Point Earning Opportunities (Spring Term 2021)

[Prof. Sky Alton 260]

   The easiest way to help out your house and show your lion’s pride is to earn points! There are lots of ways you can do this so you’re bound to find some that play to your strengths.

 

  In this post, I’ll give you a brief run-down of the regular point earning opportunities available to you. Whenever a new one opens up throughout the term, I’ll post it as a reply so keep checking back!

 

 The first and most obvious is to take part in classes. Most classes will give you the chance to earn 60 points a month through homework and extra credit. If you take several classes (even if you don’t have the time for the maximum of 5 every term), those 60 points soon mount up to quite a tidy haul.

 

Class sign-up opened on the 1st of February 2021 and will remain open until May 20th so remember to put your name down for the classes that interest you and get sending in that homework! (It’s always a good idea to keep an eye on the individual assignment deadlines so that you don’t run out of time or put too much pressure on yourself)

 

  The next are the creative projects offered each month by the Hol Library and art department. If you enjoy getting artsy or brushing up on your writing, visit the 'Departments' tab on the main website. Don't be shy: your submissions are anonymous during the rating period. You can get started by going to your profile and telling us 'How you Got Into Harry Potter' in the designated section - that will earn you a cool 10 points!

 

  Finally there are the house newspapers. These are a great chance to earn plenty of points by writing about what interests you. If articles and reviews aren’t your thing, most also offer creative prompts and even the chance to submit your own puzzles, recipes, graphics and many other things.

 

 All of them have different windows for submitting so be sure to check The Great Hall on the Hol Forum and the Common Rooms for announcements from the editors of each (I’ll be doing my best to keep you clued up about the deadlines for all of them here too).  The most important thing to remember is that whenever you have some spare time to get journalistic, you’re almost certain to find a home for what you come up with.

Brows old editions of our own Paw Print:

https://gryff.net/pawprint

 

Slytherin’s SerpenTimes:

http://holserpentimes.weebly.com/

Ravenclaw’s Alte Sententiam:

http://altesententiam.weebly.com/

And Hufflepuff’s Wizarding Times:

http://www.thebadgersett.us/wizardingtimes/index.php

 

  Throughout the term, there will be unique and exciting activities to take part in which will give you the chance to earn points along the way. Remember to check my replies to this thread for announcements and reminders about anything that might be occurring!

[Prof. Sky Alton 260]

  What an incredible term that was for points! Let’s make this one just as good. There are plenty of opportunities around to get things off to a flying start.

  First up, the Departments have fresh projects. In Art they’re all loved up with prompts themed around flowers and gifts. Why not contribute a bloom to brighten up the place or design the ideal gift for someone (or even yourself!). In the library things have taken a more sinister turn as you get the chance to step into the shoes of an imposter… There’s also a chance to unleash your inner gossip with a prompt about local wizarding newsletters. There’s a maximum of 70 points up for grabs across both departments!

Deadline: 28th February

  It’s also a busy time for HOL newspapers with 3 of them open for submissions at once:

  Hufflepuff’s Wizarding Times would love to see your submissions on everything to do with spring, The Burrow and new beginnings. Head over to the Great Hall subforum on the main HOL forum for more details. There are 50 points up for grabs from regular submissions and 40 from the nifty WT Challenges!

Deadline: 8th March

  Next up, do you have a time-turner to hand? Slytherin’s SerpenTimes would love to see all your contributions on the theme of ‘a blast from the past’ (and anything else you can think of). Don’t forget that their Exclusives are a fun and simple way to snag yourself an extra 40 points, in addition to the 50 you can earn from regular submissions. Head down to the Dungeons to find out more.

Deadline: 15th March

  Last but by no means least, our own Paw Print is also taking a look back. Our theme is ‘quaint and/or retro’ so we’d love to see all your cute and quirky ideas riffing off that (you could also come up with something that’s totally unrelated to that, we’re not fussy). We also have an extra 40 points to earn in addition to the 50 from regular submissions - you’ll find them in our fabulous Prose and Cons section. Mosey on down to the Quivering Quill forum for more details.

Deadline: 28th March

[Prof. Sky Alton 260]

  We're over half way through the term and the end of the school year is steadily creeping up on us already, so make sure you grab those points while you can! We did incredibly well to come third last year (after years of coming last) but can we improve on that this year? Of course we can! Let's go, Gryffindor, let's go.

 

  First up, you have around a week left to contribute to this months department projects. Art are decorating eggs and kites while the library are talking about prophesies and taking a sneaky squint at some ministry memos. There are plenty of points up for grabs.

