Prof. Sky Alton

It’s possible to take a break and prioritise wellbeing without even having to leave your chair. Mindfulness techniques are designed to help us re-centre ourselves, calm down and focus on the present. There are many, many different techniques you can use. These include breathing exercises, harnessing your senses, meditating, visualising something or even just sitting quietly. You probably also have tasks or things you do that relax you and help you feel calmer that are unique to you. For this task, we’d like you to try out a mindfulness technique and tell us about how you got on in 80 words or more. How did you do it? Did it work? (It’s absolutely fine if it didn’t - any responses are valid even if your attempt was a total bust). Here are some suggestions for simple techniques to try out: https://psychcentral.com/blog/1-minute-mindfulness-exercises#6 https://www.pocketmindfulness.com/6-mindfulness-exercises-you-can-try-today/ Alternatively, you could tell us about something you do to relax and unwind in 80 words or more. Even better if you actually go do that thing before reporting back. You’ll earn 10 rubies if you post below by April 30th, 11:59 PM HOL-time.

Spring is springing in some parts of the world and it got us thinking about ways we can put a spring back in our step. This April, Gryffindor is inviting you to take a break from the computer to go reset with some relaxing fun. Every 5 days, we’ll release a new task themed around activities you could be doing at home or outside. You’ll be able to complete the task in one of several ways: either by doing something practical (like taking a walk) and telling us about the results or by using your imagination. If for accessibility reasons you need another option for a particular task, just let us know. Each of the 6 tasks will be worth 10 rubies, with a 20 ruby bonus at the end if you complete them all. The deadline for everything is 11:59 PM HOL-time on April 30th.

The spring sunshine is warm on the back of your neck as you lean over to examine a tray of plants. A cool breeze blows through the open greenhouse door, rustling the many leaves around you. The Situation: It’s spring and that means there’s plenty of work to be done in the greenhouses. The herbology professor has asked for volunteers to help plant seeds and repot the rapidly growing seedlings in greenhouse 1. Watch out for the fanged geraniums! Location: You may roleplay anywhere within greenhouse 1 (that’s the one with safer plants, so no mandrakes or venomous tentaculars here). You may also roleplay in the grounds and vegetable patches around it. Remember to read the guidelines before diving in. Have fun!

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"Thank you, Hannah," Sky smiles down at her, "You're coping admirably with this crisis too." She turns to Maxim. "Probably for the best, I'm going to have enough paperwork as it is," she grins at his preening. She glances around. "Right, you lot, this has gone on long enough. I want everyone to follow me," she instructs, "Everyone who can use a freezing or stunning charm safely should try to hit any pixy they see. Those who aren't as good with those spells yet, you pick up the pixies and put them in the cage." She takes a deep breath and sets off down the corridor with her wand out, as though she's about to fight a duel.

"Thank you, Hannah!" Sky smiles as she takes the cage. She drops in the handful of Pixies she's managed to freeze and then holds it out, hoping more will flock inside if they smell the food. "And thank you for your courageous offer, Maxim," Sky winks at him, "See if you can find any other professors on your way down and ask them to come upstairs and lend a hand." There's a crash from further down the corridor and she lets out a little sigh. "That sounded like another desk taking a trip down to the lawn..."

Sky rolls her eyes at Maxim's helpful comment on numbers and considers summoning the furniture back through the window. She decides that it would just create even more chaos and there's a good chance the pixies might throw it right back out. "Oh, I don't think we need to point the finger at any one house just yet," Sky says, peering around a corner to see a cluster of pixies gathering for a fresh attack. "I can think of any number of students from each house who would find this rather funny." (she can think of a few staff members too but she isn't about to say that....) She leaps around the corner towards the massing pixies, firing off a few well placed freezing charms. "Someone please find me a box!"

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Sky dashes out of her classroom with her wand raised and several pixies hanging onto the hem of her cloak for dear life. "Any idea how many there are?" she asks, looking blankly around at Ivey, Maxim and Hannah. There's a tinkle of broken glass and she hurries over to repair the window before anyone gets cut. "They through a desk out there," she exclaims, staring down at the mess of furniture far below on the lawn.

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I slap Hannah because she has so many points already. Great job!

I slap Manya because she's on the way to the library when she ought to be in class ;)

The happiest of birthdays to Manya Granger. I'll get the cake!

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Guilty Have you ever done something embarrassing and then tried to pretend like it was intentional?

It would depend on the height of the cliff but I'd probably rather take my chances in a duel. Would you rather be a house elf or a goblin?

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Thanks for stopping by The Den, Hannah. Great to see you here!

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