Prof. Missa Matz

Thank you all for your applications. After careful review we have finally chosen the new JP's for the remainder of this term. We have not yet selected where they will be relocated to, but that will be announced to them within a week. (Which is when they'll get their passwords to nifty hidden places.)

So, in no particular order we would like to say a HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to the following students!!!

Risa Swan

Ilona Littrell

Hailey Potter

Amanda Summers

St.John Aloisius Sloots

Welcome to a new form of torture. ^____^

With a new school year starting, the Gryffindor staff is working hard to keep the house shiny and organized while planning fun and exciting activities for all the students.

However, with an increase in activities comes a higher workload, so we are looking to add several Junior Prefects to the staff. These Junior Prefects should be hard working, motivated, and dedicated to making Gryffindor even better.

To qualify to send in an application you must satisfy the following conditions:

* Must be at least a second year.

* Must not currently be repeating a year. (Meaning you were, for example, a second year last year, but did not earn enough quills to advance to third year.) -- We've taken this requirement out for this term only. So take advantage of it~

* Be aware that as a JP, you have no prefect rights in HOL at all. You do not receive those until you become a full prefect.

****For those students who are currently first years and repeating years, you WILL be eligible to apply next term when we re-open applications.****

* Must be willing to achieve the following this year (this is part of our current prefect contract):

- You will receive 2 quills per term or a total of 4 quills per year.

- You will earn 60 points per month, whether through classwork, HOL projects (library/arts), house newspaper, other house newspaper, etc. However, if you have a class that only awards points at the end of term - notify me (Missa) so that I don't nag you. That is a perfectly acceptable reason to not be earning that amount. This means that you must earn at least 300 points per term.

- You must be active in at least 3 Gryffindor activities. So your prefect duty is ONE activity. (For your prefect duty, you will be asked to be in either SPD, which is involved in planning house activities, or a den JP, which helps lead the dens._ If you belong to a club, or help in the library, or are on GQT that is your second activity. Your third activity must be something related to helping with the forum. Whether it is making sure posts in certain areas are appropriate (modding), creating fun topics in areas for discussions (activities, coz lord knows our boards are dead [HELF does not count!]), or signing up for one of the many positions that Jenny and I will be opening (posting house announcements, etc).

If you think you can handle this and meet the above qualifications (and yes, we will check) then please answer the following questions to the best of your abilities. When you are done, send the application in a PM to Prof. Jenny Lupin by September 30th, 2010. They will then be forwarded to Prof. Missa Matz for review.

QUESTION SECTION.

1. Name:

2. Year:

3. Why do you want to become a junior prefect?

4. What makes you a good candidate for the junior prefect position? (Your Qualities/Traits, Prior Leadership Experience, What You Can Contribute, etc. Anything you can tell us to help aid our decision.)

5. Do you prefer to work on a team or individually? How do you think that will help you as a staff member?

6. Would you feel comfortable contributing more than a 'yes'/'no' answer to a discussion?

7. If faced with a decision to keep quiet about something, or post, will you be able to post knowing that it will create discussion, and does/does not necessarily mean that it may/may not make a difference?

8. We would like you to please create a monthly den challenge or house activity and then tell us about it. (For example, but certainly not limited to: What is it about? What is required? Why did you choose it? Etc.)

9. Dealing with new students is one of the many jobs of a junior prefect. If you received the following message, what response would you give them?

Hi JP!!!! im new 2 griffindor and dont no wut 2 do. I sent a owl to prof. missa but she didn't answer. :( :( :( what do i do? ohhhh and i want 2 buy a cat so send me beans please.

10. Are you willing to allow us to assign you to where we believe you might fit best, or where we need you to be? Meaning we would choose whether you would be SPD or Den JP? Please note what your preference is, but also realize that based on needs you may not get put there.

11. Is there anything else that you might like to add? A touch about yourself and your character, a fun story, a word or phrase, or nothing?

Please be aware it may take your prefect a few days to get you the passwords for your den. They literally just got the list too.

