.
I'm confused about why you thought I might want to keep my reasons private, though. I certainly wish to demonstrate the very best of the Protectorate’s welcoming and affirming ideas, and I tried to act in the spirit of the YPL anthem.
no subject
Though, I suppose that you were right we should get on with things after a long afternoon, and it was very considerate of you to think of others before yourself. Even though I am sure they would have given you every due deference.
I do have just a teensy other question, but perhaps that is better asked in private as well.
Private message to Harry Marvolo
It does just occur to me. You can't have imagined that the essay I assigned to Miss Perks had the least bearing on you? What applies to someone like her certainly does not apply to someone with your advantages and with your kind of future before you. The best someone like Miss Perks can hope for is far less than the least expected of you, dear boy.
Now, I do hope you'll come to me if you have any little questions like this in the future. There's really no need to air them uncomfortably in public. You've more than earned the right to discuss your concerns more privately, should it be needed. Public correction is so very necessary sometimes, but I'm sure you won't require it of me.
Re: Private message to Harry Marvolo
I'll be sure to keep your advice in mind.
It's very kind of you to not judge me for my inferior birth.
no subject