Prof. Hailey Potter

Now that the year has come to close, we at Gryffindor always take this time to acknowledge students who have worked hard, either on HOL, Gryffindor, or even both. This year's recipients are... Alessandra Grace for both Golden Snitch Award and Consistent Cub Award! Rowan Dream for the Phoenix Award! Regulus Riverwater for the Studious Simba Award! Victoria Gingerfox for the Curious Kitten Award! Kim Alting for the Platinum Quill Award! Congratulations, and thank you for all your hard work and participation!

Alessandra Grace - Best Virtual Cake Baker Award, I Do One Hundred Thousand Things Around Here Award Amanda P. X. Sim - Best HELF Player Award Kim Alting - Best Organizer Award, I'm the Zombie of Gryffindor Award Prof. Tarma Amelia Black - The Earworm Award for Services to Getting Things Stuck In My Head Sky Alton - Best 20 Questions Game Player

As the latest school year comes to a close, we at Gryff find ourselves reflecting. We reflect on our friendships that have grown, new and old, that great partner you found in an activity, that great study buddy who got you motivated to finish. What better way to celebrate those friendships than handing them all their own awards? That's right, you get to make up awards for all your friends! AND it's open to ALL HOUSES! Yes, all houses can nominate and receive these made up awards from their friends! Here's how it works: Post below a list of people you would like to give an award to. For example, if I were wanting to give awards, I would post below the following post: Prof. Missa Matz - Oh Fearless Leader! Award Alessandra Grace - Most Likely To Sing Zero to Hero With Me Award February Fortescue - Best Poller Award And so on. Then, I will create a master list at the top of this award including all of the superlatives that have been given out! So... begin nominating, and have fun!

I don't know about you, but I'm ready for summer! And I could write a whole lot about it!!!! Or....... maybe you just want those last minute HOUSE POINTS for the Cup. Or your own personal victory as the top student of HOL! Either way, the June Paw Print is now taking submissions!! For more information please CLICK your way into the Paw Print section of our nice forum for more information! Be sure to post what you would like to write about for this edition. We look forward to reading your articles, columns, and stories!

Do you have something on your mind you'd like to share with all of HOL? Have you always wished to try your hand at being a journalist? Or maybe you just want the HOUSE POINTS. Either way, the March Paw Print is now taking submissions!! For more information please CLICK your way into the Paw Print section of our nice forum for more information! While there, be sure to visit the new Paw Print contest! Caption to your heart's desire! Have your captions be featured in the March issue! Earn BEANS!!!

We're almost to the last day! Make sure you get in your submissions very soon!

We are getting closer and closer to the relaunch of the Paw Print! In celebration of that, we are looking for a new Paw Print Logo. For the next two weeks, we invite you to create a Paw Print Logo! The logo size should be one of the following: 150x150, 200x200, or 200x150. Anything else goes! Just remember, this is for the Paw Print. All entries should be sent to thegryffpawprint@gmail.com by 11.59 PM HOL Time on September 20, 2015. Each participating person can send three entries in. The first place winner will receive 100 beans, second place receives 75 beans, and third place receives 50. Each participant will receive 10 beans per entry. We look forward to seeing your entries!

HAHA. I'm so bad with dates (and times), y'all.

I wouldn't have started until 2001, so waaaaaay after the battle.

During the next couple of weeks, the Paw Print is requesting your feedback by taking a survey. This survey will be used to collect information about what HOL would like to see in the house newspaper. But in order for us to give you a new Paw Print with lots of features that YOU asked for, you first have to tell us what you want! And here is your opportunity. AND... you get beans! That's right! At the end of the survey, you have the option of submitting your HOL ID in order to receive 10 beans for completing the survey. So.... you get your opinions heard AND you get beans? I know, you're asking for the link to the survey right now. It's RIGHT HERE - CLICKY! Please complete this by 11:59 pm HOL time on July 25, 2015 to be eligible to get your beans. Thank you for completing the survey! We look forward to bringing you a brand new Paw Print in the fall.

Thanks, guys! <3

Thank you, Pat! Although I'm a kindergarten teacher. I don't have to see kindergartners during summer. :P