Courageous Chimeras

Aaron Kingsley

Alden Grayson

Alexa Bright

Aley Becker

Alie King

Ally Blake

Amanda Summers

Amberly Joseph

Amy Ramford

Andrew Stanford

Anna Badger

Anna Talise Williams

Anuki Pockets

Ariel Costilow

Athena Posley

Ava Dragomir

Barbara Phoenix

Bluebell Vaughan

Brigid Thomas

Cameron Williams

Carolina Schwartzaugen

Castora Grimsby

Charlaine Flimel

Chaya Springtime

Christine Weasley

Churro Llevi

Corinne March

Danica Darksky

Derek James

Dimas Pandu

Dustin Spencer

Emer Wolf

Emma Potter

Erin MacManus

Evanllyn Santerous

Flynx Sharon

Gabriella Ann Black

Ginger Roenick

Haily Maloy

Harmonia Greene

Heather Granger

Holly Victoria

Ianto Maddock

Jailyn King

James Wolf

Jaseyrae King

Jean Tirado

Jessica Summers

Johnathan Blackthorne

Joshua Kasper

Kara Weasler

Katerina Hattegan

Katie Tate

Kazzie Miranda

Lakshmi Gayatri

Lauren Ashel

Leah Watson

Lexi Sievertsen

Lily Stanford

Linley Lavene

Lorelai Lovett

Lucinda Swan

Luis Colon

Mabelle Torres

Maki Kou

Margaret Malfoy

Marie Campbell

Marta Venturi

Megan Lynnae

Melanie Trollmann

Mikhail Suracuse

Molly Grabau

Mychelle Holland

Nancy Black

Nick Barnes

Nicole Forget

Niki Myers

Ophelia Cromwell

Patrick Komban

Petunia Cauldwell

Pixel Patill

Putri Granger

Reece Pendleton

Rocky Rinato

Rosie Holland

Sakeena Clearwater

Sarah Evans

Saurabh Tiwari

Shane McCleary

Silver Barcelona

Smriti Ganguly

St.John Aloisius Sloots

Sylvain Christin

Teah Hilson

Tom Foster

Violet Rubert

Zara Fox

Gallant Griffins

Abby Taylor

Alex Hockenberry

Alexa Durmont

Alice Kent

Alirya Yvunzi

Alyssa Vaught

Amaya Ohayashi

Amelia Grace Ledbetter

Anastasia Chang

Andromeda Star

Angela Franco

Anica Super

Ann Ong

Anna Watson

Ari Evans

Arin Wolf

Aurelia Zora

Avery William

Ben Ackerman

Bri Singer

Caitlin Barrette

Camila Alvarez

Caroline Granger

Chadwick Cadet

Charlie Starr

Chiara Pavia

Chrissy Mahon

Clairina Potter

Courtland Smith

Dawn Lockwood

Destiny Drake

Draco Leon

Edward Colin

Emily Taylor

Emma Williams

Esme Wolf

Farah Labib

Fujiko Ankyo

Gabrielle Lupin

Gwendolyn Penwynche

Hally Gellacia

Hazel Rodricks

Hellrot Beleuchten

Hope OReilly

Iliara Severn

Jacob Thomas

Jaime Brown

Jamie Weasley

Jaymi Grangley

Jessica Dawson

Jessie Gold

Jonathan McLaggen

Julie Garnet

Karen Thompson

Katie Emosewa

Katrina Lupin

Kyrielle Grimardy

Laon Eleniel

Lauren Dalton

Lena Becker

Liliana Llewellyn

Linda Brown

Lizzie Watson

Lorus-lynn Weasley

Lucy Arvens

Luke Lock

Madeline Bronte

Manda Tonks

Maria Ocktovan

Marie Finn

Mckenna Pheonyx Cage

Megha Thampy

Melina Pendent

Michael Vinci

Momal Malik

Nadine Sharpe

Naru Aizawa

Nick Ford

Nicole Lovato

Nymph Hara

Ozsvath Kata

Pavel Lagrange

Philippa Kemp

Portia Erikson

Quinn Agron

Riley MacKinnon

Romina Suberbie

Rosmerta Shacklebolt

Samson Vladitoiu

Sarah Tangelwood

Savannah Jones

Sila Snape

Skyler Jackson

Sobe Magesblood

Sophie Orion

Tabatha St Thomas

Terri Dactyl

Topaz Gold Star

Willow Lindstrom

Zen McGregor

Mighty Manticores

Ahle Avila

Alex Weasly

Alexander Hargreaves

Alice Marsh

Alissa Kirby

Alyxandra Donovan

Amber Equine

Amelia Wilson

Andrea Caroline

Angel Blackstone

Ann Black

Anna Harmon

Annabeth Johnson

Aria Lapin

Ash Tucker

Aurora Blossom

Avonlea Noataqmiut

Bere Lee

Brigid Potter

Cambie deMalcamino

Camille Johns

Cassiopeia Baxter

Chantal Forget

Chase Song

Chinni Weasley

Christy Zurbuchen

Cliodna Bladvak

Cyriel Aurorus

Dem Owens

Dierdre Campbell

Drake Zodiark

Elena Rivers

Emma Barker

Enid Blackthorn

Evangeline Black

Fiona Angelfina

Gabbi Myers

Gary Bhatt

Hailey Potter

Hanna Erised

Heather Black

Hikari-Lee Snape

Hunter Lawrence

Ivory Leona

Jacqualine Snape

James Greene

Jane Attlee

Jazz Kaur

Jessica Landon

Joel Aireserkeiel

Jordan Cortney

Kara Michaelis

Katelin Kimo

Kayleigh Adams

Lacey Jacobs

Laura Fleur

Laurie Lovegood

Leslie Norris

Lily Redvines

Lindsey Hyde-Phoenix

Lorelai Cullen

Louise Bailey

Lucy Evans

Lyra Blackstone

Madeline Price

Mandy Meyer

Maria Stewart

Markell Nault

