Bittersweet endings and new beginnings

Today is the last day of school here in Shenandoah County.  It's always a bittersweet time for me as I'm excited for summer and days off, but I'm also sad because I'll miss my students, especially those leaving me and going off to the middle school (you see, most of them I've worked with directly for 3 years, and have at least seen in passing for 6).

This year is going to be more challenging.  Today is also my last day at Ashby Lee.  After nine years of teaching English as a Second Language, I'm leaving to take a similar job in Winchester City, which is a much closer commute from our new home.

It's hard leaving my "home" and "family".  These are the people I've seen practically every day for nine years.  We've laughed together, cried together, grumped together, and it's just tough.  We've had our ups and downs.  For a variety of reasons that I don't want to get into, this year has been difficult.  And I don't want that negative feeling about my days to influence how I feel about ALES in the long run.  I want to remember the good times and people.

That being said, I am very excited about my new position.  I will be working in a school that is predominantly ELL, and also high poverty.  I'm sure there will be difficulties and challenges, but I'm ready for them.

I hope like Hogwarts, Ashby Lee will always be there to welcome me home.

image from hogwartsalumni.blogspot.com

My day is made...JK Rowling Confirms American Wizarding School

(image from the below article)

I knew it!  In a recent tweet, the Queen herself, JK Rowling, confirmed an American version of Hogwarts.  She will not confirm location, except that it is not in New York.  But, says that indigenous magic (read:  Native American) helped create it.

Where do you think it's located?  And what tribes do you think played a role in its creation?  I'm hoping Virginia!  But could see midwest or the Plains.

For the full article, read here

Fun fact

I can neither confirm nor deny the fact that I've done this...

from Did you know?

You should call and let me know what you think!

And don't pull a Bobby!

From Pinterest

Salazar Slytherin

from Harry Potter Wikia

I'd never looked at a picture of Salazar Slytherin before, but HOLY CRAP he looks like a bad dude.  Everything about him just reeks of evil and dark magic.  Geesh.

Anyway, Salazar Slytherin was one of the founding four of Hogwarts; founding the pure-blood house of Slytherin.  Nobody is exactly sure where Slytherin was born beyond "the fens" of eastern England and in the 10th century.

Slytherin was skilled at Parseltongue, Legilimacy and the Dark Arts.  He wanted only pure-blood witches and wizards to be admitted to Hogwarts, and when the other founders didn't agree, he created the Chamber of Secrets and placed a basilisk inside until the time where his heir would return, open the chamber and unleash death and destruction on all muggle-borns.  (ok, maybe those aren't the exact words, but look at that face.  He was thinking about raining down some pain.)

So, because Slytherin House has churned out more dark wizards than any other, it has become synonymous with evil and dark magic.  But my husband and a good friend were sorted into Slytherin (and I was too at first), they aren't all bad.  Usually.

Slytherin House only accepts pure-blood witches and wizards.   You also have to be cunning, resourceful and full of ambition.  Their colors are green and silver and their symbol is the serpent.  Some famous Slytherins include:  Tom Riddle (Lord Voldemort), Lucius Malfoy, the entire Black family (Narcissa, Bellatrix, Regulus, et al) save Sirius, Draco Malfoy, Severus Snape, the Crabbe family, the Goyle family, many Death Eaters, interestingly enough, Merlin and obviously, Dolores Umbridge.

Rowena Ravenclaw

To continue my look at the four Hogwarts house founders, today, we're looking at Rowena Ravenclaw and Ravenclaw House.

From Harry Potter Wikia

Rowena Ravenclaw was born in 10th Century Scotland.  She was known for her " intelligence and creativity and regarded as one of the greatest witches of the age" (from the above wikia link).  She apparently was very beautiful but intimidating.  

Apparently, Ms. Ravenclaw came up with both the name of Hogwarts, it's location, and designed the floor plan.  

At some point, she had a daughter, Helena, who stole her mother's diadem (think: smallish, pretty crown), which broke Rowena's heart.  When Helena died, she became the Gray Lady, Ravenclaw's ghost.  

Like Hermione, she was described as the greatest witch of her time.  