We did Universal in one day this time because we've been there so much. I would normally suggest 2 days if you hadn't been there normally.... but the Diagon Alley section is HUGE and we could have easily spent a whole day there. There's so much to see and explore! So 2-3 days Universal. Last time we did Disney World in one day and got a park hopper and did all four parks in one day... BAD IDEA! We were MISERABLE! This time, we did 5 days with the park hopper option and that was about perfect! You could do 4 days probably too if you can't stay that long. We basically spent two days at Magic Kingdom, one day at Epcot (while my favorite park... it WEARS YOU OUT. They say it's not the biggest park but it sure feels like it is!), one and a half days at Hollywood Studios (you could do this park in one day... but it rained in the afternoons and the Fantasmic firework show got canceled so we had to come back to see it - it's the best nighttime program on property!), and a half day at Animal Kingdom (I HATE Animal Kingdom. It's hotter than the other parks and they're doing so much construction right now I couldn't get out of there fast enough!). There are certain times of the year where the crowds are much smaller. It's not always crowded! You can find charts that help you find a good time on Pinterest. Just search "Walt Disney World Crowds". If you can make it there during those times, that would be great. It's HOT there right now and crowded. I would suggest staying away from summer if your family's schedules allow that! I'm a teacher and my littlest brother is in high school marching band and they keep a ridiculous practicing schedule, so we had no choice but to go in June.

Tips.... for Disney or Universal? Do lots and lots of research. I spent over a month on Pinterest for Disney and my family made fun of me every time I'd bring up a random fact or tip, but they were very impressed once we got down there and I was prepared for just about anything. We'd been to Universal so often, I didn't have to really do much research for it. Also.... especially at Disney, don't be afraid to do meet and greets with characters! Total must-do. It's not just for kids. I felt silly at almost 25, but we had bought the photography pack (Basically you get every professional picture taken of you and your party while there... including with characters, on rides, and random areas around the parks.... for a flat fee - but you don't have to get this in order to get the pics with characters - the photographers will take your camera or phone and take some for you!) so I felt like why not and it was really great. The characters are hilarious and fun to interact with - it was my parents' thirtieth wedding anniversary and Goofy had all three of us kids and himself cover our eyes while my parents kissed. It was really funny. And don't turn down a character interaction just because they're not one of your favorites... my most favorite interaction I had was with a Disney princess who I would rank pretty low on my list of favorite Disney princesses (Aurora from Sleeping Beauty) but she was awesome! In our conversation, she informed me that in order to find my Prince Charming I should practice my dancing. I loved her! I didn't necessarily seek specific ones out; if we went by a character and they didn't have a very long line then I would go ahead and meet them.

I am departing tomorrow for over a week in order to visit Diagon Alley (First time, yaaaay!), Cinderella's Castle, and a French ice cream parlor with a macaron ice cream sandwich that's been screaming my name for weeks now (also my first macaron with my top favorite food in between... pretty excited). I will not be logging onto Gryffindor while I am gone. Have a good (more than a) week and I will return soon!

2938

BAHAHAHAHAHA I have no real life classes I'm taking... at least for now.

Oh, there's some noise we haven't heard in a while going off today in Gryffindor. It sounds like.... why, is that a party going on? Yes, the rumours are true. The Gryffindor Spice Squad is up and running again! After months of prepping for a reopening like no other, I've finally got it all up and ready to spread Spicey cheer to Gryffindor. Sooooo...... interested in joining? Visit Spice Jar today to find out how! Signing up has been simplified and you are no longer required to come up with cheers or ideas to get in. Not interested in joining but interested to get involved with activities hosted by the Spice Squad? Keep your eyes on Spice Jar for fun Gryffindor-related challenges and GQT threads in the near future! Our first activity hosted by the Spice Squad can be found below: In order to kick off the Grand Reopening of Spice Squad in style, we are throwing a contest.... with BEANS, BEANS, BEANS involved! But this won't only be for Spices.... it also includes Gryffindor Quidditch Team players! What we have devised is that members of Spice Squad and Gryffindor Quidditch team (or if you're both!) will now be able to receive and display member banners on their About Me section of their profiles. That's right.... MEMBER BANNERS to share loud and proud that you are a part of one or both of the elite Spice Squad or Gryffindor Quidditch team. But in order for us to display these banners, we first have to have banners. And who to create them but you, our creative Gryffindors! For the next two weeks, we will be holding a contest where you can create these banners. Here are the rules: Gryffindors can create up to 2 banners each for each banner contest (Spice Squad and Gryffindor Quidditch Team). That is a maximum of 4 banners in all. Each banner must say the name of the group: Spice Squad or Gryffindor Quidditch Team. Banners must be the dimensions of 300x75. That's 300 pixels (width) and 75 pixels (height). Finished banners should be uploaded to a photo hosting site such as Photobucket or TinyPic by February 15, 2015 at 11:59 pm HOL time. Participants will PM the link to the banners to Prof. Hailey Potter either on Gryffindor Common Room or HOL Message. Banners will be voted by all of Gryffindor after the deadline has closed. Rewards are that the winning banner will be featured as the official banner for Spice Squad or Gryffindor Quidditch Team. The winner of each banner will receive 50 beans. Each banner submitted by a participant will be awarded 5 beans each.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MISSA!!!! :D Hope it's a fantastic one!! Thanks for everything you do for us!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my most FAVORITE person in all the world!!!!!! <3333333333