Meaghan Holloran

Meghan Weasley

Michael Dammert

Mirabella Nevlómë

Moni Kess

NaKya Nelson

Narya Quendi

Nicole Cathryn

Nicole Rowle

Odette Mitchell

Paige Byrne

Persephone Shadows

Pimly Evans

Presley Watkins

Rachel DragonBlood

Risa Swan

Ronja Liek

Ryanne Grace Azar

Sandy Baker

Satomi Benett

Shane Lee

Slide Owen

Slave Spaldi

Sofia Leela Grimmett

Susan Coffey

Taylor Morton

Tiffany Styles

Vienna Missaunt

Witch Owen

Zoey Lawrenz

Welcome to the start of the 2010 Battleship den challenge! In the past we were able to demonstrate how this challenge worked by opening up the previous year's forum. Unfortunately, all that information was lost when we had to completely redo the Gryffindor Board. So for those of you who are new at this, look towards your den leaders and higher years for guidance.

What is Battleship?

Well Battleship is a game where the main objective is to sink the other persons ships, in this case there will be a total of six ships that you will have to search for.

How do I play?

Gryffindor's version of Battleship is run a bit differently than any other normal Battleship game. The three dens compete against each other. The first den who has all their ships sunk ends in third place, the second one down is in second place, and the winning den is the den that still has ships left. You can earn up to three hits a day, but more information on that will follow.

How do we earn shots?

At the very beginning of the game, each den has three shots. They can choose to shoot all at one den, or break up the shots between the other two dens. Once the den leader selects three locations, a series of puzzles for those specific locations are placed into the den and in order for them to count, the puzzles must be solved.

So as an example, the SS den chooses three locations, but only solves two of the puzzles. At that point the two locations they have selected are colored into the board, showing a hit or a miss. This gives them two shots to select the following day. The third puzzle (that they didn't solve) rolls over and once it is solved the location will be colored in on the grid and they will have three turns again. Each den has the opportunity to pass if they cannot solve a puzzle, however there are only three passes for each den the entire game, and of course, they won't get to know what was in the location they selected.

Sounds a bit confusing, I know. So here's a simplified version.

This is how SS's turn would have looked.

MM: c4

NN: b3, a6

SS managed to solve the puzzle for MM's c4 and NN's a6, but failed to solve NN b3 before the deadline. So once the deadline has arrived, I color in the grid locations, and the firing thread opens for the next day. When this happens it will look like this.

MM and NN have 3 shots to fire. SS has 2 shots to fire.

That next day, after selecting their two new locations SS manages to solve the two new puzzles, as well as the one that they were not able to solve the first day. They will get the three locations colored in. The original NN b3 they had from the previous day, and the two new locations they had selected. When the firing thread opens for the next round, they will be given all three shots to fire.

Who gets to select the locations?

There will be three people in each den who will be allowed to select locations in the firing thread. It is preferrable that it be the two den leaders and one chosen student. However, I know that the dens aren't currently all that active, so in such a scenario, there can be one den leader and two students. NO ONE else is to post in the firing thread, EVER. If there is a problem within the den then someone needs to PM me to advise me, so that alternate selections can be chosen. It is also very important to note that you absolutely, positively may NOT edit any firing locations once they are placed in the thread. I don't care if you made a mistake, or one of the other people wanted a different location. If I see it, your den will be disqualified, as I consider it cheating. So don't do it!

Great, you know how it's played, but what does everything look like?

The GRID.