Deadline: 30th April

 

  The Wizarding Times are asking for your submissions on the theme of summer at Hogwarts! Whether you'll be teasing the giant squid or relaxing in the shade with some iced pumpkin juice, make sure you head over to the Great Hall subforum on the main HOL Forum for more details. There are 90 points for the earning.

Deadline: 23rd May

 

  The Slytherin SerpenTimes is getting all judicial with a theme of 'verdict'. Whether you'll be holding court in a review or nominating some fellow HOLers for superlative awards, make sure you stop by the Dungeons to read up on proceedings. There's another 90 points for the gathering here.

Deadline: 15th June

[Prof. Sky Alton 260]

May is upon us! And it's flying by already. Luckily, it brings with it a whole crop of point earning opportunities. It's a great idea to make the most of them now so you don't miss out on things in the end of year scramble to get everything turned in on time. Let's make sure your personal point totals and Gryffindor's all important hourglass look as great as possible come June!

 

  First up, there's your usual reminder to check out the Departments. The Art Department are looking back (at your memories of this year at Hogwarts) and forward (to your plans for the summer). The Library are exploring the consequences of promises (those you keep and those you break) and featuring wizards who decide to go into muggle careers.

Deadline: 31st May

Note: June Department projects will be arriving early and will have an earlier deadline than usual so that all points can be awarded before the end of the school year. Make sure you don't get caught out by that!

 

in addition to the newspapers I told you about last time (Wizarding Times due on the 23rd of May and SerpenTimes on the 15th of June), two more have opened up for submissions!

  Alte Sententiam, Ravenclaws fine feathered publication,  is due first. They'd like to see your drabbles and photography relating to this issue's theme of 'the moon'. There's also Creative Writing Bingo for those of you who love to tell stories. You can find details of these in The Great Hall over on the main HOL Forum. If you'd like to submit an article, puzzle or graphic, just drop Gail Allen a message. There's 90 points available!

Deadline: 31st May

 

  And not forgetting our very own Paw Print. Come and take a walk on the wild side with us with our theme of 'Wild and Free'. Whether you'd like to submit an article, a recipe, a craft, a puzzle, a graphic or something else, I'm sure we can find a home for it. Check out Prose and Cons while you're at it: there are images to caption, lists to make and things to write. Another sparkling 90 points are yours for the earning.

Deadline: June 20th

[Prof. Sky Alton 260]

And here we are, nearly at the end of the school year! The cup race is a nail-biter this time round. We're only slightly behind Slytherin right now - who knows what we might be able to achieve if everyone pulls together? Even if you can only do a little, every point in our house hourglass helps. Come on, lions, I know you can do it!

  My first piece of advice is to make sure you know when your last assignments are due. A lot of classes have a final deadline of June 15th but don't bank on it for all classes: some might be earlier and some might be later. Also, make sure you know what you need to do to earn a quill. Some classes will want more points than others and some will want you to complete certain things, like the final exam or project. Read those class websites carefully!

  Now, if you've finished your homework or need a break, there's plenty of other things going on...

  As I mentioned last time, the department projects finish up a little earlier in June to make sure there's time for the voting period before the end of term. If you head over to the Art Department, you'll find marvellous muggle inventions and the chance to advertise for your lost property al a Luna. Over in the Library, they're strutting the catwalk with a wizarding fashion review and popping to the shops, exploring new businesses on Diagon Alley.

Deadlines:

Art: 12 June

Library: 14 June

  June would usually be no time for a nap but this time, you can earn points by heading off to Slumberland. Check out the Activities section over on the HOL Forum for a thrilling adventure beyond your wildest dreams. There are 80 points up for grabs!

Deadline: 20 June.

  Finally, there's still two chances to get in touch with your inner Rita Skeeter (slightly more ethical journalists are available). The SerpenTimes is accepting submissions until the 15th with their theme of 'verdict'. Over in our own Quivering Quill forum, you'll find us hard at work creating a very wild issue of the Gryffindor Paw Print. You have until the 20th to join in on that. Both offer a maximum of 90 points!

Deadlines:

ST: 15 June

PP: 20 June

Let's go, Gryffindor, let's go!

[Prof. Sky Alton 260]

It may be summer but that doesn't mean there aren't point opportunities around. Now's an excellent time to get a head start and begin racking them up, ready for the next school year.

  As ever, the Departments have projects to be enjoyed. The Library are weaving stories about finding yourself in the wrong holiday destination and speculating on what would happen if a location that everyone thought was made up turned out not to be. Over in Art, they're paying a visit to the muggle Olympics and asking to see your favourite watery locales.

Deadline: 1st August

  It's HOL's 20th anniversary! To celebrate, a grand tour of the castle is going on over on the HOL forum. There are 120 points up for grabs so make sure you head over their and immerse yourself in our community's rich and magical history.

Deadline: 1st August