Ravenclaw House "a sharp mind, wisdom, creativity, and cleverness in its members."; the colors are blue and bronze; and the symbol is the eagle.  It's common room/dorms are located in a tower.  Noted Ravenclaws are:  Luna Lovegood, Professor Trelawney, Cho Chang, Moaning Myrtle, Padma Patil, Professor Flitwick, Mr. Olivander and Gilderoy Lockhart.  

Helga Hufflepuff

For the next few days, I'd like to take a look at the four founders of Hogwarts, Godric Gryffindor, Salazar Slytherin, Helga Hufflepuff and Rowena Ravenclaw.  Since I'm Hufflepuff, we're starting with Helga Hufflepuff.  

From Harry Potter Wikia

Like I've said, probably several times, I was sorted into Hufflepuff House.  But beyond that, I didn't really know much about the Hufflepuff house or its' founder.

According to the Harry Potter wikia, Helga was born in Wales in the 10th century.  Her house accepted students who were/are "loyal, fair, and unafraid of hard work. While the other founders took students based on either ambition, bravery, or intelligence, Helga Hufflepuff took the rest, treating them all equally and teaching them all she knew."  (From the wikia)

Apparently, Ms. Helga was known for her food charms and helped bring the house-elf to Hogwarts, where they were treated fairly and not abused.  Which makes sense as to why the Hufflepuff common room is located off the kitchens.  It goes without saying that personality-wise, she was kind and caring.  Duh.  

As for Hufflepuff House, the colors are black and yellow (go Steelers); the common room is located off the kitchens; and the symbol is the badger.  Tonks and Cedric Diggory were also Hufflepuffs. 

From Time Turners

Where would American witches and wizards go to school?

Yesterday, I posted about Hogwarts, which got me thinking...where would American witches and wizards attend school?

The books only talk about the European schools, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang.  What about everyone else?

So I did some digging.  On the Harry Potter wikia, they state that there are 11 Wizarding Schools:
     *Hogwarts
     *Beauxbatons (France)
     *Durmstrang Institute (Scandinavia)
     *Mahoutokoro (Japan)
     *Koldovstoretz (Russia)
     *Uagadou School of Magic (Africa)
 
The rest are unnamed and locations are undisclosed.  But, there is speculation that there is a school in Brazil, and the one in the US is named Salem Witches' Academy.

So, rest assured, American friends, if we are unable to study abroad, we can go to our unnamed "safety school".

Hogwarts: A History

From Harry Potter wikia, linked below

One of the most magical places on Earth (both because of all the magic running through the halls and because of it's sheer awesomeness....Hogwarts.  However, would you be one of the few (I'm thinking you and Hermione Granger) to actually read the entire history as written by Bathilda Bagshot?  I might try now, but at age 11 when it was required, probably not.  

photo credit:  me!  From my trip this past summer!

But now, I'm older and can appreciate it better.  Here are some things I would have missed:

     *Muggle technology cannot be used within the grounds (there goes my theory that things would have been a lot easier with Wizarding google and Wizarding cell phones)

And because I opened the wikipedia wormhole, I wanted to look up, not just the book, but also Hogwarts.  And here is some interesting information I found:

     *I didn't realize that the school motto translated into: Never tickle a sleeping dragon

     *There are 142 staircases, many of which move.

     *There are no electrical devices.  I assumed that there were lights and big refrigerators and ovens in the kitchens.   

     *It was founded in 990 A.D.  (which is smack dab in the Middle Ages, and before the 1066 Battle of Hastings in England where the Norman-French army took over Anglo-Saxon Britain---sorry, I do love history.)  

     *According to the wiki page (linked above), many parts of the castle were destroyed during the 1998 Battle of Hogwarts (duh), but what I didn't know was that it will take until 2017 to complete repairs.  I guess Wizard contractors move slow.  

     *School starts later (September 1st) than many schools in the US, has a 3 week Christmas break, a 1 week Easter break and a 9 week summer holiday.  Which means that they get out about the same time I do in June.  I could work with that schedule.   

At family gatherings, my cousin and I always end up talking about Harry Potter.  One of his best thoughts was regarding Hogwarts and the Chamber of Secrets.  Also plumbing.  In summary...Obviously, Hogwarts was not built with indoor plumbing.  Wizards are good, but I'm sure didn't plan for that.  So, when the Wizard contractor was there doing work, why didn't they see the Chamber of Secrets?   

What are your thoughts on Hogwarts?  Any unanswered questions?