In the main thread there will be three grids like the one above (one for each den). Based on the locations the den leaders have chosen for their ships the object will be to select squares. Once the puzzles are solved you will be able to tell what was hit. Blue squares are water (meaning you missed), red squares mean a hit. Once the ship is sunk, it will be crossed off. Once ALL ships have been sunk on a grid, the grid will be crossed off. A tally of which locations each den selected and whether they were hit or miss, will be placed below the grid, so that everyone knows each location and who did it.

The PUZZLES.

There will be 4-5 different types of squares.

1. FREE HIT.

The free hit square is exactly what it sounds like. There is no puzzle in that square, it is a free hit. When the answers are sent to me via PM the den will include the free hit location as well.

2. Logic puzzles.

Yep, them good old word logic puzzles. You have to love to hate them. But they are necessary.

3. Sudoku puzzles.

Again, you either love them or hate them. I'll leave that up to all of you to decide.

4. Brain teasers.

Traditional brainteasers, which I don't think are all that hard to solve.

5. Word search?

This is a possible fill in for this year, you may see some, you may not. They take a lot of effort for each den, so I may not include them.

THE SHIPS.

There will be six ships this year. There will be two size 2 ships, two size 3 ships, one size 4 ship, and one size 5 ship. The size of the ship correspondes with the number of squares it will take up on the grid. So a size 5 ship, will take up 5 squares on the grid. Ships may be placed veritically or horizontally, you are not allowed to place a ship diagonally.

THE RULES.

I will PM the leaders of each den individually within the next few days. They will select the people to represent the dens for the firing thread, as well as picking ship locations. It is at the descretion of the den leader whether to select the locations themselves, or to have the den do it as a whole. I really don't care, so long as the locations and the leaders are sent to me before June 1st.

After I have received the above information from all dens, I will open the firing thread on June 1st at 11:59 pm EST. Don't ask me to covert to your timezones, figure it out yourselves. At that time, each den may post their selected dens and locations to hit. You will start with three shots. As soon as I see your selected locations, I will go into your den and post your challenges. You will have until 9:59 pm EST the following day to solve and to send the answers to me via PM. The only people who may PM the answers to me are one of the three selected in each den to have access to post in the firing thread. When the answers are sent to me, I prefer they be in the format:

Message title:

MM Day One Answers

Message body:

NN a3: (Answer)

SS a3: (Answer)

SS b2: (Answer)

It will help me keep track of what I'm supposed to be doing as well. It is important to note that some days I may be a bit late in opening the firing thread. I work until 11:00 pm EST three nights a week, but they shouldn't open too late. Before I open the firing thread the grids will be properly updated. Also note, I DO sleep people. Not often, but I do try. So sometimes, if you take 3-4 hours to post your locations in the firing thread, there is the chance that I won't get around to posting your challenges until I wake up the next day. So you may want to select someone who is awake during the beginning of the firing thread, to get your shots in fast so you can have longer to work on your challenges. The game will run until there is a clear winner.

IMPORTANT:

Please be advised that if you solve a challenge incorrectly you will lose that shot for that day. So the answers you PM to me must be correct. If not, then it's just like not solving it, and that location will roll over to the next day and you will only have 2 shots in the firing thread. I will advise you which answers are correct and incorrect in a PM back to you.

If you have any questions, please seek out your den leader. If the den leaders have any questions, please post them in the War Room so that I may answer them.

This month's house meeting will be postponed to next Sunday, which is March 21st at 4pm est (9pm HOL time).

It will be held in the IRC channel #gryffhousemeeting

Every year, or as close to it as we can get, the current staff of Gryffindor votes on those we think would make excellent additions to our current staff and demote those who did not do their jobs. Currently there will be no demotions this term, but we'd like to welcome some new Junior Prefects and Prefects...

First off, congratulations to Amanda P.X. Sim, Eno Kule and Rowan Dream for their promotion to Junior Prefects! Eno will be joining the SPD staff and both Rowan and Amanda will move up to den leader roles in their current dens.

Joel Aireserkeiel will be moving back to her position of Prefect and will be joining the land of SPD.

And in not so new news, Zenix James is now a professor and like the others, I will eventually get around to changing her status on the Gryffindor forum.

Congrats to everyone!

As many of you know, back in October when we tried to run Gryfftoberfest, the board crashed and we lost, well, everything, and then it took over a month to fix the board, so no one could participate.

So, now that we have the board back up, and people are registering again, we can once again attempt to get Gryfftoberfest finished.

If you already turned stuff in, resend it, because we lost all the emails too.

Remember, the motto chosen for this year is, "Gryffindor, so insane we broke the padded walls."

...of course, we broke the common room instead. So go check out the posts in the Gryfftoberfest forum and feel free to participate. This will run through January 29th.